Heart of the Trial

Suzanne Turner
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to a podcast delving into the personal narratives within the clinical research industry. Through candid interviews, we'll learn about the personal journeys and motivations of individuals who have chosen this profession. What I like to call 'their why'. My aim is to spotlight the often overlooked heroes of clinical trials, showcasing their passion and dedication that extends beyond the spotlight of 'big Pharma.' These conversations will illuminate the heartfelt narratives of those driving advancements in medical research. This podcast is not just for industry insiders; it's for everyone curious about the human side of healthcare. Beyond the industry's negative reputation, we'll shed light on the dedicated professionals behind clinical trials. Join us as we uncover the heart and passion of those working tirelessly behind the scenes in clinical research. Welcome to Heart of the Trial!

  1. 10/13/2025

    Season 2, Episode 11: Leading with Heart with Jess Thompson

    Send a text Training, tattoos, and the truth about burnout in clinical research. In this season finale of Heart of the Trial, Suzanne sits down with the visionary behind Clinical Research Pro and ClinOps at Sea—Jess Thompson—to talk about building a career with purpose and sustainability in clinical research. From project management tips to mental health check-ins, Jess shares how her own journey through labs, sites, CROs, and sponsors inspiredher to create a professional development platform that supports the whole person, not just the job title. Together, they dig into: ● What inspired Jess to start Clinical Research Pro ● How burnout reshaped her approach to leadership ● Why community is the antidote to overwhelm in this industry ● The story behind ClinOps at Sea and why it struck a nerve ● Empowering project managers to take ownership of their careers 📘 About the Guest Jess Thompson, MS, MBA, PMP, is a clinical research project manager, wellness advocate, and founder of Clinical Research Pro—a platform offering expert-led learning, mentorship, and wellness support for clinical research professionals. With 15+ years of experience across labs, sites, CROs, and sponsors, Jess brings hands-on insight and heart-led leadership to everything she builds. Under her leadership, CRPro offers programs in project and risk management, ICH GCP, change leadership, and career development, alongside resources focused on stress management, self-care, and work-life balance. She’s also the force behind ClinOps at Sea, a conference that brings connection and professional development to the high seas. Jess is a highly rated speaker, a WCG MAGI Steering Committee member, and holds a CCRC, PMP, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, and multiple advanced degrees in business and leadership. Her mission is to empower CRPMs and support clinical research professionals as whole people, not just project deliverables. 📍 Connect with Jess Thompson Website: www.clinicalresearchpro.comInstagram: @clinicalresearchpro LinkedIn: Jess Thompson 📞 Connect with Suzanne: Website: https://www.iceconsultingllc.com/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnersuzannem/ 💌 Feedback and Questions: Email Suzanne at podcast@iceconsultingllc.com 🎙️ Tune in and get to know the passionate professional behind Heart of the Trial!

    58 min

  2. 10/06/2025

    Season 2, Episode 10: Walking the Patient Journey with Amin Jagani

    Send a text What’s it really like to join a clinical trial? Amin Jagani takes us step-by-step through the patient experience. In this episode, Suzanne reconnects with Amin Jagani for a deep dive into the full patient experience in clinical trials—from referral and informed consent to decentralized visits and data collection. Through a hypothetical case study, Amin walks listeners through what it really looks like to participate in a complex oncology trial, including practical considerations around time commitment, travel, reimbursements, wearable tech, and informed decision-making. They explore: How eligibility is determined and why protocols matterThe difference between open-label vs. double-blind studiesCommon patient hesitations (and how to address them)The evolution and promise of decentralized trialsWhat questions patients should ask before saying yes Patient links: Clinical Trials Ontario: https://ctontario.ca/learn-about-trials/ Clinical Trials: Home | ClinicalTrials.gov 📘 About the Guest Amin Jagani is a seasoned pharmaceutical leader with over 20 years of experience in drug development, holding key roles at Procter & Gamble, Eli Lilly, and global contract research organizations like Parexel, PPD, and Syneos. As a serial entrepreneur, he has founded three biotech ventures, achieving two successful exits. He authored The Profit Pill, a book on biotech investing, and has served as an advisor, board member, and editor for industry publications. Amin holds degrees in Cell & Molecular Biology, Pharmacy, and an MBA in Corporate Finance and Entrepreneurship. He has pursued advanced studies at Harvard Medical School and the Ivey School of Business. Beyond work, he is a licensed pharmacist, adjunct professor, and a dedicated martial artist and competitive tennis player. 📍 Connect with Amin Jagani Website: hyggroupinc.com Email: mjagani@hyggroupinc.com The Profit Pill: The Profit Pill: How to make make money in the pharmaceutical industry: Jagani, Amin, Jagani, Amin: 9781777513610: Amazon.com: Books 📞 Connect with Suzanne: Website: https://www.iceconsultingllc.com/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnersuzannem/ 💌 Feedback and Questions: Email Suzanne at podcast@iceconsultingllc.com 🎙️ Tune in and get to know the passionate professional behind Heart of the Trial!

