Leaders & Legends

In this episode, Patty Leuchten sits down with colleague and industry leader Coleen Glessner to discuss the role of culture in driving quality and compliance across the life sciences. Coleen reflects on her journey from the lab bench to senior leadership, her pivotal work at Pfizer during a period of transformation, and why “tone at the top” is critical for building an organization rooted in integrity.

They explore how a culture of quality impacts compliance, innovation, technology adoption, and patient trust. Coleen also shares insights on leadership alignment, the challenges of balancing speed, cost, and quality, and why companies must approach culture as rigorously as process to succeed in today’s complex clinical trial environment.

In this episode of Leaders & Legends, Patty sits down with Ravi Patel, RPh, PharmD, MBA, SVP of Global Patient Safety at United Therapeutics, PBC. Ravi shares his inspiring journey from his early years in India to becoming a global leader in drug safety and pharmacovigilance. He opens up about how life’s detours shaped his career path, the importance of purpose-driven leadership, and the lessons setbacks can teach us.

The conversation explores Ravi’s perspective on pharmacovigilance at a crossroads, including insights from his recent paper on the subject, and the critical role of collaboration, data, and patient trust in shaping the future of clinical development.

On this episode of Leaders & Legends, Patty Leuchten welcomes Jill Demby Guest, the visionary filmmaker behind And Now, Love, available for streaming on Apple TV, iTunes, and Amazon Prime. As President of Dreamscape Entertainment and an Emmy‑nominated, festival‑winning director and writer, Jill has built a storytelling career steeped in compelling biographical narratives and social impact filmmaking.

From her beginnings training under the Maysles Brothers to producing films for PBS, Disney, and Warner Brothers, she has always focused on narrative power and human connection. In conversation with Patty, Jill shares how she envisioned and executed the compelling true story of Dr. Bernard Bail—from war hero to psychoanalytic pioneer—while revealing her approach to storytelling, leadership, resilience, and purpose in business and art.

Patty sits down with Erica Conroy, CEO and Founder of Primum, to discuss how her own experience with cancer loss inspired a platform that helps community oncologists connect with academic experts in real time. From life-saving conversations to shaping better clinical trials, Erica shares how Primum is innovating cancer care.

Patty sits down with John Hubbard, Strategic Healthcare Advisor, Board Member, and former CEO and President of multiple organizations across pharma and CROs. John shares a candid perspective on why the clinical trials industry continues to struggle with change adoption and innovation.

From leading large-scale transformations at Pfizer to driving industry-wide collaboration through initiatives like TransCelerate, John reflects on the cultural and structural barriers that make progress difficult. He also offers advice to entrepreneurs and innovators trying to break through and why real change often takes a combination of vision, resilience, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

Patty sits down with Deirdre BeVard for a candid conversation on leadership, patient-centricity, and the evolving clinical trials landscape. From navigating non-linear career paths to addressing data variability and sponsor-CRO dynamics, Deirdre shares personal stories and hard-earned lessons that challenge the status quo — all with her signature authenticity and clarity.

In this episode of Leaders & Legends, Patty Leuchten sits down with industry leader Ken Getz — Executive Director of the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development and founder of CenterWatch and CISCRP. They dive into Ken’s entrepreneurial journey, the role of data in driving change, the future of clinical trial innovation, and the enduring challenges around patient engagement and site sustainability. Tune in as Ken shares the data that tells the uncomfortable truths we need to hear.

In this episode of Leaders & Legends, Patty Leuchten speaks with Peyton Howell, CEO of Parexcel, about her journey from entrepreneur to executive leader and the principles that guide her leadership today. Peyton reflects on the value of bold decision-making early in her career, the importance of aligning teams around purpose, and how her dual experience in both startups and large corporations shapes the way she leads.

They also discuss the future of clinical research—from the promise of AI and machine learning to the importance of patient-guided drug development and global representation. Peyton shares how Parexcel is evolving to meet today’s challenges while building a strong, inclusive culture grounded in authenticity, energy, and impact. It’s a timely conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of clinical trials.

Paul Evans, CEO of Velocity Clinical Research, joins Patty to discuss the evolution of clinical trial sites, the challenges of patient recruitment, and the impact of technology on research efficiency. From his early days in Wales to leading one of the most prominent site networks, Paul shares insights on the industry’s biggest hurdles—and what the future holds.

AI is transforming clinical trials, but it’s not about replacing people—it’s about working smarter. In this episode, Patty Leuchten sits down with Anita Modi, founder of Peer AI, to discuss how AI is reshaping regulatory medical writing, speeding up drug approvals, and making complex processes more efficient.

Anita shares her journey from scientist to entrepreneur, her experiences launching a company while raising young kids, and the challenges of getting the Pharma Industry to embrace change.

If you’re curious about the future of AI in clinical research and what it takes to be a leader in innovation, this one’s for you.