Spaulding Clinical with Cassandra Erato
This week, I'm joined by Cassandra Erato, the CEO of Spaulding Clinical. Cassie joins to talk about the vital role clinical research plays in advancing medicine. Spaulding Clinical specializes in phase one testing of new drug products before they move on to later stages of testing. Cassie talks about the impact of their research, including a significant study related to the opioid epidemic. We also touch on Spaulding Clinical's commitment to community involvement and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Links referenced in this episode:
Transcript
Hello, Washington County.
2
:Thank you for tuning in to
Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
3
:I am your host, Fuzz Martin, and this is
a show about positive things happening in
4
:and around Washington County, Wisconsin.
5
:And you know what?
6
:Every four years, we could use a little
extra positivity between neighbors, right?
7
:Thanks.
8
:Right.
9
:Especially today.
10
:So, uh, thanks for pulling this
show up on your podcast, player.
11
:I appreciate you, neighbor.
12
:This week, I am joined by Cassandra
Erato, the CEO of Spaulding Clinical.
13
:Spaulding Clinical is a clinical
research facility located right
14
:here in West Bend in the former St.
15
:Joe's Hospital facility, and not enough
people know exactly what they do there.
16
:And It's some pretty important work,
so let's all learn about it together.
17
:With that, here are 15
minutes on Spaulding Clinical.
18
:With Cassie Erato on
Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
19
:Cassie, thanks so much for joining me
today on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
20
:For those who are listening who
might not be familiar with Spaulding
21
:Clinical, can you give us a high
level overview of Spaulding Clinical?
22
:What your organization does and
the role that clinical research
23
:plays in advancing medicine.
24
:Cassandra Erato: Yes, so every new
drug product that needs to come to the
25
:market in the United States or globally
needs to go through three phases of
26
:testing, Phase 1, 2, and 3, to determine
if the drug is safe and effective
27
:and how it's absorbed in the body.
28
:And we do phase one testing, so that's all
in, normal healthy volunteers, although
29
:we do a little bit in later phase, but,
that's basically in healthy volunteers
30
:to determine if the drug is safe and
how it's absorbed in the body before it
31
:moves on to the next phases of testing.
32
:Fuzz Martin: So then once it's done
there, if it, if it passes, it goes
33
:on to the phase two and then phase
three, is that, and then eventually
34
:FDA approval or something like that.
35
:Is that how that works?
36
:Yes, exactly.
37
:Okay, very good.
38
:So what kinds of trials then
are done at Spaulding Clinic?
39
:How does that, it's all,
all medicine kind of things?
40
:Cassandra Erato: Yes, we
really see everything.
41
:So we're working with
primarily smaller biotechs.
42
:So we, our customers can be
pharmaceutical companies or biotechs.
43
:Because we're a smaller company, we
work really well with small biotechs.
44
:But it's every type of, therapeutic area.
45
:We work in infectious disease, in mental
health, CNS, in, really everything.
46
:The only thing we don't really touch
is oncology because you can't give
47
:that in normal healthy volunteers.
48
:Oh, sure.
49
:Fuzz Martin: Okay.
50
:Because radiation and things
like that a lot of times.
51
:Yeah.
52
:Okay.
53
:Very good.
54
:And, uh, I'm sure you have.
55
:You know, there's NDAs and confidentiality
and those kind of things, but are there
56
:any, organizations that you could mention
that maybe people might be familiar with
57
:that may have passed through Spaulding
Clinical here in, in Washington County?
58
:Cassandra Erato: Yes.
59
:So, I can talk about this one because
it's published in public papers, but,
60
:um, we work a lot with the Food and
Drug Administration, with the FDA.
61
:So they're not testing new drugs,
obviously, but they ask us to test
62
:products to inform their policy.
63
:So we've tested sunscreen
products for them to determine
64
:if it's absorbed into the blood.
65
:Opiates, a lot of different products.
66
:Fuzz Martin: Okay, very good.
67
:From a, a subject standpoint, so you,
again, you're looking for, you're in
68
:phase one, you're using healthy subjects.
69
:Can you walk us through a typical
trial, start to finish, you know,
70
:How does someone get signed up
to be a participant in the study?
