Co-Creating a New Model Through Collaboration in Clinical Research

Brian Lee is currently a Director, on the Patient Advocacy team, at Bristol Myers Squibb, based in Princeton, NJ, responsible for leading Early Assets & Life Cycle Management on the. Within Corporate Affairs Brian is responsible for leading strategic engagement with advocacy groups across the entire product development and commercialization continuum, encompassing efforts in early drug development advocacy engagement, clinical trial development, disease awareness, access and reimbursement, policy efforts and much more. Brian’s previous experiences include stem cell research at UCSF, insurance reimbursement/patient support services, research and policy work at the Office of Health Information Integrity at the State Government of California, HealthNet Pharmaceutical Services, and policy and advocacy work at both Sanofi and BioMarin. Brian is a licensed and registered pharmacist in the state of NJ, with clinical and community pharmacy experience and Doctorate in Pharmacy from UCSF and post-doctoral fellowship from Rutgers University. On a personal note, Brian is an avid health enthusiast and lives with his wife and husky-malamute in New Jersey.

Teri Brister, Ph.D., serves as the National Director of Research & Quality Assurance at NAMI. Dr. Brister is responsible for ensuring that all content created and disseminated by NAMI attains the highest possible standards of accuracy, relevance, value and academic rigor. She is the author of NAMI Basics and co-author of the NAMI Homefront program. Prior to joining NAMI in 2005, Dr. Brister worked for twenty years in the community mental health system in Mississippi, working in both clinical and administrative roles, including Assistant Executive Director in two different centers. Dr. Brister received her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University, and her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi.

Candace Howell currently serves as a Clinical Trial Engagement Strategy Lead within Global Development Operations at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). She focuses on bringing the voice of patients and caregivers into clinical trial design and implementation. She strives to drive meaningful change, improve experience, and generate greater patient diversity in clinical trials. Prior to working at BMS, Candace held leadership positions in medical affairs, communications and marketing during her 10 year tenure at Pfizer Inc.

Keri McDonough has integrated patient advocacy perspectives into her work in multiple therapeutic areas for nearly two decades with the goals of improving patient experience and outcomes through strategic, mutually beneficial programs and initiatives. Keri’s approach is framed around surfacing ways to chip away at barriers and biases that limit patient-focused innovation, including lack of inclusion, equity and access, health literacy gaps and inaccurate or incomplete representation of stigmatized or marginalized patient communities. 

Keri has spearheaded ground-breaking advocacy initiatives, and is fluent in many of the tools and principles underpinning the science of patient input. Keri’s patient advocacy efforts began leading communications and policy efforts at the New York City Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.  Today, Keri heads up Syneos Health’s Patient Voice Consortium, a hub of expertise, resources and relationships designed to ensure the strategic incorporation of patient perspectives throughout drug development and commercialization.

A pragmatic but hopeful soul with an appreciation for people and her place in the world, Courtney helps connect families in need with resources and relief. As a licensed social worker and Lead Navigator at Family Reach, her work is guided by compassion for others and a sense of shared humanity.

Dr. Velázquez Mañana is a thoracic oncologist and clinical Instructor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of California San Francisco. She is currently completing postdoctoral training in health equity and policy as a research fellow at the UCSF National Clinician Scholars Program. Dr. Velázquez aims to support and improve the outcomes of patients with cancer from vulnerable backgrounds using health services and disparities research. She is an advocate for workforce diversity and gender equity. Dr. Velazquez co-founded the Women in Medicine group in her residency program, and currently, she co-leads UCSF's Fellowship Diversity Council. She is a site leader for ASCO's Oncology Summer Internship and is the current Chair of the ASCO Trainee and Early Career Advisory Group.