Dan Sfera is the Clinical Trials Guru. Dan has been publishing content in the clinical research space since 2010. Dan runs a clinical research consulting firm, operates multiple sites and also operates a CRO. The man has just about done it all when it comes to clinical research.

In this episode we discuss his beginnings in clinical research, learning when to pivot, our shared affinity for Gary Vaynerchuk, hiring for potential vs hiring for experience, and the importance of becoming a generalist.

John Bowman is a 2017 graduate from Washington and Lee University with a BS in Biology currently working in Charleston, SC as a clinical research coordinator . His goal is to become an MD with an emphasis on clinical trials as well as conventional medicine.

In this episode, we discuss clinical research as a path to becoming a surgeon, pediatric trials vs older populations, the importance of preparation, building trust with your patients, and building a routine.

Jeannie has worked in clinical research for 20 years across multiple therapeutic areas including gastroenterology, ophthalmology, neurology and endocrinology. Her experiences range from study coordination, clinical care and conduct, regulatory oversight, site operations, on-boarding and training, and site management. She is currently a Research Compliance Analyst at Banner Health and the Phoenix Chapter Chair for SOCRA.

In this episode we discuss the increasing use of telehealth, training new coordinators, SOCRA vs ACRP, the exciting world of research compliance, why data quality is so important and the importance of asking questions.

Our guest today is Lorraine Dishman. Lorraine is a diligent and detail-oriented clinical research professional who is passionate about supporting the advancement of scientific discovery. She oversees the clinical trial process from start-up to closeout and has held roles from clinical research coordinator to clinical research project manager. She’s worked in academic institutions, third-party sites and the Department of Health and Human Services.

In this episode we discuss being furloughed due to COVID19, creating relationships within clinics, academic vs independent research sites, and the importance of using this downtime to improve your skills and knowledge.

Today we welcome Kartik Munshi to the podcast. Kartik is the Research Operations Manager for the Cardiovascular Medicine Department at the University of Kansas Medical Center. I’ve known Kartik for several years and we worked together previously at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital Research Foundation. He’s been in clinical research for 10 years and has worked in a number of positions from clinical research coordinator to QA and compliance.

In this episode we discuss opening back up in the time of COVID-19, learning to let go of mistakes and how important it is to document, document, document!

Kartik can be found at LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kartikmunshi/ and emailed at Kartik.Munshi@gmail.com

When I first started in clinical research, I worked for a well-established neurology department at a university. At the time, it seemed like studies just flowed in without having to pursue them - until they didn’t. Faculty came and went. Research staff had turned over. Suddenly, we needed studies - bad!

I learned very quickly that relationship building is super important and dangerously underrated in clinical research. The relationships you forge (or don’t) with your PI, subjects and CRAs can make all the difference.

Here are some simple, easy ways you can start strengthening your relationships and how they can benefit you in the long run.