Airing just days ahead of Rare Disease Day 2026, this mdgroup live episode focuses on the voices that matter most in rare disease research: patients and caregivers. Miriam is joined by Sarah Woods, rare disease patient, rare mom, and Founder of the Serenely Guided Foundation for Rare Diseases, for an honest and insightful conversation shaped by lived experience. Drawing on her personal journey and over 20 years of experience as a business and communications leader, Sarah shares why patient and caregiver perspectives must evolve beyond “input” to true leadership roles within clinical trial design. Together, they explore how patient-centricity, when implemented meaningfully, can enhance trial experiences, foster engagement, and ultimately lead to improved outcomes for the rare disease community.

For Peter DiBiaso, clinical research has always been more than a profession – it’s been a passion. With decades of experience in biopharmaceutical development and a deep commitment to patient advocacy, Peter has long championed the importance of putting patients at the heart of every trial. But when life took an unexpected turn with a diagnosis of Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease, his perspective shifted in ways he could never have imagined.

In this episode of mdgroup live, Peter shares his story of resilience, redefinition, and the deeply personal insight he’s gained into why patient-first care matters now more than ever.

To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are joined in this moving and potentially life-saving mdtalk by Sheila Mikhail, Executive Director of Columbus Children's Foundation and Co-Founder and Advisor at Ask Bio.

We recently hosted a very special live podcast recording. In place of our usual mdtalk, we facilitated a live round table of experts to discuss the impact of decentralisation in clinical trials.

In this jam-packed, fascinating discussion, representatives from the patient community, sponsors, sites, and clinical operations all sat around the virtual table for the very first time to debate our common challenges:

• The barriers to participation in traditional clinical trials

Host LaQuinta Jernigan, Chief Operating Officer at mdgroup, was joined by:

• Jameka Hill - Senior Director of Clinical Trial Health Equity at Moderna

For this motivating episode of mdtalk, host LaQuinta Jernigan, Chief Operating Officer at mdgroup, was joined by Dr Eneida Nemecek. 

Eneida is Medical Director of Clinical Research and Pediatric and Medical Oncology Doctor. at Oregon Health & Science University. Eneida is also dedicated to promoting diversity in healthcare and volunteers in a range of roles for incredible charities. 

LaQuinta and Eneida discussed Eneida’s experience as a medical doctor and professor; how these experiences have influenced her to dedicate herself to making healthcare equitable; and the vital role clinical research plays in creating health equity.

For this episode of mdtalk, host and COO of mdgroup, LaQuinta Jernigan, is joined by Stephanie Katz, Director of mdgroup’s sister company, seacolehealth.  

seacolehealth is a talent agency for healthcare and research professionals seeking flexible and rewarding opportunities to work in patient healthcare and clinical studies worldwide. Their nurses and healthcare professionals deliver remarkable patient experiences for traditional, decentralised, and hybrid clinical trials.  

Stephanie is a registered nurse who joined the seacolehealth team in 2021. Before this, she worked at the renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, where she started as a nurse clinician before becoming a research nurse manager.

Episode 12 is a very special edition of mdtalk. Host LaQuinta Jernigan, Chief Operating Officer at mdgroup, is joined by Jennifer Kinnebrew, Shaniece Goodlow, and Maggie Settlemire.

These incredible women have kindly agreed to join us to discuss their experiences of having children with rare diseases, and how we can advocate better care for everyone.

2022 was a big year for clinical trials.  From supply chain disruptions and staffing shortages to slowing the MedTech boom of 2021, we have weathered some significant challenges.

In Episode 11 of mdtalk, host LaQuinta Jernigan, Chief Operating Officer at mdgroup, is joined by Tom Brazier, our Director of Decentralised Clinical Solutions and mdgroup’s Chief Executive Officer, Tarquin Scadding-Hunt. 

They reflect on the past year and explore their predictions and hopes for 2023.

In Episode 10 of mdtalk, host LaQuinta Jernigan (mdgroup’s Chief Operating Officer) is joined by Caroline Jackson, mdgroup’s Executive Vice President of Patient Services, to discuss the pros and cons of hybrid clinical studies and explore how we can work to make clinical trials more accessible, cost-efficient and patient-focused.

Digital transformation in healthcare is a hot topic for clinical trial organisers and sponsors – and a complex one too.

In this episode, mdgroup’s Chief Operating Officer LaQuinta Jernigan is joined by Adam Spinks and Lyndon Johnson from 8fold Governance. Together, they delve into the challenges posed by the rapid advancement of medical technology and why compliance, good governance and patient-centricity are vitally important wherever technology is adopted.

Collectively, 8fold Governance has almost 100 years of combined experience in the UK health sector and provides end-to-end services for health technology companies including information governance, compliance, clinical safety, software development and more.