Bio


With over twenty years at Stanford University, Ana Mezynski continues to thrive as a valued member of the Cardinal at Work community. Currently serving as the Research Office Administrator 3 for the Stanford-Surgery Policy Improvement Research and Education (S-SPIRE) Center, Ana plays a pivotal role in the daily operations of the Center. Her responsibilities include onboarding faculty and postdoctoral researchers, managing finances and facilities, and organizing educational workshops.

Ana brings deep ability in a range of administrative systems and platforms, including Oracle, Qualtrics, Site Improve, and Microsoft Office. She is also trained in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) and contributes to the Center’s online presence as a website developer. In her role, she supports Center Director Dr. Arden Morris and is continually expanding her capabilities in web and print design, and project management.

Ana's contributions extend beyond administration. She is a co-author of the research publication “Lost in translation: informed consent in the medical mission setting,” published in the Surgery Journal. Her work on this project included transcription, Spanish-to-English translation, and data preparation—proving her multifaceted skill set and commitment to research integrity.

In recognition of her exceptional service, Ana received the Anne G. Crowe Spirit Award in 2017, a prestigious honor acknowledging her dedication to the mission and vision of Stanford’s School of Medicine. She holds a Certificate in Research Administration from Stanford University and a Diploma in Medical Administration from Bryman College.

Current Role at Stanford


Working closely with the Center Director and the Vice-Chair of Clinical Research, I provide comprehensive administrative and operational support across multiple areas, including:

•Website Development: Design, update, and maintain the Center's website using Adobe Experience Manager (AEM).
•Facilities Management: Oversee space planning, maintenance requests, and office logistics.
•Financial Administration: Manage budgets, process transactions through iProcurement, SU Expense, and PCard systems.
•Postdoctoral Affairs & Visa Processes: Support onboarding, visa coordination, and administrative needs for postdoctoral scholars.
•Academic & Faculty Affairs: Assist with faculty appointments, reappointments, and coordination with Stanford’s academic offices.
•Quarterly Reporting: Compile and submit detailed program and activity reports.
•Event Planning & Coordination: Organize and execute key Center events including the Mixed Methods Research Workshop, Postdoctoral Bootcamp Sessions, Work In Progress Sessions, NVivo Software Training, Grant Writing Workshop Training.
•Grants Administration: Provide administrative support for grant preparation and document coordination.

Honors & Awards


  • Ann G. Crowe Spirit Award, Stanford University, School of Medicine. (2017)

Education & Certifications


  • Research Administration, Stanford University, Administration (2013)
  • Healthcare Administration, Bryman College, Administration (2004)

Service, Volunteer and Community Work


  • Emergency Response Team Member, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, School of Medicine (July 31, 2017 - Present)

    Location

    Stanford, CA

  • CPR & First Aid Certified, Division of Medical Sciences and National Research Council, American Association (9/14/2023 - 9/13/2025)

    Location

    Stanford, CA

  • “Lean Restart: Identifying Pain Points and Improving Workflows/Processes” Team Member, Surgery (11/1/2023 - 3/20/2024)

    Team member of the Department of Surgery "LEAN Restart" Program. A 5-Month program lead by the Improvement Training Department of Quality at Stanford Health Care.

    Location

    Stanford University

All Publications


  • Lost in translation: Informed consent in the medical mission setting. Surgery Sceats, L. A., Morris, A. M., Narayan, R. R., Mezynski, A., Woo, R. K., Yang, G. P. 2018

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Informed consent is a fundamental tenet of ethical care, but even under favorable conditions, patient comprehension of consent conversations may be limited. Little is known about providing informed consent in more uncertain situations such as medical missions. We sought to examine the informed consent process in the medical mission setting.METHODS: We studied informed consent for adult patients undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy during a medical mission to Guatemala using a convergent mixed-methods design. We audiotaped informed consents during preoperative visits and immediately conducted separate surveys to elicit comprehension of risks. Informed consent conversations and survey responses were translated and transcribed. We used descriptive statistics to examine informed consent content, including information provided by surgeon, the translation of information, and patient comprehension, and used thematic analysis to examine the consent process.RESULTS: Thirteen adult patients (median age 53 years, 69% male) participated. Surgeons conveyed 4 standard risks in 10 out of 13 encounters (77%); all 4 risks were translated to patients in 10 out of 13 encounters (77%). No patient could recall all 4 risks. Qualitative themes regarding the informed consent process included limited physician language skills, verbal domination by physicians and interpreters, and mistranslation of risks. Patients relied on faith and prior or vicarious experiences to qualify surgical risks instead of consent conversations. Many patients restated surgical instructions when asked about risks.CONCLUSION: Despite physicians' attempts to provide informed consent, medical mission patients did not comprehend surgical risks. Our data reveal a critical need to develop more effective methods for communicating surgical risks during medical missions.

    View details for PubMedID 30061041