Katie Diktakis

Biography

Katie Diktakis, B.S., is a Medical Assistant at Bass Surgery Center and a Junior Research Specialist in the Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care at UCI Health. A first-generation college graduate, Diktakis earned her B.S. in Human Biology with a minor in Business Management from the University of California, Irvine in 2023, and completed an accredited Medical Assistant Program through US Career Institute. She is a Certified Dermatology Technician and maintains CPR BLS certification.

Diktakis has worked in multiple clinical settings, including surgical centers, dermatology practices, and emergency veterinary medicine. At Bass Surgery Center, she coordinates patient care, assists in operating room procedures, and trains new employees on electronic medical record systems. Her previous role at Golden Coast Dermatology involved assisting in surgeries, managing prior authorizations, and training staff. Earlier in her career, she worked as an ER Veterinary Assistant at SAGE Veterinary Centers, where she assisted in emergency procedures and surgical interventions.

Diktakis has been involved in clinical research since her undergraduate years. As a student research intern with Buzzkill, she contributed to the development of saliva-based drug testing technology, resulting in a publication on rapid automated THC quantification from oral fluid. She began working with UCI Health Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care as a student researcher in 2021, gaining patient consent and learning research protocols for studies involving virtual reality and genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation. In her current role as Junior Research Specialist, she collects and analyzes data from Epic charts across three studies.

Education

• B.S. in Human Biology, University of California - Irvine, 2023