71
:You know, do they stay at your facility?
72
:How long are they there?
73
:Those kind of things.
74
:Cassandra Erato: Yes.
75
:So, they would call into our recruiting
department to set up an appointment
76
:and the recruiter will go through their
medical history and make sure that
77
:they're healthy and can participate.
78
:Then they come in for a screening
appointment and that's about three hours.
79
:where we do a physical exam, medical
history, and just basically check that you
80
:meet all of the criteria for the study.
81
:Then you'll receive a phone
call within the next couple
82
:of weeks if you're accepted.
83
:You check into the trial.
84
:Trials can be anywhere from two
days to 20 days, and um, but
85
:a typical is about five days.
86
:You check into the unit, you go through
that whole screening process again
87
:to make sure you're still healthy,
still qualify, and We check all of the
88
:luggage coming in to make sure there's
no food or drug products coming in.
89
:And then you check into the study floor,
which is a former hospital facility.
90
:So it feels like you're staying
in a hospital, but a lot of people
91
:also say it feels like summer camp.
92
:So you're there with maybe 20 other
people, and then you go through each
93
:study day, stay there overnight,
and then check out at the end.
94
:Fuzz Martin: And these studies, I
assume, are all different types of
95
:people from young to old and, Yes.
96
:Different, you know, walks of life
and those kind of things, right?
97
:Mm hmm.
98
:Because you, you have to test
all kinds of different drugs
99
:and those kind of things, right?
100
:Cassandra Erato: Yes.
101
:It's typically 18 to 55 years old.
102
:Okay.
103
:Although we're recruiting
55 to 85 right now.
104
:And, It's all ethnic backgrounds, and
we also have, we have college students,
105
:we have people in their 40s who are
doing it as additional income, we have
106
:a ton of Etsy businesses, college
students, huge variety of people.
107
:Fuzz Martin: And do people come in
from all around for this, or are they
108
:mostly here in southeastern Wisconsin?
109
:Cassandra Erato: If it's a
longer trial, we see people
110
:from all over the United States.
111
:If it's a quick, short two days and
they need to come back frequently,
112
:then it's around the Milwaukee area.
113
:Fuzz Martin: Very good.
114
:After the trial is over, do
the participants ever see the
115
:results of the study, or are
they just, mostly Not typically.
116
:Yeah,
117
:Cassandra Erato: don't know.
118
:Sometimes if there's a paper
published, they'll know.
119
:Fuzz Martin: Sure.
120
:Okay.
121
:Do you have any kind of clinical success
stories that you can talk about, maybe
122
:share, over the years of how clinical
research through Spaulding Clinical has
123
:helped advance medicine and healthcare?
124
:You know, the things that have
happened here in West Bend, Wisconsin
125
:have helped kind of globally or
nationally, the healthcare industry?
126
:Cassandra Erato: Yeah, I mean, there's
a lot of them, but I'll talk about one
127
:from recently about three years ago.
128
:We did a trial for the FDA They are
with the opiate epidemic in the United
129
:States They were looking at if you're
giving opiates with an antidepressant
130
:or with an antipsychotic Does that
increase the chance of overdose or
131
:respiratory depression and we found
that it did with Antidepressants, so
132
:if a random college student is on an
antidepressant and somebody at a party
133
:hands them an opiate, they should know
they're at a greater risk of death.
134
:So, and there was a, JAMA
article published on that.
135
:So, incredible study.
136
:Fuzz Martin: Very good.
137
:So, Spaulding Clinical has
been around since:
138
:Your organization is very prominent in
the community and known for giving back.
139
:What are some of the organizations
and programs that Spaulding
140
:Clinical supports in our community?
141
:Cassandra Erato: We're really
centrally we work with the United
142
:Way and support United Way and for a
long time, Randy Spaulding has been,
143
:ahead of a campaign year, but really
throughout the year we're holding
144
:constant fundraisers to support United
Way because they have so many amazing
145
:programs that support the community.
146
:Fuzz Martin: Very good.
147
:You've been with Spaulding for a while.
148
:17 years, is that right?
149
:Yes.
150
:So you started as a clinical
research coordinator.
