Where Curiosity Led: My Path into Clinical Research

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s this: I’ve always been a science geek—and I wear that title proudly.

In many ways, I relate to Lady Gaga’s lyric, “Baby, I was born this way.” My love for science started early, rooted in a public school experience that encouraged experimentation, curiosity, and science fair projects from elementary school through high school. Behind every experiment was the same driving question: what truth could I uncover and share with others?

In high school, that curiosity showed up in the form of swabbing vending machine buttons, handrails, door handles, bathroom counters, and water fountains to study bacterial growth on high-touch surfaces. I wanted to understand not just what was there, but what it meant for the communities using those spaces every day. Even then, I was fascinated by the way science could help us better understand the world around us—and improve it.

Although my original plan was to go to medical school, life took what I like to call the scenic route. Along the way, I found myself stepping into the professional workforce—into clinical research. Looking back, I could not have imagined landing in a field so closely aligned with my passions. For the past 23 years, clinical research has given me the opportunity to combine scientific thinking, purpose-driven work, and a commitment to improving lives. I started as a clinical research associate at an academic institution and later joined a variety of organizations to broaden my perspective and deepen my understanding of the industry.

One of the most meaningful turning points in my career came during my time in a new Site Engagement and Feasibility function at Bayer US. In that role, I had the opportunity to explore site and patient engagement more intentionally within a large pharmaceutical company. It built on my experience working with patients and research programs across different geographies and communities, and it also expanded the way I thought about impact.

As a clinical research associate, building strong, collaborative relationships with site teams was always important. But the reality is that the role also comes with a more important responsibility: protecting patient safety and ensuring study compliance. While I often supported sites in developing recruitment plans, the focus was usually on what needed to happen rather than how to help them succeed. Shifting into site and patient engagement changed that for me. It opened the door to supporting sites more meaningfully, while also leaning into clinical trials education and community enrichment in a deeper way.

Working across a wide range of clinical environments has given me a deep appreciation for the challenges that make each one unique. But that’s also what continues to inspire me: challenges create space for innovation, creative problem-solving, and new ways of thinking. For me, that has always been the heart of science—and the reason I continue to be so passionate about this work.

In future posts, I’ll share more about the explorations that shape my perspective, the community experiences that continue to ground my work, and the partnerships that make meaningful progress possible. My hope is to offer reflections from the field, lessons learned along the way, and stories that highlight the power of connection in advancing clinical research.

Here’s to the curiosity, connection, and shared purpose that make this work so meaningful.