By Pat Eshelman, RN, BSN, CCRC
I have worked in the health care field for 42 years, the last 36 years as an RN, the past 18 in clinical research. It has been a most interesting journey. When I started in health care, stomach ulcers were believed to be caused by stress, few drugs were available to treat those having a heart attack, and cancer was believed to be a death sentence.
Through research we learned that we can treat the infection that causes stomach ulcers and cure them. We are able to intervene when someone is having a heart attack and prevent heart damage. Many cancers are either cured or treated as chronic diseases.
Have we solved all the mysteries of the human body? Of course not! However, we are making slow but steady progress toward treatment and cure of common diseases.
During my career in research I have been privileged to help bring many new drugs to market. Some of these drugs were first in class. They treated conditions by new and often better pathways.
I didn’t enter research thinking that I would be improving the life of my family members, but that is how my career choice turned out.
Many new drugs to better treat diabetes have been developed with the help of The Corvallis Clinic Clinical Research Center physicians and staff. Recently, a relative of mine was diagnosed with diabetes and is benefitting from those discoveries.
In the 1990s the research department worked on Pradaxa, a first-in-class direct thrombin inhibitor agent. Revolutionary at the time, Pradaxa was the first drug other than warfarin to prevent blood clots in those with atrial fibrillation. When a relative was no longer well controlled on warfarin he started on Pradaxa.
It is very gratifying to be able to improve the lives of those that I care most about.
A huge thank you to the hundreds of patients who have helped The Corvallis Clinic’s Clinical Research Center to bring these and many other drugs to market. You are the medical heroes of our age.
If you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, contact the Clinical Research Center at 541-766-2163, or send an email to research@corvallisclinic.com or fill out our Research Study Information Request form. And, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/corvallisclinicresearch.
– Pat Eshleman, RN, BSN, CCRC, is the Manager of The Corvallis Clinic Clinical Research Center and a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator.
