Clinical Research Coach

In this episode of The Clinical Research Coach Podcast, recorded live at SCOPE 2025, we welcome Jeff James, CEO of Wilmington Health and CEO and Co-Founder of Innovo Research. Jeff is a nationally recognized leader in healthcare transformation. With a wealth of experience in physician leadership, accountable care, and clinical research integration, Jeff shares insights on how healthcare organizations can align incentives, improve patient outcomes, and drive innovation in clinical trials.

As the leader of Physician Healthcare Collaborative (PHC)—one of the top-performing Medicare ACOs—Jeff has firsthand experience navigating the complexities of value-based care and integrating research into clinical practice. In this episode we discuss:

✅ The role of clinical research in modern healthcare
✅ How value-based care is reshaping patient outcomes
✅ Strategies for aligning providers, payers, and researchers
✅ The future of healthcare innovation and leadership

Enjoy!

To learn more:

Jeff James:

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-james-9a0b9b3/

Innovo Research:

https://www.innovoresearch.com/

Wilmington Health:

https://www.wilmingtonhealth.com/

In this deeply personal episode, Michelle courageously shares her experience participating in a clinical trial to determine if she carries the genetic marker for Alzheimer’s disease. With raw honesty, she walks us through the emotional rollercoaster of making the decision, the testing process, and the weight of knowing—or not knowing—what her future may hold.

Through her story, we explore the power of clinical research, the fears and hopes that come with genetic testing, and the importance of advocacy in Alzheimer’s awareness. Whether you're considering participating in a trial, have a loved one affected by Alzheimer’s, or simply want to hear an inspiring story of resilience, this episode is for you.

Tune in as Michelle opens up about her journey, reminding us that vulnerability is strength—and knowledge is power.

To protect Michelle's privacy, we are not sharing her full name or identifying details.

In this episode, I chat with Rob Freishtat, Co-Founder and President of Uncommon Cures and former emergency physician. Rob shares his journey into the world of rare disease clinical research and his mission to transform the clinical trial landscape.

We discuss the unique challenges of diagnosing and treating rare diseases and the critical role of clinical trials in advancing treatments.

Rob shares howUncommon Cures, works to remove the unnecessary "barnacles" that have accumulated over decades to reduce delays and inefficiencies.

With home-based visits, after hours appointments and family involvement, Rob outlines his approaches to reduce friction and improve the patient experience make clinical trials more accessible.

We also explore the impact of AI in rare disease, strategies to enhance patient recruitment, and the importance of advocating for better regulatory pathways.

Whether you're a patient, a healthcare professional, or simply curious about rare disease advancements, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of clinical research.

Dr. Robert J. Freishtat is a highly regarded physician-executive renowned for his transformative impact on biotechnology ventures, clinical medicine, and international healthcare initiatives. With a storied professional history spanning over two decades, Dr. Freishtat has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead high-stakes organizational transformations, drive clinical solutions to the marketplace, and forge strategic global partnerships.

As the President and Co-Founder of Uncommon Cures, Dr. Freishtat has transformed clinical trials for rare diseases by implementing a unique trial model that eliminated inefficiencies and accelerated drug approval processes. Under his leadership, the company has expanded rapidly and secured key contracts to establish strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies. Previously, Dr. Freishtat served as the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Adipomics, where he commercialized groundbreaking obesity-related diagnostics and empowered innovation – securing critical funding for entrepreneurial milestones.

You can connect with Dr Freishtat at: https://uncommoncures.com/contact-us/

Or on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-freishtat/

Colleen Melchiorre is a dynamic strategic leadership executive and a devoted mother. In this compelling episode, Colleen shares an extraordinary story of courage and resilience as she advocates for her son, Paul, diagnosed prenatally with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

Fueled by her unwavering maternal instincts, Colleen embraced the role of "Medical Mom," fearlessly navigating the intricate and often overwhelming medical system. With a perfect blend of wit, wisdom, and practical insight, she recounts her journey, offering invaluable advice on managing complex medical information, building effective relationships with care teams, and creating a sense of home even within the hospital walls.

Colleen’s tenacity and compassion make her the ultimate advocate—exactly the ally anyone would want in their corner. Her candid reflections also serve as a powerful lesson for the healthcare industry, providing critical insights into how to engage meaningfully with patients and families. This episode is a masterclass in advocacy, resilience, and the profound strength of a mother’s love

About Colleen:

Colleen Coffey Melchiorre, Ed.D. is a seasoned executive consultant, speaker, and strategist with over 23 years of experience specializing in organizational development and team dynamics. Her expertise spans corporate, non-profit, and higher education sectors, where she has consistently driven business growth and improved team performance for organizations ranging from small non-profits to Fortune 500 companies.

A published researcher and thought leader, Dr. Melchiorre holds degrees from Belmont University (B.S.W.), Eastern Illinois University (M.S.), and Trevecca Nazarene University (Ed.D.). She advocates for organ donation, neurodiversity, and emotional wellness, serving as a parent partner at a leading children's hospital.