    46 min

  3. 09/28/2025

    Season 2, Episode 9: Inside the Trial and Behind the Tech with Jen Arters

    Send a text When you've been both behind the system and in the trial yourself, you build solutions with empathy—and urgency. In this episode, Suzanne chats with Jen Arters, a systems strategist, clinical operations consultant, and three-time clinical trial participant. Jen shares her unique perspective on trial management—from building medical writing macros and managing TMF systems, to sitting on the patient side of the screen logging symptoms and food diaries. Together, they dive into: What it’s really like participating in three different trials for celiac diseaseHow tech and empathy intersect in digital transformationWhy trial integration and system interoperability should be an industry-wide priorityThe role of user access management and validation in today’s sponsor environmentHer passion for making systems smarter and easier for the humans who use them 📘 About the Guest Jen Arters is an empathetic, results-driven leader with a deep commitment to patient-centered innovation in clinical systems management. With a strong foundation in both Life Sciences and IT, she specializes in clinical application implementation, validation, digital transformation, and process optimization. Known for her resilience, precision, and ability to lead large-scale initiatives under pressure, Jen delivers system-agnostic solutions that improve operational efficiency across organizations. She’s also a skilled collaborator and strategic connector—bridging the gap between clinical teams and technology to drive successful data migration strategies, encourage digital adoption, and promote excellence across the clinical trial ecosystem. 📍 Connect with Jen Arters  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenarters/  Email: j.arters@hotmail.com 📞 Connect with Suzanne: Website: https://www.iceconsultingllc.com/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnersuzannem/ 💌 Feedback and Questions: Email Suzanne at podcast@iceconsultingllc.com 🎙️ Tune in and get to know the passionate professional behind Heart of the Trial!

    44 min

  4. 09/22/2025

    Season 2, Episode 8: Naturopathic Medicine, Reimagined – with Dr. Jordan Robertson

    Send a text What if we held naturopathic care to the same evidence-based standards as conventional medicine—and made it easier for patients to access it? In this episode, Suzanne talks with Dr. Jordan Robertson, founder of The Confident Clinician, about her mission to transform how naturopathic and integrative care is practiced and perceived. From academic research to co-teaching a course with NASA, Dr. Jordan brings a rare mix of science, strategy, and soul to the evolving world of holistic medicine. We explore: What naturopathic medicine is (and what it isn’t)Why critical appraisal and evidence grading matter—especially in integrative careHow her platform empowers clinicians to make better decisions and have informed consent conversationsThe challenges of misinformation, patient compliance, and traditional system limitationsHow structured human support—not just data—drives real-world health outcomes 📘 About the Guest Jordan Robertson is on a mission to elevate integrative and naturopathic medicine to the standards of care that conventional medicine practices while simultaneously solving the unpaid research-labour crisis of Naturopathic Doctors. With a 15-year career in facilitation, research inquiry and critical appraisal at McMaster University, Jordan has taught thousands of students how to be better communicators, work in teams and research nutrition, integrative care, medicine and “space medicine” (that last one while co-facilitating a course with NASA). Jordan is the founder of The Confident Clinician, a database, clinical decision-making tool and home for over 700 full-time members, 60 fellows in her leadership program and over 5000 clinician subscribers to her free integrative magazine, The Stacks. She’s known for helping clinicians see their own potential, inspiring curiosity, vulnerability and “mind-changing” and for giving clinicians the push they need to become the best at what they do. As a retired ND, she’s paving the way for clinicians to love their work, career and (EVEN) critical appraisal of research. 📍 Connect with Dr. Jordan Robertson Instagram: @drjordannd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjordannd/ Website: confidentclinicianclub.com Podcast: Real Integrative Medicine 📞 Connect with Suzanne: Website: https://www.iceconsultingllc.com/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnersuzannem/ 💌 Feedback and Questions: Email Suzanne at podcast@iceconsultingllc.com 🎙️ Tune in and get to know the passionate professional behind Heart of the Trial!

