As part of our Member Appreciation Month, this series of Ampersand posts will introduce you to our members, individuals who work to advance ethical research on a daily basis. Please read on to learn more about their professional experiences, how membership helps connect them to a larger community, and what goes on behind-the-scenes in their lives!
Today we’d like to introduce you to Joan Sutherland, BS, research compliance coordinator at Borgess Research Institute.
When and why did you join the field?
Eleven years ago I was looking to change jobs and asked a college about the job posting. She assured me it was a stable position and that it was a new and growing area for the hospital.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I like being able to use my organizational and creative skills, such as helping researchers submit all the required documents (my husband jokingly tells folks my job title is ‘queen of red tape’), and remembering a piece of information about a protocol and being able to document the paper trail.
What’s playing on your iPod?
Weezer.
Why did you join PRIM&R?
It’s a professional organization of like-minded professionals, an organization of people like me.
What is your favorite member benefit?
Information! PRIM&R is my best source of information.
If you were planning our next conference, who would you select as a keynote speaker?
I would like to hear from or more about Dr. Timothy Kuklo, who was recently accused of falsifying data. The New York Times covered the story.
What advice do you have for young professionals interested in pursuing a career in ethical research?
When I started I thought I’d have it all figured and organized in a few months. It’s been 11 years and I’m still learning. Document everything and create a system that works for you.
Thank you for being part of the membership community and sharing your story, Joan. We admire your commitment to lifelong learning.
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a member, please visit our website today.
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