I listen, translate, and champion the voice of the patient in clinical development. And I do it
Meet Alexis,
Clinical Research Associate II
At the heart of Parexel is the world’s most unique insight-generation engine: our people.
Alexis's inherent commitment to patient care, operational excellence, and effective site communication sets a gold standard she passionately upholds. She values the same passion, along with inclusiveness and happiness, in her coworkers. Beyond her impactful work, Alexis unwinds with her miniature poodle, Millie, and indulges in baking shows.
Can you tell us about yourself and your role at Parexel?
My name is Alexis Jordan and I'm a Clinical Research Associate II at Parexel, which means I travel to different sites to monitor clinical trials. I worked at Parexel as an Administrative Assistant for three years, before I decided to apply for the APEX program to become a Clinical Research Associate. Parexel offered me a place in the program and by that provided me the chance for the career progression that I was looking for.
As a CRA, I'm the main point of contact for the site and I have the unique opportunity to observe their challenges firsthand. I then relay this valuable insight back to the study team and sponsors, enabling them to better understand how we can improve our support for the site.
Can you tell us about your experience with the APEX program?
I really enjoyed coming through the APEX program. It gave us the foundations that we needed to become a CRA. We learned how to find the information we need and adapt to any situation we come across. The program teaches you the foundations of clinical research and then all of the steps and tasks needed as a CRA.
Why did you want to become a clinical research associate?
Because of the impact I can have on patients. I didn't join for the travel, for the benefits, or for anything else. I joined to help out people. I treat every patient as if they're my family or myself. Reviewing the data is a part of helping them out and supporting them in whatever they're going through. I am thorough, even with the smallest tasks, because these details could potentially change a patient's entire life.
How do you deliver operational excellence in your role every day?
Delivering operational excellence involves effective communication with both my sites and the study team. This ensures we maintain consistent knowledge across all parties and can collaboratively find the best approach to address any situation.
How do insights help you deliver in your role every day?
Insights drive my daily work as I strive to empathize with study coordinators, principal investigators, and patients. It's all about understanding where they're coming from. Then I can take that understanding and share it with our team and the sponsor. This approach enhances our collective understanding and maximizes efficiency for everyone involved.
What are some of the biggest challenges that face a CRA?
The biggest challenge that I face as a CRA is that our visits never go as planned. You do have to know how to adapt from when you leave the house to when you return back home. You always communicate with your team and the site transparently.
What does the Parexel culture mean to you?
The Parexel culture means inclusion, happiness and passion to me. Everyone that I've met at Parexel has been happy, they've been genuine, kind, and passionate. Which holds us to a different standard. The passion drives everyone and it drives our deliverables as well.
Personal Insights
What do you do when you're not having fun at work?
While I am not at work I love watching Netflix with my dog. She is a miniature poodle. Her name is Millie and we have a blast.
What would you say to Millie about your job?
Millie knows all about my job because she is my best coworker. We work from home most of the time. So Millie knows that mommy is at work, and when I'm off we get to enjoy life. So sometimes that looks like going for a walk or mommy going to go listen to live music, mainly R&B and jazz.
Tell us something most people don't know about you.
The thing that most people don't know about me is I am an introvert. As odd as that may seem, I used to be more extroverted and I carry myself well in person, but I like to be at home and I like baking shows. Some people think that that's kind of weird because I don't even bake. But “The Great British Baking Show” is my jam. I will sit there and watch all of the seasons for a whole weekend. So baking, but not baking for me.
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