Welcome to another installment of our featured member interviews where we introduce you to more of 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 Maynard Dyson, IRB chairperson at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, TX.

When and why did you join the field?
I joined the field about six years ago when my institution, Cook Children’s Health Care System, was looking for new leadership as it became more active in pediatric research.

What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job of IRB chairperson is helping investigators carry out their goal of advancing pediatric care and, at the same time, informing and protecting the subjects.

What is playing on your iPod right now?
Currently the Ramones are on my iPod. There’s nothing like punk rock to help you push yourself to the max on the elliptical.

Why did you join PRIM&R?
I joined PRIM&R to be part of a community that values protecting subjects while carrying out the highest quality research.

What is your favorite member benefit?
RED (The Research Ethics Digest), with its summary of current articles and events, is my favorite benefit.

What would you say to someone who is considering PRIM&R membership?
I would tell someone considering membership that they will benefit from being part of the community. When the day-to-day pressures and demands begin to make you question the meaning of all the forms and regulations, this community can give you perspective and realize what a contribution you are making.

The reverse side is that only an active and vigorous professional organization can serve as a voice and multiply the influence IRBs and IRB professionals have to shape research in this country.

What do you believe is a key challenge facing the field of research ethics?
I think a major question IRBs will face in the future is the balance between local and central IRBs. Central IRBs can attract individuals with particular expertise and certainly can generate the volume to assure excellent infrastructure. In this era of increasingly large multi-center studies they are also more efficient, but we must remember that efficiency is not one of the goals of an IRB, if it compromises subject protection. Figuring out how to best use the resources of both kinds of IRBs is a major challenge for the future.

Thank you for being part of the membership community and sharing your story, Maynard. Enjoy the punk rock!

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a member, please visit our website today.