Kristen Legor, PhD, JD, Rn, Ocn
About Kristen Legor, PhD, JD, Rn, Ocn
Kristen Legor, PhD, JD, RN, OCN, serves as the Vice President of Clinical Research Nursing Operations at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and is an instructor at the University of Massachusetts Boston. With a strong educational background in biology, law, and nursing, she has extensive experience in clinical research and healthcare management.
Current Role at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Kristen Legor serves as the Vice President of Clinical Research Nursing Operations at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a position she has held since 2021. In this role, she supervises over 100 clinical research nurses, program coordinators, and oncology clinical trial regulatory affairs staff across multiple hospitals, including Dana-Farber, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Boston Children’s Hospital. She leads the development and execution of new therapeutic and non-therapeutic research protocols, contributing to advancements in clinical research. Additionally, she directs a quality improvement program aimed at enhancing clinical operations and patient care.
Academic Background and Education
Kristen Legor has a diverse academic background. She studied Biology with a focus on public health at Harvard University, earning a Master of Arts (MA) from 1997 to 2001. She then pursued a Juris Doctor (JD) degree in Health Care and Biotechnology Law at Suffolk University Law School from 2001 to 2005. Legor further advanced her education by obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Population Health and Health Policy from the University of Massachusetts Boston between 2017 and 2020. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nursing Science from Worcester State University, completed in 2000, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in General Biology from Westfield State College, achieved in 1995.
Previous Work Experience
Prior to her current role, Kristen Legor held various positions at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She worked as a Nurse in the Phase 1 Clinical Research, Oncology Early Drug Development Center from 2009 to 2011, and later served as Regulatory Nurse for Clinical Trials from 2011 to 2014. She progressed to Director of Clinical Research Nursing from 2014 to 2017, and then became Senior Director of Clinical Research from 2017 to 2021. Before joining Dana-Farber, she worked as an Attorney at Lubin & Meyer PC from 2004 to 2009 and as a Staff Nurse in Oncology and Hematology at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center from 2009 to 2010.
Teaching Role at University of Massachusetts Boston
Since 2021, Kristen Legor has been an Instructor at the University of Massachusetts Boston. In this capacity, she leads protocol education and training programs specifically designed for clinical research nurses and support staff. Her teaching focuses on enhancing the skills and knowledge necessary for effective clinical trial implementation, utilizing her extensive experience in clinical research and nursing operations to inform her instruction.
Expertise in Clinical Research and Nursing Operations
Kristen Legor possesses extensive expertise in managing clinical operations, patient education, and advocacy. She employs a multidisciplinary approach to design, implement, and monitor systems that ensure high-quality patient experiences in clinical settings. Her work emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practices and aims to advance clinical practice while improving patient outcomes. Legor's comprehensive understanding of healthcare management allows her to effectively advise healthcare executives and clinical staff.