Allison Spell’s career started in hospitality, working in conference services for the Washington Duke Inn and with sales at the Umstead Hotel and Spa. She realized she really liked helping people, and she’s never stopped.
Allison is a senior clinical research coordinator who works with neurosurgeon Nandan Lad. She coordinates all aspects of participation for subjects enrolled in research studies for medical devices to treat chronic pain. She says she’s amazed at the difference in patients’ quality of life, or, as she puts it, “Going from a pain level 8 to doing the funky chicken dance in clinic.”
Born and raised in Durham, Allison’s Duke roots run deep. Her mother worked in IT at Duke for 36 years, and her father worked at Duke Regional from the time it was Watts Hospital until 2010. She went to both Wofford College and Meredith College, but did not get a degree from either school. When she came back to work at Duke in 2016 and realized she needed to finish her college degree to advance, Duke Neurosurgery administrator Kathy Tobin suggested Mount Olive College, so that she could get her degree online and still work full time. As part of Dr. Lad’s group, Allison has been able to grow as the research has grown.
Allison and her husband, Matt, stay busy keeping up with their six-year-old, Huntley, and his various activities. She enjoys making jewelry and upcycling furniture, and her family is very involved with their church.