Meet Ira Mills, PhD: Senior Scientific Specialist (United States)

"It is a very exciting time in MedCom and working at Parexel allows one to uniquely benefit from all the company-wide capabilities!"

Ira Mills, PhD, PhD shares about his current role as a scientific specialist, why he returned to Parexel, and ultimately how he keeps the patient first.

• Please introduce yourself and your role at Parexel.
  Hi, I'm Ira and I am a Senior Scientific Specialist at Parexel. I live in Connecticutt, but my position allows me to technically be anywhere as I am decentralized out of the Hackensack office.                          
• When did you first join Parexel and what was your role at the time? 
  I joined Parexel in October 2011 as a Scientific Specialist. I left Parexel in 2018 for a short stint but found myself returning in September 2020. 
• Why did you make the decision to return to Parexel?
  I missed the strong working and personal collaboration with my scientific and account team, colleagues, and broad institutional support. Parexel not only cares deeply about patients but also about its employees.
• What is different at Parexel now compared to when you first were here?
  MedCom has so many offerings beyond the focus on publications and meetings when I first joined! These include strong commitments to communication strategy, creative design, digital solutions, global study engagement including patient communications, payer communications, and a broad array of trainings. I am a senior scientific member on my team, and still learning every day!
• What would you tell other colleagues who may be considering returning to Parexel?
  I would strongly encourage others to consider returning to Parexel! It is a very exciting time in MedCom and working at Parexel allows one to uniquely benefit from all the company-wide capabilities!
• What are your job responsibilities and daily tasks in your current role?
  I am senior therapy area and content expert, focused mostly on oncology. My daily tasks involve developing high-quality scientific content in supporting our clients in collaboration with study investigators.
• What is your favorite thing about your job?
  From my background as an academic research scientist with independently funded research programs at both Brown and Yale, I enjoy supporting our clients in translating clinical trial data in the development of clinically impactful publications.
• What is one way you put Patients First in your everyday work?
  Thanks to support from Parexel, I co-authored a presentation at ISMPP (International Society for Medical Publication Professionals) with my cousin Ide on her experience with stage IV ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer in 2017. She passed away 2 weeks before our planned joint presentation, but I had the honor of presenting in her memory. I remember Ide in putting “Patients First” every day.
• What do you do for fun outside of work?
  I love to run; I have recently ran a 5-miler Turkey Trot with family this past Thanksgiving Day. We have a 1.5-year-old Golden Retriever puppy, Homer, who is a source of constant joy.

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