Beyond her professional work, she is an adaptive cheer coach, certified Pilates and barre instructor, and dedicated yogi. Active in her church community, Dr. Melchiorre resides near Nashville, TN with her family. From the boardroom to the sidelines, to the mat-her authentic, holistic approach inspires teams, athletes, and organizations alike.

Join host Leanne Woehlke and clinical research professional, Suzanne Kincaid, for a compelling conversation about the unseen demands of family caregiving. With candor and humor, Suzanne shares her journey managing the healthcare of multiple elderly family members, discussing the hurdles of medication management, doctor visits, and technology support. This episode dives deep into the practical and emotional sides of caregiving, exploring why self-care is essential yet often overlooked, and how systemic changes could ease the load on caregivers everywhere. For anyone supporting a loved one through aging or illness, this conversation offers insights, resources, and a reminder that you’re not alone.

Suzanne Kincaid, CCRA, ACRP-PM, FACRP

Owner and Independent Consultant, Responsibility Research

Suzanne has over 25 years of clinical research experience. She has conducted clinical

Suzanne’s clinical research passions include process improvement, project management,

Suzanne is actively involved in the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP),

To connect with Suzanne on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/responsibilityresearch/

With a focus on Patient Focused Drug Development (PFDD), many pharma companies have begun incorporating patient insights into protocols, recruitment strategies, and brand messaging, yet many efforts miss the mark.

In this episode, I chat with with Kirsten York, an industry expert with over 25 years of experience. Kirsten is passionate about helping teams identify and overcome entrenched beliefs that can get in the way of creating trust and building authentic connections.

Kirsten shares the importance of creating meaningful patient journeys and shares how the standard "cookie-cutter" approach does not work.

We discuss what it really takes to build a “patient odyssey”—an approach that goes far beyond the typical patient journey methodology. Kirsten shares how she gathers insights straight from patients’ voices on social media, discussion groups, and advocacy platforms to create journeys that actually resonate. She also explains why these journeys need to evolve over time and should be used to inform every aspect of drug development- from molecule to market.

If you’re curious about how pharma can lead with empathy and build more authentic connections with patients, this episode is for you!

Kirsten's Bio:

Kirsten York is the Executive Vice President of Human Experience Strategy at ENTRADA. As a Patient Experience Organization, or PXO, ENTRADA is driven to reimagine the way patients interact with pharmaceutical companies throughout their treatment journey.

With over 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, and device brand strategy and communication, Kirsten has developed deep expertise for impacting the human experience across the life sciences industry, with particular emphasis in oncology and rare disease.

Kirsten possesses a deep passion for brokering the intersection between patients/caregivers and pharma and is committed to helping people feel more in control of their health journey than ever before. Whether a product is in early development or has been on the market for years, Kirsten is able to identify opportunities for intervention and innovation that can transform the way people experience their health odyssey.

Kirsten specializes in Patient-Focused Strategy, Patient Positioning, meaningful Advocacy Partnerships, Lexicon & Data Visualization, and uncovering powerful patient insights than result in brand transformation.

You can connect with Kirsten via email at:

[email protected]

Or on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstenyork/

To find out more about Entrada:

https://thinkentrada.com/

In this episode Heidi Hawkins shares her story of personal discovery and healing through psychedelics. Heidi shares her experience of finding connection and integration through her journey with plant medicine.

In this episode, I sat down with Paresh Shah, the Founder and CEO of CliniLink.

Paresh shared views on the importance of DE&I and accessibility in clinical trials, as well as social determinants of health and impact in clinical trial recruitment.

CliniLink Health stands out in revolutionizing patient engagement in clinical trials, through their AI enabled data platform.

To connect with Paresh, and find out more:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pareshkshah/

In this episode, Joe Dustin, a long time industry leader, shares stories and wisdom gleaned from decades of experience. Joes's passion for the industry and the patients he serves is palpable. From his driving curiosity to excitement about the latest tech advancement, Joe's desire to connect and impact others is clearly a superpower. His advice to remember the people that matter in one's personal life serves as a poignant reminder to find balance.

Enjoy this episode!

To learn more about Joe, and connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eclinical/

Scott Schliebner is an industry executive with deep knowledge of clinical research coupled with a commitment to patients and a growth mindset. He is a true industry disruptor, not afraid to step out of his comfort zone. Scott has a passion for building teams and nurturing others towards their goals.

In this episode we discuss adopting a patient focused approach throughout drug development. We talk about the implications when we as an industry fail to take into account what patients really want. Scott shares about differences in the Rare Disease community and how to address some of the challenges and then apply those learnings to other areas.

Scott shares tips for empowering patients and how to assess patient burden and ensure ROI.

Enjoy this episode!

Scott Schlieber takes people, teams, and organizations further than they would otherwise go.
A strategic, innovative, and commercially-oriented clinical drug development executive with 30 years experience across the biopharma, CRO, and non-profit sectors.
Scott creates, builds, transforms, and accelerates growth for clinical research organizations. He drives commercial success through relationship-building, strategic partnerships, creativity, transparency, and integrity. Scott is passionate about patient-centric research and developing innovative approaches to accelerate clinical drug development.