mdtalk

In our third episode, “Patient-Centered Research in the Digital Age“,  Jean-Sébastien Gosuin  joined our Founder and CEO  Miriam Dervan , to explore how digital platforms are empowering patients to take a more active role in research. The perspective of the discussion was around how patient-generated insights and evolving trial models are helping sponsors and CROs design more accessible and patien...

Airing just days ahead of Rare Disease Day 2026, this mdgroup live episode focuses on the voices that matter most in rare disease research: patients and caregivers. Miriam is joined by Sarah Woods, rare disease patient, rare mom, and Founder of the Serenely Guided Foundation for Rare Diseases, for an honest and insightful conversation shaped by lived experience. Drawing on her personal journey and...

For Peter DiBiaso, clinical research has always been more than a profession – it’s been a passion. With decades of experience in biopharmaceutical development and a deep commitment to patient advocacy, Peter has long championed the importance of putting patients at the heart of every trial. But when life took an unexpected turn with a diagnosis of Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease, his perspective s...

To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are joined in this moving and potentially life-saving mdtalk by Sheila Mikhail, Executive Director of Columbus Children's Foundation and Co-Founder and Advisor at Ask Bio. Sheila is a Lawyer, Business Leader, and Philanthropist. She received her Doctor of Law in Business Commerce from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 1997. She has been fea...

We recently hosted a very special live podcast recording. In place of our usual mdtalk, we facilitated a live round table of experts to discuss the impact of decentralisation in clinical trials. In this jam-packed, fascinating discussion, representatives from the patient community, sponsors, sites, and clinical operations all sat around the virtual table for the very first time to debate our commo...

For this motivating episode of mdtalk, host LaQuinta Jernigan, Chief Operating Officer at mdgroup, was joined by Dr Eneida Nemecek.  Eneida is Medical Director of Clinical Research and Pediatric and Medical Oncology Doctor. at Oregon Health & Science University. Eneida is also dedicated to promoting diversity in healthcare and volunteers in a range of roles for incredible charities.  LaQuinta and...

For this episode of mdtalk, host and COO of mdgroup, LaQuinta Jernigan, is joined by Stephanie Katz, Director of mdgroup’s sister company, seacolehealth.   seacolehealth is a talent agency for healthcare and research professionals seeking flexible and rewarding opportunities to work in patient healthcare and clinical studies worldwide. Their nurses and healthcare professionals deliver remarkable p...

Episode 12 is a very special edition of mdtalk. Host LaQuinta Jernigan, Chief Operating Officer at mdgroup, is joined by Jennifer Kinnebrew, Shaniece Goodlow, and Maggie Settlemire. These incredible women have kindly agreed to join us to discuss their experiences of having children with rare diseases, and how we can advocate better care for everyone.

2022 was a big year for clinical trials.  From supply chain disruptions and staffing shortages to slowing the MedTech boom of 2021, we have weathered some significant challenges. In Episode 11 of mdtalk, host LaQuinta Jernigan, Chief Operating Officer at mdgroup, is joined by Tom Brazier, our Director of Decentralised Clinical Solutions and mdgroup’s Chief Executive Officer, Tarquin Scadding-Hunt....

In Episode 10 of mdtalk, host LaQuinta Jernigan (mdgroup’s Chief Operating Officer) is joined by Caroline Jackson, mdgroup’s Executive Vice President of Patient Services, to discuss the pros and cons of hybrid clinical studies and explore how we can work to make clinical trials more accessible, cost-efficient and patient-focused.

Digital transformation in healthcare is a hot topic for clinical trial organisers and sponsors – and a complex one too.   In this episode, mdgroup’s Chief Operating Officer LaQuinta Jernigan is joined by Adam Spinks and Lyndon Johnson from 8fold Governance . Together, they delve into the challenges posed by the rapid advancement of medical technology and why compliance, good governance and patient...

This episode focuses on disparity in clinical trial participation between patient populations, industry innovations to improve health equity, the accelerated movement towards decentralised trials – and what all this means for patient accessibility, diversity and engagement.    Our host LaQuinta Jernigan, Chief Operating Officer at mdgroup, speaks with Adam Samson, Head of Clinical Delivery Operati...

This episode is focused on women's health, and how disparities in access to care due to race, culture and socio-economic status can and must be addressed. As well as discussing the causes and solutions to this issue, the hosts will also consider how healthcare accessibility relates to clinical research today. LaQuinta Jernigan, Chief Operating Officer at mdgroup, and co-host Sarrah Val, our Region...

To mark Mental Health Awareness month this May, we are continuing our focus on mental health in this episode where mdgroup's Medical Director, Dr Art Lazarus, speaks with Dr Mary Morrison about topics including the stigma of mental health.   In this episode, Dr Lazarus and Dr Morrison discuss the following 3 topic areas: Mental health stigma and ramifications  The importance of diversity and inclu...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in this episode, we will be shining a light on the future of clinical mental health research. Since the pandemic began, rising levels of mental health disorders have been recorded, highlighting the importance of clinical research and development like never before.   Dr Art Lazarus, mdgroup Medical Director, speaks with Dr Andrew Cutler, MD. Dr Cutler is th...

We’re joined by Eric South, founder of non-profit organisation The Gladiator Project , which connects families impacted by brain cancer with the support they need to fight the disease, as well as fundraising for research to find a cure.   In this episode, we hear Eric’s remarkable story, from receiving his brain cancer diagnosis to the challenges he faced when finding a clinical trial, and buildin...

In this episode, we’re joined by Jameka Hill, Director of Patient Engagement and Advocacy and Clinical Trial Diversity at Moderna.    We dive into Moderna’s groundbreaking COVID-19 mRNA vaccine trial and the incredible commitment they put into achieving one of the most diverse clinical trials in history – even slowing down enrollment in September 2020 when it appeared they were failing to recruit...

In our second episode of mdtalk, we discuss why increasing diversity in clinical trials matters, and the impact a lack of diversity has on equity in health care. Our second episode focuses on the importance of actively raising awareness of clinical research in minority communities, and how we can do that effectively.   Executive Vice President for The Americas, LaQuinta Jernigan, is joined by Dr....

In our first episode of mdtalk, LaQuinta Jernigan, Executive Vice President for the Americas at mdgroup, speaks to Karen Correa PhD, VP, Head of Global Clinical Operations at Takeda, about the importance of increasing diversity and achieving true representation in clinical trials.   Karen has almost 30 years of experience in clinical research with a specialist focus on diversity and inclusion. In...

mdtalk shines a light on the most important issues surrounding clinical research, trials and patients.  Exploring ways we can make life better for patients taking part in clinical trials, improve access to healthcare and create better clinical outcomes, we speak to thought leaders and change makers across a range of organisations within the life sciences industry.