Meet Amy Gorman: Clinical Research Associate (Ireland)

"Parexel allows for creativity, and for ideas to be shared and developed. It is collaborative and engaging which is valuing for employees."

Amy Gorman joined Parexel in February 2022 as a Clinical Research Associate in Ireland. Amy shares about her role, how Parexel is an inclusive and engaging working environment, and how she keeps the patient at the heart as a CRA.

• Please introduce yourself and your role at Parexel.
  Hello, my name is Amy Gorman and I am a Clinical Research Associate at Parexel based in Dublin, Ireland.

• Can you tell me what a day in your job looks like? What are your core responsibilities?
  As a CRA at Parexel, you can expect a huge amount of diversity where no two days are the same. The role offers the opportunity to work as a clinical site’s primary point of contact, addressing and resolving questions and/or concerns. As a result, CRAs at Parexel are responsible for establishing and maintaining site relationships throughout the course of a study. Additionally, CRAs at Parexel help to oversee site quality including the integrity of subject data, drug accountability, and overall compliance with regulatory requirements and Good Clinical Practice (GCP). 
  
  
• What is it like working in Parexel in Ireland?
  Parexel Ireland is an exciting, supportive, and inclusive place to work where employee well-being is at the forefront. There is an excellent network of employees at Parexel, Ireland. I have worked closely and forged great friendships with CRAs both in Ireland and across the UK. I have also made friends with those working in Regulatory Affairs, Patient Safety, Project Leadership, and Feasibility through the Dublin office events and collaborations. 
  
  
• Why and how do you work With Heart™?
  As a CRA at Parexel, I am lucky to work with a variety of hard-working, talented, and compassionate individuals and teams. There is a great collaborative spirit within Parexel. The willingness of my colleagues to offer support and to pay it forward encourages me to do the same. At Parexel, kindness, and respect for one another and for our patients is never compromised to meet the challenges and responsibilities that come with clinical research. That is why I believe, whatever we’re doing, we’re doing it With Heart™.
  
  
• When did you join Parexel, and why did you choose Parexel above our competitors?
  I joined Parexel in February 2022 looking to further my clinical research experience in a fast-paced, challenging, yet balanced environment. Based on prior research, the values, and beliefs of Parexel stood out to me above Parexel’s competitors. Specifically, the extensive and career-advancing prospects. Parexel offers a great platform to emerging CRAs (graduates who are wishing to pursue a career as a CRA). This level of inclusivity and opportunity reassured me to apply for the role as there is a tailored and hands-on approach to all individuals from all backgrounds, at varying stages of their careers.
  
  
• What would you like people to know about your job or department?
  The Clinical Operations department is extremely team-oriented. The Clinical Operations management team hosts a monthly department meeting to discuss developments and key dates within the department. CRAs are given the opportunity to share tips and tricks and a segment is devoted to mindfulness and wellness. This level of engagement from management has been really rewarding for me as a CRA in promoting a healthy work-life balance.
  
  
• How would you describe what it’s like to work at Parexel?
  

  Working at Parexel allows for creativity, and for ideas to be shared and developed. It is collaborative and engaging which is valuing for employees. I have learned so much about myself and the industry in such a short period of time. I am thankful to Parexel for the opportunities I have been given and for all the new people I have had the pleasure of working with. The people make the place and that is why I am very happy here in Parexel. I am lucky to be surrounded by hard-working, motivating, and compassionate individuals.

• What excites you most about the work you do?
  Being on-site provides a primary insight into the impact Parexel and its employees have on clinical trials. I have a special opportunity to see the hard work of each Parexel employee implemented across various study phases and therapeutic areas and the positive outcome it has on our patients. It is extremely rewarding to play a small part in study objectives being created, planned, and then met.
  
  
• How has Parexel supported your career development?
  When I joined Parexel as a CRA, I was provided with high quality extensive CRA-specific training. It was an interactive approach that allowed me to engage with trainers and CRAs of varying years of experience. It allowed questions to be asked and discussed at great lengths. The level of time and detail that went into this training, proved invaluable to me when I started my first study.

• What do you enjoy when you’re not at work?
  When I am not working, I enjoy playing and watching sports. I enjoy going to watch local and county GAA matches. I have played camogie from a very young age for Lucan Sarsfield’s GAA. I also enjoy hiking and going for coffee with friends. I have attached pictures of recent hikes and of me and my camogie teammates.

• What habit or behavior or belief have you recently acquired? Why is it now in your life?
  Since becoming a CRA at Parexel, I have learnt that the setbacks are as important, or if not more important, than the successes in my overall learning. The environment in which we work is so fast-paced and evolving that time spent worrying over errors, or mishaps out of your control are meaningless if you cannot develop a positive learning or constructive message from them. It is just as important for me now, to implement personal CAPAs (Corrective Action Preventative Action) in my own work as it is to implement them at my sites.

Did you enjoy learning about Amy's story? Check out more of Parexel's employees here.

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