What a Senior Clinical Trial Coordinator at UCLA Health wishes they had known before entering the clinical research industry
Reflecting on their career path, the senior clinical trial coordinator reveals a surprising amount of flexibility and growth opportunities within clinical research, far exceeding initial perceptions of rigid scientific work. The interviewee wishes they had known earlier that clinical research is "a huge field" allowing for diverse career paths and "professional expansion," contrasting with the perceived linearity of traditional scientific careers.
Career Development, Flexibility and Growth, Professional Expansion, Industry Realities, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Cindy Tong
Sr. Clinical Trial Coordinator
UCLA Health, Hematology/Oncology
UCLA, 2017
UCLA FEMBA 2026
Biology & Related Sciences
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Research and Development (R&D)
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. The field of clinical research is far more flexible and expansive than it initially appears. It's not just rigid scientific processes; it encompasses many areas and allows for diverse career paths.
2. Contrary to the linear career progression often associated with science (med school, residency, etc.), clinical research offers numerous directions for growth, pivoting into other industries or specializations.
3. Don't limit yourself to a narrow perception of scientific rigor. Clinical research involves creativity, adaptability, and opportunities for significant professional expansion beyond a pre-conceived 'scientific' image.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
If I told my 18-year-old self that 10 years later I would be where I am now, I would have thought, "You're crazy." A job like this doesn't exist. I have no idea what you're talking about.
I think science is always seen as super rigid. Scientific research involves the scientific method, hypotheses, observations, and then making a conclusion. What I wish I had been told was about the amount of flexibility and growth, and kind of your own professional expansion.
Clinical research is a huge field. Even those two words don't encompass everything. You can think of any part of the human body, and someone is out there exploring something about it, doing something wonderful, fantastic, and experimental.
I had thought it was a very upward trend. That's how my brain worked for a long time, especially on the pre-med path: go to med school, go to residency, fellowship, staff position. It's very linear.
But once you enter clinical research, you can go any way you want. I've had friends pivot anywhere, even within clinical research. Or pivot to other industries, or just do their own thing.
I wish I had told myself this because I think there was a bit of hesitation. I didn't want to silo myself into just doing clinical research. I felt I had to be this image of scientific rigor, but it's way more than that.