“Every day is a school day,” says Mette Schmidt-Petersen, Clinical Research Associate (CRA). In a job where you never stop learning, the CRA role creates dynamic environments where medical professionals like Mette thrive.
Make a Difference Today
Making a tangible difference in the life of someone in need of medical care was the driving force in Mette’s career decisions. “I became increasingly interested in the bigger picture of health and disease,” Mette shares. With the hope of impacting just a small part of patients’ medical experiences, Mette pursued a career in nursing.
As Mette began her career in healthcare, her interests in disease prevention and public health naturally began to blossom. She was working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), caring for critically ill patients and supporting their families. Over time, her perspective of healthcare shifted, and her career ambitions followed suit; she returned to higher education to secure her Master of Public Health. This was the first step in Mette’s journey in combining her clinical background with broader public health practices.
During her post-grad school job hunt, Mette stumbled across an opening for a Study Coordinator. “My transition into the clinical research industry happened somewhat by coincidence,” Mette explains. Even though her clinical research experience was limited, she still felt drawn to the industry. She could use her nursing experience while traversing into new territory. The combination of intrigue and promise of a challenge led Mette to apply.
A Foray into Clinical Research
Before long, Mette was working as a Study Coordinator for a site. It was in this role where she met a CRA with whom she worked closely, learning the ins and outs of clinical research. The CRA role was new to her – the responsibilities, the travel, the impact. Mette immediately began planning for her future, “I knew that once I gained enough experience as a study coordinator, I wanted to pursue a career as a CRA myself.”
In just three years, Mette’s experience grew and she was not only gaining valuable insight into industry and operations, she also developed close working relationships with fellow clinical research professionals. Her next career move was the natural next step: she claimed a role as a CRA. Entering the industry on the other side of a trial, Mette’s new role firmly planted her in the center of clinical duties and administrative responsibilities.
Three years later, a new opportunity arose.
Meet: Medpace
“What particularly attracted me to Medpace was the opportunity to gain experience as a Lead CRA,” says Mette. Not only were Medpace’s professional development opportunities compelling, but Mette also found herself drawn to Medpace’s status as a mid-size CRO. She saw this as a chance to get closer to clinical trials from an administrative and leadership perspective.
Coming from a clinical background, Mette acknowledges the perspective she approaches CRA responsibilities with. “My nursing experience has had a huge impact on my CRA identity,” Mette explains. Working in a high-stress environment like the ICU and collaborating with CRAs throughout her tenure as a Study Coordinator has shaped how she operates in a clinical setting. Mette brings proactive, efficient support to her sites where she understands the realities of the site staff. Meanwhile, she also focuses on building trust among staff to maintain the integrity of her site and study.
Even though she no longer works with patients directly, Mette does still routinely collaborate with study professionals like physicians and nurses. Stepping away from direct patient care has allowed Mette to explore the global side of her impact as well – collaboration with staff, sites, and healthcare systems around the world reminds her not only of her own reach but what Medpace as a whole is consistently working to achieve.
Change Research
“You never feel like you’ve seen it all,” Mette says. Becoming a CRA is a career decision Mette touts as one of the best she’s ever made. Though, she cautions, this does not come without stipulations like requiring skills in self-management, independent work, and prioritization. Every job comes with its challenges, but to Mette these are only motivation.
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