Applying Regulatory Compliance to Research
Like many college students, Danielle Keir couldn’t have predicted her ultimate professional trajectory. When she was an undergrad at Western Illinois University, she majored in psychology and found strong mentors in the faculty. Within a couple weeks of graduating, one of Keir’s mentors encouraged her to apply for a position as a clinical research coordinator at University of Illinois at Chicago. That recommendation resulted in a job, and kick-started Keir’s research career.
After three years working at UIC, Keir transitioned to a position as a certified senior clinical research coordinator at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. During her four-year tenure there, she decided to earn her master's degree in compliance (MSRC) at Northwestern.
Keir briefly considered several regulatory compliance master’s programs, but chose Northwestern in part because of the University’s faculty and networking opportunities. Additionally, she found the curriculum closely aligned with what she was doing professionally.
“All of the classes were designed for me to apply what I was learning, so the application of knowledge in my career on a day-to-day basis was really helpful, Keir said. “The program also had a public speaking component, which is not traditionally my strong suit, but I had the opportunity to practice and develop better techniques and work with professors to get over that hurdle.”
In particular, Keir notes her Drug and Biologics Regulations class with Professor Pamela Mason especially beneficial. Keir noted, “The coursework related most to what I was doing. I would learn something and go back to the office and essentially be applying it the next day.”
As a researcher, Keir also appreciated using the University’s services. She said, “There are so many benefits and resources at your fingertips at Northwestern. You have access to wonderful libraries and online journals and smart individuals. I think that’s one of the biggest benefits. I had so many accessible resources.”
After about a year in the MSRC program, Keir used what she was learning in the MSRC program to help transition to a senior regulatory coordinator position at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University. She graduated in June 2017.