27 Jul Workforce diversity key to advancing patient diversity

By Andrea Goodman, Colorectal Cancer Alliance via The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)

Promoting a diverse clinical trial workforce is a key pillar of any effective effort to promote patient population diversity, Samit Hirawat, MD, chief medical officer for global drug development with Bristol Myers Squibb, told attendees of a July 27 webinar sponsored by The Conference Forum. “The workforce must be diverse, with sites located in areas where underserved populations live,” he said.

Calling improved patient diversity in clinical trials “a scientific imperative,” Hirawat said industry must also address historical mistrust from some patient populations and treat the issue as a matter of “health equity.”

However, successful efforts must also be patient focused, said Andrea Goodman, MSW, MPH, senior vice president of patient support and research strategy with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. “First, we must acknowledge we don’t [currently] have a healthcare system for all, but we have a shared goal of doing better,” she said. Read more …