From Start-Up Chaos to Clinical Milestones: Why I Chose Clinical Research

From Start-Up Chaos to Clinical Milestones: Why I Chose Clinical Research

When people ask me how I ended up in clinical research, I usually smile and say, “I didn’t find this field—it found me.” While this started out as a job, it quickly became a passion, and now, 15 years later, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

My path didn’t begin with a plan to manage trials or pour over protocols. I actually started working at a small biotech company right out of college as an Applications Specialist, traveling to sites to optimize newly installed instruments and troubleshoot imagining issues. That company was bought by a very large biotech company and most of the employees, including myself, were let go. After that, I moved to the Twin Cities area and found it was absolutely full of medical devices companies, both large and small. I joined a small pharmaceutical/oncology start-up, working in the Operations group. While there I was able to help out with other groups (the beauty of working at a small company!), and I felt like Clinical Operations was the best fit for me: site start-up chaos, regulatory hurdles, device shipment deadlines, and the thrill of a first subject enrolled. It was hectic, unpolished, and often overwhelming—but it was never boring. Most importantly, I could see the impact of the work I was doing in real time.

The Startup Company Learning Curve

Working in a start-up environment doesn’t come with a manual. I quickly learned how to juggle competing timelines, lead with limited resources, and wear multiple hats. On any given day, I could be writing a protocol, fielding questions from a site, reviewing data queries, and troubleshooting a device delivery issue—all before lunch.

There’s a certain kind of resilience you build when you're working under pressure with no blueprint, just deadlines and determination. Amidst the chaos, there was clarity: I was doing something meaningful. Every IRB approval, every enrolled subject, every clean data point moved us one step closer to a safer, more effective drug or device on the market.

Why I Stayed

Clinical research isn’t glamorous. It’s detail-heavy, deadline-driven, and full of regulatory red tape, but it’s also purpose-driven. Behind every trial is a patient waiting for answers, for relief, and for hope.

That’s what keeps me going.

I love that clinical research sits at the intersection of science, medicine, and human care. It’s a field where precision matters, but so does empathy—where you need to think like a scientist but act like a collaborator. The work we do in Clinical Operations may not be front-page news, but it’s foundational to advancing healthcare.

The Bigger Picture

Today, I’ve (mostly) moved beyond the scramble of those first start-up experiences. I’ve built systems, mentored others, and led trials from initiation to closeout. I carry those early lessons with me—adaptability, resourcefulness, and a deep appreciation for the details- in everything I do and in every decision I make.

Choosing clinical research wasn’t just a career decision- it was a commitment to doing work that matters.

If you’re curious about the field or just getting started, I hope you stick around. In future posts, I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned—tips, challenges, real-world insights—straight from the trenches of clinical trial operations.

Because the world needs better treatments, and those trials don’t run themselves.