K. Michelle Powell, JD, BSN, RN

K. Michelle Powell, JD, BSN, RN, brings clinical, legal and regulatory experience to her work in research administration at CHRISTUS Health. She began her career as a registered nurse, working across multiple areas of nursing, including two years as a research nurse coordinator managing and coordinating clinical trials.

Her interest in health care regulatory compliance led her to earn a Juris Doctor degree. After law school, Michelle served as legal counsel for a cardiovascular research organization, providing guidance on clinical research operations and regulatory matters. She also worked at a law firm specializing in health care-related cases.

Michelle serves as director of the Office of Research Finance & Administration (ORFA) within the CHRISTUS Institute for Innovation & Advanced Clinical Care. In this role, she leads a team that provides pre- and post-award support to CHRISTUS Health facilities conducting research across Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico.

She also oversees the research compliance program, supporting adherence to regulatory standards and institutional policies. Her team helps maintain research billing integrity by reviewing charges for patients enrolled in clinical trials for accuracy and compliance.

Michelle's clinical background and legal experience support the responsible conduct of research while helping CHRISTUS advance innovation, regulatory compliance and high standards in research administration.