Barb Geiger, BSN, RN

Go with your gut - your project team is an extension of your company and you need to have a collaborative relationship.

A day in my life at Clinipace

Client meetings, brainstorming, protocol review, oversight of project managers, hiring new employees and staffing projects, preparing for management meetings, talking to investors…at the end of the day making sure that our clients' needs are met.

My "a-ha!" moment

A defining moment in my career was when I was tapped on the shoulder in Reagan Airport (1000 miles from home) by a young woman who asked if I remembered her. I did not have to think very long before remembering that I had admitted her as a ten-year old with sarcoma of the scapula when I was working as a pediatric oncology nurse. We had sat together on her bed and studied Grey's Anatomy (the book, not the TV show) so she would know what was going to happen to her. I sat up all night listening to her mom worry about whether her daughter was going to live. Seven years later, half a continent away, she and her family remembering me reminded me that what we do every day in clinical research is about the patient. Therefore, in everything I do, it is always with the patient in mind, and knowing that we all make a tremendous difference in the lives of those patients that benefit from the drugs or treatments that we help develop.

The most important consideration a client should take when undertaking a clinical research project

The number of studies currently being worked is important because the project team is the key to the operational success of a clinical trial. Our sponsors want to know that they have our full attention and that we are dedicated to the success of their project. Therefore, we do limit the number of trials our team members work at any given time so they become experts on that assigned trial and a resource for their sites and sponsor colleagues.

One of the biggest misconceptions I run up against in my daily duties is

A big misconception is that therapeutic experience is the only thing that matters when selecting a CRO or assigning a project team member. It is really operational knowledge and experience that make the difference. Yes, it is very helpful to be knowledgeable about a therapeutic area or class of drugs, especially when working in a complex therapeutic area. However, an experienced monitor or project manager can bring operational expertise to a project that transcends the need to have worked in the specific area before.

Professional organizations

Drug Information Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council

If I'm not at my desk, you can find me…

Playing with my dogs and hanging out at home in the kitchen with family. Or on the road as travel is a big component of my job. So not very often will you find me behind a desk!

The best thing I ever ate was…

Coquille St. Jacques at Chateau Greycliff in Nassau, Bahamas

The best place I've ever visited is…

Italy, France, Argentina, Switzerland, Africa… I love them all!

The best thing I've ever read is…

Tale of Two Cities

Best movie ever?

The Last Emperor

One thing about me most people don't know is…

Early in my career as a monitor I considered going back to law school

Half empty or half full?

Half full

Morning, noon, or night?

Morning

Paper or plastic?

Neither – I take my own cloth bags (we are green in the office too and don't use paper plates or cups – we use china and wash the dishes).

Coke or Pepsi?

Diet Coke

Smooth or crunchy peanut butter?

Crunchy natural that you grind from fresh nuts at Whole Foods

iPhone or Blackberry?

iPhone

Mac or PC?

PC