Summary

Cynthia Binanay, MA, BSN is a Senior Project Leader at the Duke Clinical Research Institute and a Senior Advisor and Project Leader of Kenya Operations for the Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health. Ms. Binanay received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa., her Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies and Health Policy Certificate from Duke University, and Certificate in Public Health Leadership Program from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her professional background includes over 30 years of multidisciplinary health care experience, including intensive care nursing and sales and marketing experience with major pharmaceutical companies.

Ms. Binanay first became engaged in clinical research and adverse event safety reporting at Quintiles and subsequently joined the Duke Clinical Research Institute as a Project Leader where she managed multi-million dollar, multi-center national and international clinical trials. Although she has managed clinical trials for both pharmaceutical and government sponsors in multiple therapeutic areas, she is especially interested in projects that provide the opportunity to improve health care and influence health policy for disadvantaged populations. Her research and personal interests have specifically focused on the psychosocial impact of medical trauma and chronic illness in children. She is actively involved in public speaking and mental health advocacy within North Carolina.

Ms. Binanay’ s interest in global health issues began early on in her career when she lived in the Philippines for two years as Manager of Family to Family, Inc. At its inception in 2005, she became Director of Operations for the Hubert-Yeargan Center for Global Health. She served in this role until 2022 and spearheaded research, educational programming and health systems capacity building projects in Sri Lanka, Nicaragua, and Kenya. She also oversaw the global health clinical electives program and the HYC international scholar exchange program.