151
:I wrote these all down so you know.
152
:I didn't memorize these.
153
:You were a nurse practitioner, director of
clinical operations, the chief operating
154
:officer, and then in 2020 became CEO.
155
:So you've been, you've seen
every aspect of the business.
156
:What have been some of your most
Rewarding experiences along that journey.
157
:Cassandra Erato: Absolutely central
to that is the most difficult times.
158
:So all our most challenging
times have made me grow so
159
:much individually as a person.
160
:Beyond that, we had a.
161
:Since we were founded, we have a really
large cardiac safety component where we're
162
:passionate about long QT syndrome and the
people that, you know, random high school
163
:student that dies on the basketball court
because they didn't know they had that.
164
:So we have a medical device that
detects that, but recently we did
165
:a trial for a drug to treat that
and it actually showed promise.
166
:So that was extremely rewarding
to see that come to fruition.
167
:And last, you know, in our earliest
days when we were first starting
168
:the company, we were there, there
was nine of us and we were there
169
:around the clock and I had babies.
170
:I had two infants at home and, we
were able to set up a, a daycare
171
:facility in the building so that
I could see them and be with them.
172
:And that was an awesome part.
173
:It was before we had customers,
but we were just, I would
174
:be there during the day.
175
:My husband would stay all night.
176
:So, that was a very
rewarding part of the job.
177
:Fuzz Martin: So, now, as CEO, what are
some of the values or guiding principles
178
:that drive the way that you and your
team, work at Spaulding Clinical?
179
:Cassandra Erato: Well, we have four
values that we were founded based on.
180
:They were heroic ambitions,
ingenious solutions, self
181
:awareness, and loving care.
182
:But one that's dear to me is
self awareness, and it's just
183
:about knowing yourself, knowing
your strengths and weaknesses.
184
:And I try to, I strive for that every
day, and I'm human, I make mistakes, but
185
:in all of the teams, it's about putting
aside your own ego and knowing, doing
186
:what's the greater good for the company.
187
:Fuzz Martin: And then speaking
of work, you have a wide range
188
:of careers at Spaulding Clinical.
189
:You need nurses, pharmacists,
doctors, phlebotomists, paramedics,
190
:and on and on, people working in
management and those kind of things.
191
:What's your approach to creating a
workplace that supports, professional
192
:growth, a sense of community, and,
and, and like in your growth, I
193
:mean, you, you started, and, and
grew your career over 17 years.
194
:How do you, how do you support that?
195
:Cassandra Erato: So clinical research
is extremely challenging, and a lot
196
:of people don't know what it's like.
197
:So we operate what's like a small
hospital and we're recruiting
198
:people who are coming from local
hospitals and healthcare facilities.
199
:But when they come into clinical
research, it's so different.
200
:So we're trying to coach people on what
that's like before we're hiring them.
201
:But sometimes you just don't know,
drawing blood in a hospital is very
202
:different than having to collect it on the
second for 20 people in a row and under
203
:a high pressure situation with a bunch
of people watching over your shoulder,
204
:sometimes a pharmaceutical sponsor.
205
:So but once people get through
that first year and realize it is
206
:for them, it's not for everybody.
207
:Once they get through that, there's
tremendous growth opportunity.
208
:And we have a lot of people there
for a long time that really enjoy it.
209
:Also, we're a family business, and
we try to create that environment.
210
:And, that's what our employees have said
for so long, that it feels like a family.
211
:It feels like that community.
212
:Fuzz Martin: You said you, you had started
with, what was it, nine, nine employees?
213
:Mm hmm.
214
:And what are you at now?
215
:What's
216
:Cassandra Erato: About 200.
217
:Fuzz Martin: About 200, wow, okay.
218
:And, um, how do you invest in
training and kind of supporting that?
219
:Well, I mean, even It's, there's
a lot of talk about the need
220
:for healthcare professionals.
221
:How do you support that next
generation of medical professionals
222
:here in Washington County?
223
:Cassandra Erato: Yeah, so we do a lot
of work with the local high schools.
224
:With Slinger, West Bend, Kewaskum.
225
:We've had them tour through the facility.
226
:I just talked to an AP
psych class yesterday.
