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Alum embraces the joy of clinical research bridging patient care with academic work

Published: June 29, 2021

Alum embraces the joy of clinical research bridging patient care with academic work

To the college student whos on the fence about dedicating a summer to science research, Meghan (Girdner 13) Weber says: Do it. To the biology- and chemistry-loving graduate faced with a myriad of career decisions, she says, Have patience and follow your heart. To the career health-care researcher who lands in that good place where work is less a daily grind and more an engaging adventure, she says, Dont be surprised if the best is yet to come!

Meg speaks from experience. Today, the Class of 13 Greenville University graduate is beyond thankful for her current role coordinating clinical trials for Vanderbilt Medical Center. She gives thanks as well for the path that brought her to this place where wonder, discovery, and disciplined inquiry intersect with relieving pain and improving the quality of life for patients.

Undergraduate research: a treasure

As an undergraduate, Meg seized opportunities to engage in research and practice the disciplines research requires.

  • She learned the tenants of scientific researchstudy phases, peer review, and investigator- versus sponsor-initiated research.
  • She wrote an honors thesis on the effects of Vitamin D on sleep and mood.
  • She practiced good, rigorous scholarship.

Ultimately, she graduated skilled in reading, comprehending, and writing scientific material.

These, along with practice in clear note taking, collaborating with a team, and an introductory understanding of a studys financial and budgetary responsibilitiesespecially if the study is grant-fundedhad a hand in shaping me into the researcher I am today, she says.

Even the collaboration Meg embraced as student researcher working on a team under a professors supervision gave her a taste of collaborations to come. The studies she coordinates today involve investigational medications created by pharmaceutical companies seeking FDA approval. Players in the complex process include scientists, fellow researchers, doctors, patients, and clinics.

Her working relationships sometimes rekindle appreciation for her college research mentor, Professor of Biology Gene Dunkley: I oftentimes find myself reflecting on our theological conversations and his snippets of wisdom and grace when meeting and working alongside individuals with backgrounds and beliefs starkly different than my own.

Following her heart

Science and disciplined research aside, Meg learned to listen to her heart, too. She entered GU with an eye on neurosurgery as a career, but eventually broadened her interests to include psychology and ethics.

By the time I graduated in 2013, my interest in traditional medical school waned, she says, but her interest in research remained vibrant. When Meg and husband Chase (also GU Class of 2013) moved to Nashville, doors opened not only for his career in audio engineering, but also for her to pursue research opportunities at nearby Vanderbilt University.

I applied to nearly every open position I could find in Vanderbilts research department, says Meg. I knew that my background in research would look favorable on my job applications and any additional research experience would only help propel my career forward.

She landed a position as a research analyst in the Yoder Lab at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and worked on behavior studies that focused on children with Down Syndrome and Autism. Her first research involved a new therapy model for Down Syndrome, related speech pathology, and psychological intervention. The subject was new to Meghan, but she remained confident in her science background and research experience. She hasnt looked back. Alum embraces the joy of clinical research bridging patient care with academic work

I quickly fell in love with the world of research, she says, and its ability to bridge the gap between patient care and scholarly/academic work.

A world of opportunities for good and growth

Meg eventually transitioned to clinical trials in psychiatry and joined the MEND Clinic at Vanderbilt as a research coordinator. Shes worked on medication studies for children and teenagers with Autism, Fragile X Syndrome, and Major Depressive Disorder. Though the research differs from the neurosurgery career she imagined as a college freshman, it fills vital gaps and sparks hope for patients who suffer.

She finds the opportunities both amazing and humbling: I am beyond thankful for my ability to contribute to difference Vanderbilt University Medical Center is making in the world of research.

Visit Meg (at left, with husband Chase) on Instagram (@meghan.e.weber) to learn about the book she is currently writing that documents her personal journey with polio.

Top photo: Clinical Trials by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

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