Industry leaders Dr. Rhonda Paz, PhD, and Shirley Trainor-Thomas have launched Next Phase Clinical Research, which is a client-centric company focused on research infrastructure development for operational and financial excellence.
"Unprecedented transformation is taking place in healthcare, resulting in intensive introspective examinations of infrastructure and operations organizational-wide, including the research function," comments Dr. Paz, Chief Executive Officer of Next Phase. "With our client-first approach, we focus on helping those healthcare and research professionals by providing tools, systems and best practices to enhance their level of internal expertise leading to successful sustainability and moving clinical trial access into healthcare's mainstream of care options."
During the past decade, Dr. Paz and Trainor-Thomas have worked with nearly a hundred health systems and academic medical centers throughout the country. Prior to launching Next Phase, Dr. Paz and Trainor-Thomas together were formative executives with GuideStar Clinical Trials Management – a research support service company. Through their dynamic partnership and proven track record, the team created the new company, which is focused on empowering research sites with internal expertise and independence.
Dr. Paz has 30 years of leadership experience in clinical research administration, serving in executive roles at major universities and health systems across the country. She is a transformational leader who has lead health care organizations in the creation of research programs positioned for growth. As Chief Executive Officer of Next Phase Clinical Research Management, her passion lies in equipping research programs and institutes with tools, systems and strategies to strengthen market presence and success in the research industry.
Trainor-Thomas is an accomplished, creative professional with unique, multifaceted experience within both the healthcare and research industries with proven ability to capitalize on untapped opportunities through strategic planning and execution. Her prior experience includes serving in executive management roles providing strategic planning, business development and service line leadership with various hospitals health systems. As President of Next Phase Clinical Research, she works closely with healthcare providers to identify needs, set goals and develop strategies.
Next Phase offers expert guidance designed for research programs in healthcare settings to gain internal expertise and independence. From tailored strategies and training programs to customized workflows and tools, Next Phase puts the operational success in the hands of the research site.
"Our goal is to bring best practices to healthcare providers conducting research as they seek to enhance their independence," explains Trainor-Thomas. "And, quite frankly, successful research sites equate to patients having the opportunity to consider clinical trials as a care option, thus expediting the expansion of innovative therapeutic intervention availability. "Any role we can play in that goal is so rewarding to us."