    50 min

  5. 09/15/2025

    Season 2, Episode 7: TMF Tools, AI Experiments, and the Power of “Why” with Rob Jones

    Send a text TMF Tools, AI Experiments, and the Power of “Why” with Rob Jones Show Description & Notes From lab coats to line items, meet the creator of the TMF Pocket app shaking things up in clinical operations. In this episode, Suzanne chats with Rob Jones, a product manager, TMF innovator, and creator of the TMF Pocket app, about how curiosity—and a little bit of late-night YouTube—led him to build practical tools for the clinical research world. We dive into what sparked his idea, how he leveraged AI without writing a single line of code, and why specialized tools (beyond Excel!) are the future of our industry. We talk about: How Rob’s TMF journey started in IT and bloomed into product managementThe inspiration (and frustration) behind building the TMF Pocket appWhy vibing with AI might be your new favorite development toolHis open-access chatbot “Emma” and how it helps teams interpret EMA guidanceThe real reason education and patient access are at the heart of his mission 📘 About the Guest  Rob Jones has over 15 years’ experience in the world of clinical trials. After starting in the labs with a white lab coat, he soon realized he was meant for more exciting things. A few years after working in IT, Regulatory, and general Clinical Operations, he found that excitement—TMF. Now Rob serves as a Product Manager for a TMF software and services vendor, but it's his spare time where he gets to really be creative. As the designer of the TMF Pocket app and the force behind InnovationToolKit.co.uk, Rob is leaping feet first into the world of AI and what it means for the clinical operations industry. 📍 Connect with Rob Jones  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjonestmf/ Website: InnovationToolKit.co.uk 📞 Connect with Suzanne: Website: https://www.iceconsultingllc.com/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnersuzannem/ 💌 Feedback and Questions: Email Suzanne at podcast@iceconsultingllc.com 🎙️ Tune in and get to know the passionate professional behind Heart of the Trial!

    52 min

  6. 09/08/2025

    Season 2, Episode 6: Biotech, Business, and Brandon: A Conversation with Amin Jagani

    Send a text Biotech, Business, and Brandon: A Conversation with Amin Jagani Show Description & Notes What do a licensed pharmacist, biotech entrepreneur, clinical site founder, and professor all have in common? This guy. In this energizing conversation, Suzanne sits down with pharmaceutical leader Amin Jagani to talk about his 25-year journey across nearly every corner of the drug development world—from CRA to biotech founder to venture advisor. They explore what’s changing (hello, AI and decentralized trials), what’s holding us back (yes, we’re still struggling with patient recruitment), and the real-life moments that keep us going—like Brandon, a patient whose story became Amin’s driving force. We dig into: The evolution of CRA roles and trial modelsHow mergers, acquisitions, and patent cliffs are shaping biotechWhat every professional should understand about trial efficiencyWhy understanding business is just as important as scienceA preview of what the next decade may hold for clinical research 📘 About the Guest Amin Jagani is a seasoned pharmaceutical leader with over 20 years of experience in drug development, holding key roles at Procter & Gamble, Eli Lilly, and global contract research organizations like Parexel, PPD, and Syneos. As a serial entrepreneur, he has founded three biotech ventures, achieving two successful exits. He authored The Profit Pill, a book on biotech investing, and has served as an advisor, board member, and editor for industry publications. Amin holds degrees in Cell & Molecular Biology, Pharmacy, and an MBA in Corporate Finance and Entrepreneurship. He has pursued advanced studies at Harvard Medical School and the Ivey School of Business. Beyond work, he is a licensed pharmacist, adjunct professor, and a dedicated martial artist and competitive tennis player. 📍 Connect with Amin Jagani Website: hyggroupinc.com Email: mjagani@hyggroupinc.com The Profit Pill: The Profit Pill: How to make make money in the pharmaceutical industry: Jagani, Amin, Jagani, Amin: 9781777513610: Amazon.com: Books 📞 Connect with Suzanne: Website: https://www.iceconsultingllc.com/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnersuzannem/ 💌 Feedback and Questions: Email Suzanne at podcast@iceconsultingllc.com 🎙️ Tune in and get to know the passionate professional behind Heart of the Trial!

