MERIT Executive Spotlight is a series featuring leadership team members introducing themselves and explaining why they chose to work in the clinical trials industry and at MERIT.
What is your role at MERIT?
As Therapeutic Area Lead for Ophthalmology, I serve as a technical and strategic resource across the business development and sales teams. I join capabilities calls to answer sponsor questions, assist with budget and proposal reviews to make sure we’re presenting our services accurately and compellingly, and help bridge the gap between our clients and EXCELSIOR™, MERIT’s proprietary software platform. Because I’ve been with MERIT since the early days, I have deep familiarity with how the software works, which lets me speak to technical questions that go beyond what a typical sales conversation covers.
What do you like about working at MERIT?
Having been here from the beginning, I have a different connection to the business than most. I remember when we had a single study and a handful of people, so watching the company grow to where it is now is something I find genuinely energizing. The people here are a big part of that too. There are a lot of great colleagues, and that makes a real difference day to day. I’d also say the broader ophthalmology community keeps me invested. People in this field tend to stay in it for a long time, and some of my closest professional connections go back over 20 years. Running into those people at ARVO and AAO every year is something I really look forward to.
Why did you get into clinical research?
Honestly, it started because I needed a summer job before my senior year of college. A friend was working at the UW Reading Center and put in a good word for me. I planned to stay for the summer and ended up staying for a decade. What kept me there was curiosity. I always wanted to understand the “why” behind everything, and I had mentors who were generous about answering questions. I got to train in ophthalmic imaging and even took images myself at clinical sites, which gave me a real appreciation for how hard sites work and how much precision the job requires.
After the UW, I joined MERIT and have been here ever since. One of the most rewarding parts of this work is seeing something you contributed to actually reach patients in the clinic. That has happened more than once over the course of my career, and it never gets old.
What do you do in your free time?
I live in Madison, Wisconsin, on a beautiful acre of land that feels like the country while still being five minutes from a grocery store. My yard keeps me busy in the best way. I’m also in a book club, so reading is a regular part of my life. And travel is a constant: recent trips have included Milan, Vienna, and Mexico. A nice bonus of working in this industry for so long is that professional travel has taken me to places I might not have sought out on my own, including several trips to China and Abu Dhabi for investigator meetings and training.
Connect with Anne on LinkedIn
