Mark Hecker joined Truman Medical Centers (TMC) in 2003 as director of Research Administration. He also directs the Office of Research Administration at the UMKC School of Medicine as the department jointly serves both institutions to support medical staff and faculty that conduct research activities.  His role in research administration includes management of pre-award and post-award duties for grants submitted and administered through the School of Medicine and providing grant financial information and reports. The Research Administration office also supports students and residents at the UMKC School of Medicine in a variety of functions including supporting the medical school’s students at the annual UMKC Health Sciences Student Research Summit. The office is also responsible for negotiating clinical trial agreements and budgets with pharmaceutical and device study sponsors and coordinating the payment and revenue process for clinical trials at the hospital. In addition, he is responsible for all policies that involve research at TMC

Mark received his doctorate of Pharmacy from North Dakota State University and is a licensed pharmacist. He completed a pharmacy post-graduate pharmacy residency at Cox Health Systems in Springfield, MO. He also has a BS degree in biology from the University of Mary (Bismarck, North Dakota) and received his MBA from Avila University in 2009. He has nearly 20 years of research administration experience and is an active member of the Society of Research Administrators. Mark is a faculty member at the UMKC School of Medicine and serves on a variety of committees and groups at the University.