Pursuing a Master's Degree at York College

Student Perspectives: Graduate Studies in Clinical Trial Management

Gena Persad and Ibrahim Khandakar, pursuing Master’s degrees in York College’s Clinical Trial Management, tell us what drew them to the program, the new skills they’ve acquired, and how they hope to put their degrees to work when they complete their studies in December.

Ibrahim: Initially, I didn’t know anything about clinical trials. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, we all saw the importance of clinical trials and research and their roles in getting FDA approval for drugs, vaccines, and medical devices. So, when my undergraduate research mentor, Dr. Lesley Emtage, introduced me to the program. I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

Gena: While doing my undergraduate studies at York, I had a research class with Professor Garcia Marin where we researched, reviewed papers, and explored special topics. Towards the end of that class, she said, “Okay, everyone taking this class is graduating. I want to tell you about Clinical Trial Management, a graduate program we offer here at York.” She gave a brief introduction to it, and I was intrigued.

The Deciding Factor

Gena: I was a biology major and wanted to become a physician’s assistant. I thought PA school would be the next step after graduation. However, I have two grade-school-age children. The time commitment required between the kids, home, school, and clinicals would have been challenging if I attended PA school. And as a mother, I wanted to make sure I chose a lucrative career to provide for my children. So, I started looking into CTM and got more information about the program from Professor Birk and Professor Garcia Marin. And I discovered that the pay range was similar to becoming a PA. Also, CTM was a better fit because I wouldn’t be away from my family as much.

Standout Classes

Ibrahim: Introduction to Clinical Research and Clinical Trial Terminology. That gave us an overall idea about clinical trials and all key players’ roles and responsibilities, including responsible investigators and the IRB (Institutional Review Board). Another course would be Foundation of Regulatory Affairs in a Global Environment, which carefully went through all the critical aspects of the Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations, specifically designated for all clinical research under IND or IDE of the FDA.

My dream job would be as a clinical trial manager in one of the leading pharmaceutical companies like Johnson and Johnson, Merck, or Pfizer. I want to work at a hospital that conducts leading clinical trials, such as Johns Hopkins, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, or the University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center; I’m interested in cancer research. -- Ibrahim

Favorite Part of the Program

Gena: I love the classes that have anything to do with regulatory guidelines. I like protocol writing (Introduction to Medical Writing). I liked Advanced Pharmacology; those are all things that excite me. They provide insight into the research aspect of medicine. I'm a forever learner. I like learning a little about everything; this program allows you to do that.

New Skills Aquired

Ibrahim: Aside from learning about clinical trials and associated federal regulations, this program taught me how to manage them. It taught me how to be a leader, handle sensitive situations and patient documents with care, and respect HIPAA rules. I also had the opportunity to learn about SAS, a programming language for statistical and data analysis, which became my favorite elective.

The Faculty

Gena: The support that you get with the CTM program is outstanding. Our professors are always willing to help us. And the best thing is that we’re learning from people in the field. So they can tell you, “If you're looking to get into the pharmaceutical field, this is where you should start. You need to do these things to achieve that goal.” Also, Professors Birk and Garcia Marin conduct research and can offer us that insight, too. The program is also not overcrowded; you can get specialized attention. If you have questions, they can easily handle any problem or concern face-to-face. It’s different from undergrad, where 50-60 people were in the class. There was only so much time to go around.

I would love to be a Clinical Trial Manager and be responsible for managing different studies that can benefit millions of people. That's my dream job. I want to start in a clinical setting but eventually become a Clinical Trial Manager for a pharmaceutical company. -- Gena

A Community Beyond Books

Gena: One of the things that makes the program special is that it’s a community, a network that continues after graduation. The faculty know your potential, your strengths, and weaknesses. They can guide you as you interview and explore new career opportunities. Access to alums also helps us understand how the program prepares us to work in the field. When we had a get-together with a group of alumni, we learned some were doing protocol writing and working on clinical trials. Others have risen to the rank of clinical trial managers. One of the things they told us is although we may think we haven’t learned much at the beginning of the program, we have already acquired more knowledge than some people who have been grandfathered into clinical trial roles.

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