Welcome to another installment of our featured member profiles where we will continue to introduce you to more of our members—individuals who work to advance ethical research on a daily basis. Please read on to learn more about their professional experiences, how membership helps connect them to a larger community, and what goes on behind-the-scenes in their lives!

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darcy Hammar, institutional review board (IRB) manager at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Annapolis, MD.

When and why did you join the field?

I started as a non-scientist, unaffiliated IRB committee member in 2001. A former colleague was serving as the academic dean at a new institution and she thought I’d be a good fit given my academic background in the history of medicine and professional experience at several health-related associations. She was right, and in 2008 I became the IRB manager at the same institution.

What is your favorite part of your job?
The challenge of working in the “grey area,” where medical and social/behavioral studies intersect.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Summers in the Pacific Northwest with my family.

What are you reading?
I am reading Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin.

What’s your after-hours guilty pleasure?
I’m not sure it’s a guilty pleasure, but I’m a knitter with a capital “K”. I have more than 30 years of experience knitting.

Why did you join PRIM&R?
To gain access to member resources! I’m not currently in a position to travel to PRIM&R conferences, so webinars and members-only resources are the next best thing.

What is your favorite member benefit?
The publications (Newsletter, Research Ethics Digest, and Ampersand) that help keep me up to date in the field.
What would you say to someone who is considering PRIM&R membership?
The benefits are well worth the investment.
What advice do you have for young professionals interested in pursuing a career in ethical research?
Every day is interesting, challenging, and rewarding.
Thank you for being part of the membership community and sharing your story, Darcy. We hope you are having a terrific summer out west with your family!
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a member, please visit our website today.