Smith & Jones Innovation

Gobs of gratitude for all our speakers, hosts, planning team members, production team, speaker coaches, event day volunteers, and attendees for being part of the return of TEDxMtHood yesterday! Here are a few photos of the happenings on the main stage. More photos and videos of all the talks to come. Follow us here or on Facebook and watch your email for the full collection to come your way. Laura Hilty Joseph Bull Cathy Rowe Chad Brown M.Sc. Gideon Freudmann Ben Landsverk and the Low Bar Chorale Joe Smith Sara Wolk Lindsey Wahlstrom Chrissy Marie Juan Barraza Kasem Rodriguez Mohsen Marli Williams Jeff Smith Spenser Meeks Grace Gedlaman Hayley Harr Louisa Mariki, MSc Jessica Murfin Aidyn Reed Aliya Borchers Emmory Kahn Israel Miles Ty Adams Steven Harper Daniel Lambert Kyle Burke Blackburn Noah Adams Brian Hart Sigfried Seeliger Photo credit: Steve Harper 😀 ❤️

Many of you have seen the picture of Rona and me with our matching lines making silly faces. Here’s the one captured right before it. The fear and exhaustion on both of our faces is palpable. I talk a lot about joy and light and am often met with comments about strength and resilience. But that’s only part of the equation. Yesterday — on the 3 year anniversary of donating cells for the first time — I got on the stage TEDxMtHood and did what I think is the most honest thing I’ve done publicly: I talked about the guilt that comes from not being able to save your child, and how hope evolves from that place. Three years ago, I believed my cells might help save her life. Yesterday, I stood in front of a crowd and talked about what it means to keep living after they didn’t. I’m excited (and honestly a little nervous) to share the video when it’s available. Until then, there are behind the scenes shots over on Instagram (@themomatologist) including a much-needed hug from Cesar the no drama therapy llama after the talk. Thank you to Jeff Smith for the coaching, Michelle D. Jones for the opportunity and unwavering kindness and support, and Laura Hilty for sharing the stage once again and the pictures from the audience.

Imagine spending your career dedicated to clinical research, only to find yourself as a patient in a trial for a drug you helped research. That is exactly what happened to my friend and prior colleague, Michelle Stump-Kerry CSPO. This video is a brilliant and incredibly moving reminder of the "why" behind our work. It is a true full-circle moment that highlights the human impact of science. If you work in clinical research or healthcare, please take a few minutes to watch this. It is a stark reminder of why we do what we do and why our work is worth fighting for. Thank you for sharing your journey, Michelle. I wish you the best of health, longevity and happiness. You are an inspiration. 💙 #ClinicalResearch #ClinicalTrials #Pharma #Biotech #PatientAdvocacy #WhyWeResearch #PatientVoice #Healthcare #Inspiration

My talk from the Innovation Network Gathering was published today—ironically, while I was in the infusion chair. And honestly, there couldn’t be a more fitting moment. Because this talk isn’t theoretical for me. It’s not a strategy deck. It’s my life. And it’s the reality for every patient who needs research to move faster than it does. Here’s the truth I share in the talk: By the time the industry meets a patient, we are already deep in the fight. We’ve been searching, scared, overwhelmed, hoping for answers long before anyone shows us a clinical trial. And too often… help arrives late. If we want more patients in research— If we want faster breakthroughs— If we want to save more lives— We have to stop meeting patients at the point of enrollment. Trust must start earlier. Support must start earlier. CHANGE must start earlier. Today was another treatment day for me. Another reminder that patients don’t have time for us to fix things “eventually.” So I hope you’ll watch this talk. I hope it resonates with you the way living it does for me. And I hope it pushes you to take action—small or big—to build the trust based, patient-centered path we desperately need. We can’t afford to show up late anymore. Full version here: https://lnkd.in/gE-kaWdV #innovationatthespeedoftrust #trustfirstpatientswillfollow #whatwillyoudotobuildtrust #buildit #trustbeforecrisis Alissa Kerry-Stump Innovation Network Lisa Moneymaker Medidata Solutions Alicia C. Staley Jeff Smith Michelle D. Jones Sarah Tremethick Lori A. Ball

I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I live 1,000+ miles from the cancer center I chose. Not because it necessarily had better care- because it has the largest clinical trial program for my disease. I have the resources to make that work. Most patients don’t. This is why Stephen Walker’s talk matters. As someone who lives and breathes clinical research, I knew trials would become my lifeline. I also knew the brutal reality: finding the right ones would be nearly impossible. Steve’s Trial Navigator idea to create one human connected platform takes the burden off patients to be their own detectives when they have zero capacity for it. Perhaps as importantly, it’s a direct path to building trust. Greater trust means faster innovation. Faster innovation means lives saved. And critically - this isn’t just talk. A Dive Team is already working to make it real. Watch his full talk. This is achievable. Our industry owes it to patients. #ClinicalTrials #PatientAccess #ING2025 Innovation Network