“First and foremost, I want to thank PharmaTimes for all of their efforts in keeping last year’s competition alive during a pandemic. This was my first time participating in CROY and although the competition and gala was virtual, and much different than what other’s may have experienced, it was an amazing and smooth experience overall! When they announced me as the Gold winner, I was completely shocked and elated. Since the gala was virtual, they allowed your loved ones to dial in and watch, so having them experience that moment with me is something I will never forget. I would absolutely consider participating again and strongly encourage others to as well.”
“I feel that the CROY competition adapted to the challenges of this pandemic just as we all did and it was highly appreciated. PharmaTimes ability to adapt and keep the competition allowed myself the opportunity to compete regardless of the current situation and continue my growth as an individual. I am extremely thankful for their efforts to keep the competition and use technology to adapt and keep the core of the competition intact. This competition is one I’d recommend for anyone in the industry to take part in, no matter what department they’re in, or how much experience they do or do not have. I’ve only been in the industry less than 2 years and I entered the competition to prove innovation and passion come in all forms regardless of industry experience. It was an amazing opportunity and challenged all of us who entered in ways I’m sure we never imagined”
“The challenges this year were thought-provoking and very relevant given the current climate of clinical research. The overall topic of “Quality” encouraged me to really think about why we use various methods and tools and how they all play a part in quality management, as well as how to proactively assess for potential quality concerns. I appreciated the finals day presentation scenario being related to COVID, as it was particularly challenging and dealt with real-life problems that most of us are actually facing.
The PharmaTimes team did a wonderful job adapting to the need for a virtual event for the finals competition. The day ran smoothly over Zoom, with moderators helping to make sure everyone knew what to do. While it was unfortunate we couldn’t meet in person, it was great to still get to “see” the judges over video.
I would strongly encourage anyone involved in clinical research to participate in this competition at least once.”
“I thought the challenge was exciting and appreciated that it still continued despite the challenges it faced with the pandemic. I thought everything was well organized and ran smoothly, very impressed. I plan to compete again this year and I’m encouraging my co-workers and friends to compete as well.”
“We always enjoy our participation in CROY. It is a funny and enriching experience that is also very appreciated in our company, we had great feedback and recognition for our participation. The format was good and the meeting ran smoothly.”
“Competing in CRoY 2020 was an invaluable experience. Though this was the first year the competition took place virtually, the format was well thought out and was conducted flawlessly. I appreciate how effectively and safely PharmaTimes was able to host this competition during the pandemic. I would definitely consider competing again in the future.”
“I thought the challenge of how to build quality into a clinical trial was very appropriate for this rapidly-changing environment in which we are adapting to virtual patient-centric clinical trials. The online format of the competition was excellent! All of the logistics were well prepared in advance and the technology platform performed flawlessly. In this world where so many of us connect remotely, it was a seamless transition to conduct the virtual competition remotely also. Based on my experience in the 2020 competition, I would definitely consider participating again in 2021 or future years.”
“Participating in the CROY Company Team competition in 2020 was a great experience. It was the perfect circumstance to build a “dream team” of colleagues to work on a project together, and the experience was very rewarding. The team was able to gel and share thoughts around the challenge, and each brought a bit of their own recent experience to share. While the virtual environment was a bit different for a collaborative team competition, I felt it was very well orchestrated and the flow was seamless. The challenge was very appropriate for current circumstances and pushed the team to think deeply about quality in a very uncertain environment. I would definitely be interested in participating again in the future, in fact I have already had sponsor contacts asking to form a Partnership team for 2021!”
“Winning at the PharmaTimes competition is an honor, and I have been elated to be part of such an exciting event. The competition was a great opportunity to connect with colleagues of all levels, and I am looking forward to the chance to participate again next year. The competition provided an opportunity to test your skills and knowledge beyond your day-to-day role, which was my favorite part. I would highly encourage my colleagues to look into this opportunity!”
“First, it was great that PRA upper management supported us in submitting to be a part of the CROY event. It shows they really believe in their people, and that support was there throughout the whole process.
The essay submission process was fun too – the topic was a bit challenging, but it was fun to brainstorm and work together on something outside of our day to day activities.