    49 min

  7. 09/01/2025

    Season 2, Episode 5: The Heart of the TMF with Ann Ackley-Fifer

    Send a text The Heart of the TMF with Ann Ackley-Fifer Show Description & Notes What started in a file room became a 20-year journey of transforming how trials are documented, connected, and inspected. In this episode, Suzanne sits down with fellow TMF expert Ann Ackley-Fifer to talk about her evolution from paper-based Trial Master Files to digital strategy, system configuration, and end-user empowerment. Ann shares what’s changed in the last two decades of TMF management—and what hasn’t. Together, we cover: How paper roots shaped Ann’s digital TMF philosophyCommon misconceptions that still slow teams downWhat E6(R3) means for sponsor oversight and CRO transparencyWhy end-user understanding is the hidden key to TMF qualityWhat keeps Ann passionate after nearly 20 years in the field 📘 About the Guest Ann Ackley-Fifer’s TMF journey began in 2006. With experience at CROs, sponsors, and now as a consultant, she’s witnessed the evolution from paper to digital—and everything in between. Her philosophy centers on user-friendly systems and practical training, ensuring that TMFs aren’t just compliant, but clear and usable. A Veeva-certified expert and TMF consultant for the past four years, Ann believes even the best system fails without empowered users. 📍 Connect with Ann Ackley-Fifer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annackleytmfsme/ (Yes, she’s the one with the awesome blue hair.) 📞 Connect with Suzanne: Website: https://www.iceconsultingllc.com/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnersuzannem/ 💌 Feedback and Questions: Email Suzanne at podcast@iceconsultingllc.com 🎙️ Tune in and get to know the passionate professional behind Heart of the Trial!

    46 min

  8. 08/25/2025

    Season 2, Episode 4: Building Clinical Research Careers with Rudy Malle

    Send a text Building Clinical Research Careers – with Rudy Malle Show Description & Notes What if the key to industry growth wasn’t just talent—but career navigation? In this episode, Suzanne talks with Rudy Malle, founder of YANA Career Consulting and the Clinical Research Accelerator, about how his unconventional path through the clinical research world—from medical assistant to site director to career strategist—is helping others break in and move up. They cover: Rudy’s 360-degree view of clinical trials from site, sponsor, and CRO perspectives The power of curiosity, adaptability, and asking the right questions Why bridge programs matter and how they help diversify the industry The disconnect between job requirements and real-world experience The importance of mentorship, networking, and mindset in career growth How Rudy is helping job seekers translate transferable skills into clinical research roles 📘 About the Guest  Rudy Malle is a career strategist and clinical research expert with over 15 years of experience spanning clinical research sites, academic institutions, pharma companies, and CROs. As the founder of YANA Career Consulting and creator of the Clinical Research Accelerator, Rudy helps professionals transition into and thrive in clinical research careers through strategic coaching, mentorship, and training programs. He is passionate about empowering job seekers and career changers to confidently navigate their career journeys and achieve success in the life sciences industry. 📍 Connect with Rudy Malle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudymalle/ Website: www.yanacareers.com Email: support@yanacareers.com 📞 Connect with Suzanne: Website: https://www.iceconsultingllc.com/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turnersuzannem/ 💌 Feedback and Questions: Email Suzanne at podcast@iceconsultingllc.com 🎙️ Tune in and get to know the passionate professional behind Heart of the Trial!

    48 min
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About

Welcome to a podcast delving into the personal narratives within the clinical research industry. Through candid interviews, we'll learn about the personal journeys and motivations of individuals who have chosen this profession. What I like to call 'their why'. My aim is to spotlight the often overlooked heroes of clinical trials, showcasing their passion and dedication that extends beyond the spotlight of 'big Pharma.' These conversations will illuminate the heartfelt narratives of those driving advancements in medical research. This podcast is not just for industry insiders; it's for everyone curious about the human side of healthcare. Beyond the industry's negative reputation, we'll shed light on the dedicated professionals behind clinical trials. Join us as we uncover the heart and passion of those working tirelessly behind the scenes in clinical research. Welcome to Heart of the Trial!

Information

  • Creator
    Suzanne Turner
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Heart of the Trial
  • Show Website
    Heart of the Trial