Are we on the 'right' path in clinical research?

On the heels of my video discussing our end of year reflections and new year predictions, and as this is the inaugural newsletter I've committed to writing twice each month, it felt like the time to thread the needle a bit more into the black hole that is my brain..

The longer I spend in this industry, the more I realize just how silo'd we remain based on which part we are in and where our focus lies. It is SO easy to become nuanced into a highly technical space and while brilliant in that particular area, no longer have the bandwidth or ability to also keep up with every other facet and stakeholder. Whilst being a generalist is desirable to most, becoming a specialist is what will move the needle on your career trajectory ~ a never-ending conundrum for many. When you tack on being a contractor at a small firm or an entrepreneur, or really any roles outside of larger organizations capable of dedicated, free available, educational resources, it becomes even easier to over focus and struggle to stay on top of every piece of new information you might need to know.

And, with that sentiment, I often spend an enormous amount of time internally concerned about whether the reading, networking, traveling, and training I attempt to take in is ever enough to equip me to know I am officially on the 'right' path. It is yet one battle to educate oneself enough to remain fluent across every possible industry interaction, and another entirely to ensure that you're doing the best for patients and clinical trials globally while staying ahead on the latest innovations. We would never all agree on exactly what the 'right' path for clinical research in fact is, alas, it isn't the point in sum of the question. Rather, how do we even begin to identify ALL the paths to determine what looks, tastes, smells, feels, and is the 'right' one indeed for our mission is the point. *Cue another one of those feel good sayings about enjoying the journey not just the destination, hehe!

Alas, I remain open and excited to hear all the ways others go about bringing news to their periphery when otherwise buried in billable work, but I have to admit the VOLUME of the info received isn't what concerns me usually. In fact, the concern lies in what to listen to and what to ignore, when these tired eyes still have motivation to wander at the end of a long day, where do I rest them? So, I've done what any of you would do and made a list of what goes into my decision making around what falls into a possible 'right' path for me and what I have to let pass.

• No one movement, initiative or company/individual has ALL the answers. If they say it's a panacea, walk the opposite direction, but listen as you go. Work hard to follow and connect with folks who hold every opinion on the given issue, even the ones you don't agree are the most promising.
• Fads exist even in clinical research, thus evaluate new buzz items carefully for true value added. However, clinical trial innovation can move faster than we ever anticipate, so be wary on both sides of this coin when a new initiative looks appealing, it could be 'right' just the same! #decentralizedclinicaltrials #DCTs is a perfect example of this, #remotemonitoring can be too...
• Start with your gut then confirm with the data. There's no underestimating the prowess that landed you this far in your career, and some of that resides in the intangible and it should be honored. Similarly, data can always be manipulated so don't rely on it alone. Find the balance between the two and be prepared to make mistakes, just don't let imposter syndrome be one of them :)
• Benchmark and auto correct regularly, but don't overthink it. Just as I've trusted my gut and verified soft opinions with hard data, benchmarking and course correction don't always require a black belt in efficiency management or fancy metrics. If you're like me, you know deep down when you are in need of an alignment, it's more a matter of listening to the call and finding the way back to YOUR 'right' path.
• Finally, take in as much as you can but also, set some boundaries on when to digest and simmer. We have data everywhere in #clinicalresearch but excess data in no way guarantees quality and once it's overload, it becomes invaluable. Focus on the known quantities, and tune out the static if you want to stay sane!

All of this with a grain of salt and the knowledge it is ALWAYS easier to write advice than to put it into action. I welcome your comments below on this first newsletter and am open to topics for the next!