At mdgroup, one of the many ways we support the patient journey in clinical trials is by organising and overseeing investigator meetings and site training for pharma and CRO (Clinical Research Organisation) clients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) performing the study.
Over the last few months, it’s been impossible to host these events in-person – so we have been facilitating virtual meetings to enable trials to continue. We’ve learned a lot through these few months of innovation and experimentation, and it has been invaluable for our clients to be able to continue with clinical studies… though we can’t wait to get back together, in-person, with our team, clients and HCPs.
In a series of mini interviews, we wanted to introduce you to our brilliant event services team. We asked them to reflect on past meetings, travel experiences, and what lessons or skills they have learned during lockdown.
Today, we speak to Sarae Godvin, Senior Project Manager.
Sarae, what’s your favourite city to meet for an event and why?
My favourite city to meet for an event is Sydney, Australia. Not only is it one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but the welcoming and laid-back culture make it unmatched. The city centre has so many iconic sights, and great beaches are just a ferry ride away. I’m always happy to make a 24 hour plus trip if I know the flight lands in Sydney!
What is your favourite events venue you have worked in and why?
My favourite hotel for events is the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. The hotel is wonderful, with plenty of meeting space for any group size, and the staff is so attentive, making the entire planning process and event go as smoothly as possible. And you can’t beat the lazy river pool for some downtime!
What skills or lessons have you learned during lockdown?
For work, I have been taking advantage of extra time that is usually spent on the road to advance my knowledge of events! I have been attending Webinars to build up extra CMP Credit Hours and studying towards the Cvent Event Management Certification, which I hope to test for next month.
At home, I have also been working on my baking skills, especially perfecting the DoubleTree Hotels chocolate chip cookie recipe!
Looking for more support with events?
We can’t wait to see you all again at events soon! In the meantime, we’ve published this helpful guidance on how to run effective virtual meetings, as well as preparing for meeting again in-person with the required social distancing and hygiene measures.
Can we help you run your next virtual or in-person event?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