227
:It's giving them that exposure to research
because so many of us at Spaulding say,
228
:you know, when I was in nursing school,
we didn't hear anything about this.
229
:West So it's giving them exposure
to know that this world exists.
230
:And then, , the technical college, we
have a pharmacy program with Concordia.
231
:We're always trying to
expose to our world.
232
:And then once you're in the door and the
opportunity for career growth within this
233
:industry is tremendous because there's
only 70 sites like ours in the world.
234
:Once you get through.
235
:You know, that initial shock of
the research environment, but then
236
:you start putting the work in.
237
:You can go from being a tech
at entry level to charge
238
:staff to then a study manager.
239
:And study manager life is really,
really difficult, but if you put
240
:four or five years in on that, you
now have a world opened up to you
241
:that is incredible for advancement.
242
:We've had so many people come through
in the study manager position.
243
:And are now working across the
country and in clinical research.
244
:Fuzz Martin: Great.
245
:Looking into the future for Spaulding
Clinical, what do you, what are
246
:some of your goals for the company?
247
:Cassandra Erato: Well, when Randy
Spaulding founded the company, it was
248
:based on being technology advanced
and using that to allow good drug,
249
:better drugs to come to market.
250
:So when these small biotech companies
have limited funds, How do we use that
251
:technology to help them get their results
faster so they don't run out of money
252
:before they get the drug to that point?
253
:And we have largely accomplished
that, but we want to expand it.
254
:So we're this small company
in West Bend, Wisconsin.
255
:We need to really spread the word in the
industry of who we are, and that takes a
256
:lot of marketing dollars and sales effort.
257
:So we're putting a lot into that.
258
:But second is to continue
to expand that technology.
259
:We have.
260
:The world of AI coming in right now.
261
:And a lot of our industry doesn't
know how to deal with new tech
262
:because we're slow and regulated,
but we're experienced with that.
263
:So we're really, investing
a lot in that right now.
264
:Fuzz Martin: Sure.
265
:Wrapping up, if somebody wants to
learn more about first working with
266
:Spaulding Clinical, what, what would
be the best way for them to, to reach
267
:out or to find out more about them?
268
:Cassandra Erato: They would
go to Spauldingclinical.
269
:com and there's a jobs, careers page.
270
:Submit your resume there, but I
highly recommend putting in a email
271
:or a cover letter talking about
why you're interested in research.
272
:Fuzz Martin: Very good.
273
:And then if somebody wants to
test the waters with perhaps
274
:becoming a, uh, a subject, I,
I don't know what to call them.
275
:Is that a subject?
276
:Is that participant?
277
:Participant, there you go.
278
:What is the, the best method
for them to go about them?
279
:Cassandra Erato: They
would go to SpauldingPays.
280
:com.
281
:Fuzz Martin: Okay, SpauldingPays.
282
:com.
283
:All right, very good.
284
:Well, Cassie, thanks
so much for coming in.
285
:And, it's great to have you and learn
more about Spaulding Clinical because I
286
:drive past it all the time and I know,
I knew very little but now I feel like
287
:I, I know a lot more and I, I appreciate
you, uh, Shedding some light for us.
288
:Thank you.
289
:Cassandra Erato: Yes.
290
:Thank you so much for having me.
291
:Fuzz Martin: Thank you again to
Cassandra Erato of Spaulding Clinical
292
:for joining me on this week's
episode of Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
293
:As always, if you ever have
an idea for the show, it's
294
:real easy to suggest it to me.
295
:The first way is to go to my
Suggest a Guest form on my website.
296
:Simply go to fuzzmartin.
297
:com slash guest, And fill in the form.
298
:It's fuzzmartin.
299
:com slash guest, or you can just
email me fuzz at fuzzmartin.
300
:com.
301
:That is fuzz at fuzzmartin.
302
:com.
303
:New episodes come out on Tuesdays.
304
:The show's available wherever
you're listening right now, as
305
:well as on Apple podcasts, Spotify,
YouTube, and at fuzzmartin.
306
:com.
307
:Or, you know, a host of other podcast
players too numerous to mention.
308
:Thanks again for listening and I will
talk to you again next week right
309
:here on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
