The Team
Claudia 'Poody' Wisman, RN (Operations Manager)
Poody founded Pediatric Research of Charlottesville in 2007 as a one-woman operation! Since then, she has facilitated over 100 studies all while helping a string of aspiring medical providers gain experience in a clinical setting. She attended the University of Virginia School of Nursing and worked at UVA hospital for 10 years. In her free time, Poody enjoys caring for a number of chickens, ducks, rabbits, and dogs.
Paul Wisman Jr., M.D., FAAP (Principal Investigator)
Dr. Wisman attended the University of Virginia as an undergraduate, the Darden school of business, UVA School of Medicine, and completed his residency at the University of Virginia Department of Pediatrics (wahoowa). In addition to serving as our primary investigator, he has been a physician at Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville for 26 years. In his free time, Dr. Wisman is an avid gardener and a devoted patron of UVA athletic events.
Jack Wisman (Coordinator)
Jack graduated from the University of Virginia in 2009 with a degree in Economics. After working in Richmond as a Mortgage Loan Originator for 13 years, he decided to change careers with a renewed focus on Healthcare. In his free time he likes to attend UVA sporting events, swim, and play golf.
Uyen Nhi Tran (Coordinator)
Uyen graduated in 2025 from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Chemistry, with a specialization in Biochemistry and received Highest Distinction for her Distinguished Majors Thesis. She also minored in Health, Ethics, and Society, which sparked her interest in anthropology and philosophy-- particularly, relational ethics and the ethics of care. She is applying to medical school, hoping to become a primary care physician. During her time at UVA, she worked at UVA Health, with 2.5 years of experience caring for psychiatric and geriatric patients. She chose to work at PROC because it allows her to see a different dimension of research, while interacting closely with pediatric populations and their families. Longitudinal care is especially important to her, as she is also a home caregiver for older adults in the Charlottesville area. With her interest in anthropology, working at PROC means that she can experience the relationships that medicine and research have with not only the patient, but the families, and new conceptions of what it means to care for a person. In her free time, she loves to read, hike (as a Roanoke, VA native, she enjoys nature's beauty), spend time with family and friends, and explore new cafes in the area.
Catherine Hansa (Coordinator)
Catherine graduated from Vassar College in 2023 with a dual degree in International Studies and Russian Studies. After studying abroad in Russia during the invasion of Ukraine, she decided to step away from foreign affairs, and found passion in medicine while interning for a pediatric surgical fund. Catherine completed the University of Virginia’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program in 2025, and will soon start applying to medical school. In her free time, she loves to dance and listen to Europop.