Ascension St. John Clinical Research Institute Receives Inaugural Global Site Excellence in Diversity Award
October 13, 2023 – The Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) is honored to announce the recipient of the inaugural Global Site Excellence in Diversity Award, Ascension St. John Clinical Research Institute in Tulsa, OK. This prestigious award, sponsored by Syneos Health, recognizes and celebrates the outstanding efforts of clinical research sites worldwide in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical trials.
In 2019, Ascension St. John’s research department implemented a community outreach plan with the hopes of reshaping not only their department, but their community’s future. By their Bridging Diversity Together (BRIDGE) framework, they focused on not just increasing diversity enrollments, but directly reaching out to the communities they were looking to better serve. The BRIDGE framework shed light on the diverse needs of various demographics within their community, helping Ascension St. John research team cultivate trust and overcome obstacles to trial participation.
Stacie Merritt, Director, Ascension St. John Clinical Research Institute, said, “The Ascension St. John clinical research team in Tulsa, Oklahoma is thrilled to receive the inaugural Global Site Excellence in Diversity Award. Our team has worked very hard to make a difference in our community. We are dedicated to placing our patients first and committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion in all of our clinical trials.”
Jackie Kent, SCRS Vice President of Diversity & Special Projects, commented, “SCRS received many impressive submissions for the inaugural Global Site Excellence in Diversity Award, which is a testament to sites’ efforts to reshape the future of inclusion and equity for clinical trials. Congratulations to Ascension St. John for earning this prestigious award with their revolutionary BRIDGE framework. By integrating underrepresented community needs synergistically into their mission, they’ve bridged participant knowledge gaps while forging genuine connections within their community. Their strategic commitment to inclusivity and collaboration serves as an inspiration to all.”
The award was open to SCRS site members globally and evaluated initiatives such as culturally tailored outreach, community partnerships, educational programs, and recruitment strategies that prioritize diversity and inclusion. The judging panel, consisting of SCRS Diversity Awareness Program committee members, carefully evaluated the submissions and selected the recipient.
For more details about the Global Site Excellence in Diversity Award, visit the Global Site Solutions Summit website.
About the Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS)
The Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) is the leading advocacy organization dedicated to unifying the voice of the global clinical research site community. Representing more than 10,000 sites in 47 countries, SCRS facilitates industry collaborations and conversations dedicated to site-focused advocacy, education, mentorship and connection. SCRS is an active and influential champion for sites in industry initiatives to ensure that the perspective of sites is heard and valued. Learn more and get involved at myscrs.org. Our voice. Our community. Your success.