We had no idea what to expect during the day, but the competition was challenging and fun. It was great to be working in the same room as the other teams, and there was certainly an energy that circulated throughout the room/event that kept everyone going through the long day!
Overall, we really had a enjoyable experience and it was a great sense of achievement for our team to win the company team category and have PRA the overall CRO award.
I would definitely recommend anyone to participate who is interested in having a fun and rewarding experience, is invested in experiencing and advancing their company culture and those who like enjoy thinking about the future of clinical research”.
“The Clinical Researcher of the Year competition presented an opportunity to network with leaders in the clinical research industry. As clinical research professionals, we strive to bring clinical research to as many lives as possible and improve the quality of lives of our patient communities. Our teams are constantly working together to find new and innovative ways to serve this purpose, and the competition was an opportunity to bring many teams together to collaborate together and share ideas. I am excited to bring back what I learned from Clinical Researcher of the Year, to better support PMG’s team and serve our patient population.”
“I entered the CROY competition after hearing about a colleague’s previous experience. It sounded like a wonderful way to showcase my skills as a Clinical Research Associate and to gain valuable feedback from industry leaders. The competition was vigorous and challenging, but the entire experience was exceptional. I was blown away when I learned I had taken Gold in my category! Professionally, it shows my colleagues and superiors that I am able to critically think and act on my feet. Personally, it means the world to me that I can show my daughters that they can accomplish anything they put their minds to. I am incredibly honoured to be named a 2018 Clinical Researcher of the Year!”
“I am very honoured to represent PRA Health Sciences as the Gold winner in the Project Manager category! I have participated in the PharmaTimes twice before and each year the competition brings unique challenges and stimulating scenarios. Clinical Researcher of the Year provides an opportunity to take the experience and skills gained from our daily work and put it to the test in a fun, competitive, and challenging way. It is really an honour to win amongst so many talented clinical researchers. Most of all, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet some great leaders and colleagues in the industry!”
“It was a tremendous honour to represent the diverse organizations within Sarah Cannon with my colleagues Cassie Lane, Helen Li, John McClure, and Jessica Thurmond as Team ADAPTO, and take first place in the PharmaTimes Clinical Researcher of the Year ‘Strategic Team’ category. Hailing from Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Sarah Cannon Development Innovations, and Genospace, I believe that our patient-centric mission was Key to winning this amazing competition. I would recommend CROY to any individual or team who appreciates a tough challenge and insightful feedback from industry leaders.”
“Every Artemis team member is empowered to embrace innovative ways of working to ensure we provide the best customer experience every day to both our patients and sponsors. We are proud to receive this award and congratulate the team for their hard work.”
I have entered the competition this year for the 4th year in a row and each year has been a wonderfully unique and rewarding experience. Three out of my four years have also been in distinct categories, starting with two straight years in the Project Manager category; then last year in Strategic Team, and now this year in the brand new Clinical Team Manager category – which is what my actual role has been for the past 5 years. I wish I had been aware of this competition in my time as a CRA, as I would have certainly applied in that role as well. The CROY competition gives you an opportunity to really test your mettle – specific to clinical research as a whole – against the best of the best. You walk away with a true sense of accomplishment and energy being surrounded by such an accomplished and positive group of individuals. This feeling is amplified when you achieve a medal for your accomplishments. Even more indicative though, is the motivation and passion you feel when you don’t walk away with that medal. You simultaneously feel passionate about pushing yourself that much harder to medal in the future but also accomplished for even making it to participate in round 3 of the competition in person.
I entered the 2017 Clinical Researcher of the Year competition with Pharma Times due to the encouragement of my former PRA manager, Ellie Allain. The day of the competition I was given a research scenario similar to experiences I’ve encountered during my monitoring visits. The challenge was that I had to present the scenario and discuss the issues found to the judges via a Power Point presentation. I was nervous but the judges were patient and understanding; it was then that I clicked into CRA mode and with all of the research knowledge I’ve obtained over the years, gave the best presentation I could give. Through this enlightening experience, I had the privilege to mix and mingle with a host of wonderful colleagues and fellow researchers. I didn’t win in my category; nonetheless, the ultimate victory for me was the satisfaction of knowing that I had done my very best and that I can accomplish anything by overcoming the hindrance of fear.
