W.Montague Cobb Institute at the NMA Convention

2025 Project IMPACT 2.0 Symposium

Transforming Clinical Trials Towards Health Equity
In Collaboration with the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute (The Cobb Institute)
Monday, July 21, 2025 | 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM  | Williford Room
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits: 3
SCHEDULE
  • 7:50 AM Coffee & Refreshments (10 minutes)
  • Welcome and Introduction (10 minutes) Doris Browne, MD, MPH, President and CEO, Browne and Associates, LLC
  • Roundtable Discussion: Strategies and Actions to Achieve Diversity in Clinical Trials (50 minutes) Moderator: Jonca Bull-Humphries, MD, Vice President, PPD Consulting
  • Panelists:
    • Luther Clark, MD, FACC, FACP, Global Director, Scientific Medical and Patient Perspective (SMPP) in the Office of the Chief Patient Officer (OCPO), Merck
    • Neha Shah Londoño, Director, Clinical Trial Diversity & Inclusion, Pfizer
  • Audience Engagement (15 minutes)
  • Keynote Address with Q&A (30 minutes) Lisa Lewis, MPH, Director, FasterCures, Milken Institute Health
  • Panel Discussion: Predictive Tools Usability in Clinical Trial Recruitment and Attrition – Precision Medicine, AI, and Informed Decision Tools (50 minutes) Moderator: Thelma Hurd, MD, MPH, Director of Medical Education, Department of Medical Education, UC Merced; Director, Center for Chronic Disease Management, Institute on Health Disparities, Equity, and the Exposome (IHDEE), Meharry Medical College
  • Panelists:
    • Robert A. Winn, M.D., Director and Lipman Chair in Oncology, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center; Senior Associate Dean for Cancer Innovation and Professor of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, VCU School of Medicine
    • DeChane Dorsey, Esq., Executive Director, AdvaMed 
    • Owen Garrick, MD, MBA, Dean of Clinical Trials, Mayo Clinic 
    • Tonja Hampton, MD, Senior Director, Global Regulatory Affairs, Merck and Co.
  • Audience Engagement (15 minutes)
  • Closing Remarks (10 minutes) Randall Morgan, MD, MBA, President and CEO, The Cobb Institute
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The 2025 NMA Convention Program focuses on addressing key challenges in clinical trials and advancing health equity. Given growing awareness of disparities in health and disproportionate disease burden across populations and communities, this session will highlight innovative strategies, tools, and approaches designed to promote diversity and inclusion in clinical trials. Through expert-led discussions, keynote addresses, and interactive presentations, attendees will gain actionable insights into improving diverse participation, leveraging predictive tools for recruitment and retention, and exploring the evolving role of precision medicine and artificial intelligence (AI) in creating more inclusive research environments. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with thought leaders from industry, academia, and advocacy organizations who are committed to transforming clinical trials and advancing health equity.
Learning Objectives:
  1. Identify Barriers to Diversity in Clinical Trials: Understand the systemic, cultural, and logistical barriers that hinder the inclusion of diverse populations in clinical trials, and explore effective strategies to overcome these challenges.
  2. Examine Strategies for Increasing Participation: Learn actionable approaches and best practices to enhance the recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups in clinical trials, including outreach, trust-building, and partnership models.
  3. Understand the Role of Predictive Tools in Recruitment and Retention: Gain insights into how predictive tools, including AI and precision medicine, can optimize clinical trial recruitment, reduce attrition, and promote more personalized, effective trial designs.
  4. Evaluate the Impact of Health Equity on Clinical Research: Analyze how advancing health equity in clinical trials contributes to better scientific outcomes, improved public health policies, and broader access to emerging treatments.
  5. Explore Innovations in Trial Design and Technology: Discover emerging technologies and innovative trial designs that promote inclusivity, reduce biases, and improve the representation of diverse populations in clinical research.
This session will provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the essential steps needed to transform clinical trials and to help ensure that future research and development prioritizes health equity.