Providing Patients Equitable Access to Improve Inclusion in Clinical Trials

Margaret Scott, Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations, Circuit Clinical

Margaret Scott is a clinical operations expert with 20 years of research experience, including a range of roles from site operations, project management, clinical research associate, study coordinator, medical writing and data management. She has built and established a successful research program at an extensive multispecialty community practice in Western New York that includes radiation oncology, medical oncology and urologic studies.

As SVP of Clinical Operations at Circuit Clinical, Margaret oversees all clinical operations across Circuit departments. She drives the establishment and growth of multiple new business lines, core operational infrastructure and processes.

Melissa Harris, Head of Global Patient Recruitment and Engagement, Fortrea

Melissa has 23 years of industry experience dedicated to accelerating patient recruitment from all possible feeds, including site EHRs, AI and data-enabled recruitment channels, digital and online media and community engagement programs. Melissa works to harness the benefits of applying innovative solutions toward successful patient recruitment and retention campaigns while driving health literacy, diversity and inclusion and patient access equity to reduce study burden and facilitate enrollment into everyday life. Melissa heads Fortrea’s Voice of Patient program to drive patient insights into every step of the drug development paradigm and is a Co-Lead of Fortrea’s Site Advisory Board.

Lisa Crespi, LPN, CCRC, Senior Site Director, Circuit Clinical

Lisa Crespi, LPN, CCRC, is a highly experienced healthcare professional with over 15 years of clinical research, including 12 years working on oncology research and 17 years of experience as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Throughout her career, Lisa has gained extensive knowledge and skills in various areas of healthcare, including patient care, clinical research, site management and leadership and regulatory compliance.

Previously, she worked with PRA Health/ICON providing services to a large leading pharmaceutical company in Study Start Up. As an LPN, Lisa has worked in a variety of settings, from hospitals, long-term care facilities, substance abuse programs and mainly in a private urology practice specializing in prostate and bladder cancer. As a clinical researcher, Lisa has contributed to numerous studies across multiple therapeutic areas, all of which aimed at improving patient outcomes and advancing medical knowledge. She has experience in all phases of clinical research, from study start-up to study execution including data analysis and reporting.