Participating in the competition last year was a wonderful experience. It allowed me to meet other passionate clinical researchers beyond my own network. And the advice given to me by the various experienced professionals involved, including judges, peers, and even from friendly competitors has been helpful to grow my knowledge.
Participating in the PharmaTimes Clinical Researcher of the Year competition in 2017 was an incredible opportunity, convening with the top professionals from the best companies in the clinical research industry. The competition allowed me to put my knowledge and experience to the test, eliciting fantastic feedback from the panel that was constructive and allowed me to then adapt my skill set as an effective Project Manager. It was an honour to be able to represent my company, and showcase the top-level talent that we cultivate within our organization. I am already excited at the prospect of returning to the finals this April, to once again network with the brightest minds in the industry.
I felt very privileged to be working with the top researchers and most knowledgeable names in the pharmaceutical industry. This award is extremely meaningful to me, it makes me feel confident in my knowledge as a CRA, and it makes me feel comforted that all of my time put into my researcher role has been well worth it. With her eye firmly on the future, she adds: “I feel that winning this competition has given me even more confidence to help mentor and manage other CRA’s and to be able to move to the next level in my career.”
Winning the gold in the 2017 Clinical Researcher of the Year competition was tremendously exciting. As a representative of Sarah Cannon Development Innovations, this competition reflects the work we do every day to bring exciting and effective new therapies to patients. CROY is a great way to test and sharpen your strategic thinking, planning and communication skills amongst industry peers and leaders. It was a fantastic kick-off to the 2017 ACRP in Seattle. I’d recommend CROY to anyone who truly enjoys their work and loves a contest. Good luck to the 2018 contestants.”
It was an amazing experience to be part of the gold medal Strategic Partnership Team of the Year at the 2016 PharmaTimes Clinical Research of the Year competition! I have been working with my teammates from PRA and CytRx for years, and it was extremely rewarding that we could leverage our experience, trust and ability to communicate and collaborate. We proved that we are truly an integrated team! That said, the competition itself and the process of participating in it was a valuable learning experience, which has enriched our day to day working relationship. I am so thankful for the opportunity the competition provided, and so proud of my team and our result!
The PharmaTimes Clinical Researcher of the Year – The Americas Competition was an opportunity to apply my knowledge and test my skills of 10 years of clinical research, and be recognised by several top professionals in the area as the winner of Experience CRA category. During the competition finals days, I had the pleasure of meeting amazing colleagues from different organisations,discuss best practices and share experiences. I am sure every finalist went back home more knowledgeable and with new ideas to apply in their day to day business. For me, be recognised as winner means that I am building my career in the right direction, since I have always worked hard to accomplish metrics and deliverables, with dedication, respect, ethic and enthusiasm. Finally, the competition contributes to emphasise the importance and real objective of clinical research, and gives us the opportunity of being recognised internally by our company, and also by the pharmaceutical clinical research market.
The Clinical Researcher of the Year competition is a great way to test your skills against other professionals outside of your company. It allows for us to think “outside of the box”and really look at innovative ways to address common challenges within our industry. Going into finals was very exciting to me as I didn’t know what to expect or if the situation would be one in which I had experience. I truly didn’t know the caliber of others in my group so it made me work even harder to set myself apart. Winning was one of the most amazing feelings. I had turned to my husband when the other winners in my category were announced and stated that I didn’t think I had placed. It really made me confident in my knowledge and skill and gave me the realisation that I was truly doing the right thing for clinical research and my sites.
The PharmaTimes Clinical Researcher of the Year competition is an excellent opportunity to connect with other top research colleagues and showcase your individual talents and skills. The final day of the competition reflects real world situations, timelines, and critical decisions that we face on a daily basis. For me, winning the CROY Award is a personal acknowledgment of my commitment and dedication to my study volunteers over the last twenty years. Most importantly, I am proud to represent Clinical Research Coordinators’ hard work and pivotal contributions to the drug development process. No medication would be on the market without us.
