Meet Elsa Hammerdahl, Clinical Research Coordinator II
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Piscataway, New Jersey. I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up there. Those years were incredibly formative and remain some of my most meaningful memories.
What drew you to this field, and how did you get started?
My passion for mental health and psychology began in high school, and I knew relatively quickly that I wanted to major in psychology in college. One of my first classes was Psychopathology, where I became fascinated by the research behind theories of depression. I reached out to my professor to learn more about his work, which led me to Dr. Lori Hilt, a clinical psychologist studying emotion regulation and its role in psychopathology. I went on to work in several research labs throughout college, studying topics ranging from emotion regulation and psychopathology to behavioral neuroscience and cognitive neuroscience. For my thesis, I designed and conducted a randomized controlled trial exploring the role of attention control in the relationship between mindfulness and rumination. The study has since been published.
To date, I have published five papers, including two as first author and two as second author.
After graduating with my BA in Psychology in June 2023, I moved to Chicago and began working as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Mile Square Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center that offers primary care, behavioral health, and addiction services to an underserved urban population. After approximately two years there, I transitioned to my current position at RUSH in October 2025.
Through these experiences, I have developed a strong interest in understanding the cognitive and emotional mechanisms that contribute to psychopathology and, ultimately, using that knowledge to improve clinical care. I believe that research should inform clinical practice, particularly in areas like trauma and PTSD where there are still significant gaps in how we understand, assess, and treat these conditions. Eventually, I hope to pursue a graduate degree, become a licensed therapist and work in a VA or hospital setting where I can combine clinical work with PTSD-related research.
Explain your role and what you do on a day-to-day basis.
I support the management and execution of department-funded, NIH-sponsored, and industry-sponsored clinical research studies in epilepsy and stroke. My day-to-day responsibilities vary depending on which studies I am working on. A two-hour patient visit can easily become an entire day (or more) of work between visit preparation, the visit itself, and the follow-up tasks afterward, including entering data, answering queries, filing paperwork, and more. No matter what day it is, multitasking is a constant!
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Definitely interacting with and supporting patients! I love being able to make a difference in patients’ lives, even if it is in a small way.
What part of your job would surprise people?
The wide range of responsibilities and skills the job requires, as well as the fact that we manage multiple studies at the same time! People might also be surprised to learn that we often work in the laboratory preparing, processing, and shipping blood samples.
What aspects of RUSH make you proud to work here?
RUSH’s commitment to patient care and its strong focus on research.
What is one major thing you learned about our team culture?
We are in this together, and people are more than happy to help. A major shoutout to my coworkers Henna McCoy and Amanda Sremac, who are both so knowledgeable and supportive. These women are true gems, and I am proud to work alongside them.
What has been your proudest accomplishment in your first year?
My leadership role in our Librexia Stroke Trial! I recently completed an end-of-study visit with a patient whom I helped recruit from the Emergency Department during my first few weeks on the job. It was incredibly gratifying to know that I helped lead this patient (among others!) through one of our complex clinical trials from start to finish.
What advice would you give to someone starting in this role today?
Even though I had spent years working in research prior to starting this role, I quickly learned that the world of clinical trials is highly specialized. There is a learning curve, but the skills you gain from being in a position like this are invaluable.
What are you reading, watching, or listening to right now?
Reading: Innate: How the Wiring of Our Brains Shapes Who We Are by Kevin J. Mitchell
Listening: A mix of everything! I have been training for my first 10K, which I will be running on September 12th. I’ve been running 20+ miles a week, so I have been listening to A LOT of music!