Strategies to Empower Clinical Sites, Streamline Trials and Enhance Patient Care

Jillian Agnew, RN, CCRC, is the Senior Clinical Research Nurse at St. Johns Center for Clinical Research in St. Augustine, Florida. She received her Certification in Clinical Research (CCRC) in 2021 and is currently the lead study nurse for all cardiovascular trials at her site. Prior to research, Ms Agnew worked in multiple areas of nursing including Emergency, Home Health, Public Health and Trauma Critical Care at the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Critical care will always be near and dear to her heart, but research has quickly become her favorite kind of nursing. “I really enjoy the relationships I develop with my research patients. I love seeing pictures of their kids, grandchildren, pets, etc. It shows how much they appreciate the amount of time you are investing in them. I also love that I have a career that brings me so much job satisfaction. Every day, I feel like I am making a difference and working towards a larger goal for the greater good.” Outside of work, Ms Agnew and her family enjoy geocaching, game nights with friends and spending time at the beach.

Maha's, MS, MRA, CCRC, educational background is in Clinical Research Regulatory Affairs, Biotechnology and Life Sciences. At Penn Medicine, our goal is to bring new treatments and innovative approaches to improve patients’ lives. Ms Dutt’s portfolio at the Office of Clinical Research includes navigating clinical research sites through the complex maze of resources we offer at Penn Medicine. This includes patient recruitment, training requirements, research application implementation and maintenance; and, most importantly facilitating patients and caregivers as they try to find the right trial for their needs.

Joanne Monaghan, RN, CCRC, is a highly experienced healthcare professional with a passion for patient care and clinical research. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as a dedicated and knowledgeable registered nurse since 1993. Ms Monaghan’s expertise and commitment to delivering exceptional care has made a significant impact on the lives of countless patients. In 2005, Ms Monaghan transitioned her career into the field of clinical research, assuming the role of a clinical research coordinator. With her strong clinical background and meticulous attention to detail, she quickly excelled in managing complex research studies and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Ms Monaghan’s in-depth understanding of study protocols, data collection, and participant recruitment has contributed to the successful execution of hundreds of clinical trials. Since 2021, Ms Monaghan has taken on the role of Site Director at Boston Clinical Trials, a prestigious research institution renowned for its groundbreaking contributions to medical advancements. As Site Director, she oversees the coordination and management of multiple research projects, working closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure the smooth operation of clinical trials. Ms Monaghan’s leadership skills, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication have played a crucial role in fostering a collaborative and efficient research environment. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ms Monaghan remains dedicated to ongoing education and professional development. She actively participates in workshops, conferences, and seminars to stay abreast of the latest advancements in clinical research and nursing practices. In her spare time, Ms Monaghan enjoys giving back to the community through volunteer work, spending time with her family and her 6 year old German shepherd.

Jessica Scott, MD, JD, is a Patient Engagement leader who brings to Legacy Health Strategies a combined acumen of medicine and law, together with innovative thinking allows her to drive culture change in medical product development within organizations which results in mutually beneficial outcomes for patients and industry. She is also an experienced ambassador for medical policy issues and patient engagement to organizations and agencies on a global level. Dr Scott is known as a credible and trusted thought-leader and collaborator, bringing novel solutions, digital strategies, and patient-centered approaches to biotech, med tech and pharmaceutical industries and across multi-stakeholder groups. Dr Scott has deep knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry with senior leadership positions at both GlaxoSmithKline and Takeda where her focus has been on building patient perspectives into the process of R&D, enhancing trust and fostering a sense of true partnership with patients. She leads by inspiring others and engendering high levels of engagement with skillful, timely, and consistent delivery of initiatives and solutions that bring more medicines of value to patients, faster. Dr Scott has received awards for innovative and impactful work in Patient Engagement including the Trail Blazer Award and PharmaVoice100 as one of the top 100 most inspiring leaders in the industry. She is actively involved as a strategic advisor to Bioethics International, Patient Focused Medicines Development, DIA Patient Advisory Council and remains actively licensed to practice law in North Carolina where she also practiced as a Family Physician for over a decade.

Marie Emms has over 25 years of experience in healthcare communications, spanning public relations, medical education and R&D patient engagement. Marie is currently Head of Patient Engagement & Recruitment at BMS responsible for growing, developing and supporting a team to accelerate recruitment and enrollment globally. Prior to her role at BMS, Marie was the Global Head of Investigator & Patient Engagement at Johnson & Johnson.She specializes in the development and execution of strategic integrated communications programs to support sites and their patients through the clinical trial journey, from initial awareness and consent through to compliance and adherence. Marie has worked on a wide range of therapeutic areas across neonatal, pediatric, adult and geriatric studies.Marie’s unique Commercial and Clinical insight, as well as her spirit of partnership, encourages and ensures successful collaboration. Marie defines what it means to be a leader in today’s rapidly changing healthcare industry. She has a genuine and singular passion to improve the lives of patients – a passion that motivates and energizes her colleagues and everyone with whom she interacts.