New Associate Chief Clinical Research Officer Appointed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Sarah O'Brien, MD, MSc, associate division chief for research in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology/BMT, and a principal investigator in the Center for Child Health Equity and Outcomes Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital, has been appointed associate chief clinical research officer for pediatric trials.

"In this new role, Dr. O'Brien will champion the strategic goals of the Office of Clinical Research as well as develop and expand clinical trial support for our research teams," explained Cynthia Gerhardt, PhD, chief clinical research officer, Nationwide Children's. "Her key responsibilities will include enhancing clinical trial operations and supporting initiatives to standardize training, safety, compliance, and regulatory guidelines across all our clinical trial teams. Her experience as a physician-scientist will be invaluable as we build out the leadership structure for our clinical research enterprise."

Dr. O'Brien will report to Dr. Gerhardt and work collaboratively with the Nationwide Children's Clinical Research Services team led by Myeshia Harmon, MHA, CCRP, PRAM; other associate division chiefs for research; and Jennifer Muszynski, MD, associate chief clinical research officer for research informatics.

"Being a physician and a principal investigator allows me to have a greater understanding about the challenges and benefits of conducting clinical research," noted Dr. O'Brien. "I look forward to working with Dr. Gerhardt, Dr. Muszynski, Senior Administrative Director Harmon, and faculty across the hospital and research institute to make our clinical research processes more streamlined, collaborative and accessible."

"Integrating clinical care and research is at the heart of the Nationwide Children's strategic plan. Effectively harmonizing and supporting collaboration among our clinician-researchers will help us continue to accomplish that strategic goal," said Dennis Durbin, MD, MSCE, president, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's. "I'm excited to see Dr. O'Brien bring her extensive knowledge and experience to this role."

About The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report's 2024-25 list of "Best Children's Hospitals," Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of America's largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs are part of what allows Nationwide Children's to advance its unique model of care. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children's faculty train the next generation of pediatricians, scientists and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities in the U.S., supporting basic, clinical, translational, behavioral and population health research. The AWRI is comprised of multidisciplinary Centers of Emphasis paired with advanced infrastructure supporting capabilities such as technology commercialization for discoveries; gene- and cell-based therapies; and genome sequencing and analysis. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org/Research.