A Baby Girl Shower

Today we celebrated the soon arrival of our baby girl with a shower that some of our co-workers organized. It was a great day for a gathering like this, since, most other people are not at work today, or their offices are closed still for the holidays until next week. With the holidays now and truly past, it just felt like the right thing to do to ride out this week with yet another reason to celebrate, get together, have some food, and yes, open gifts.

We are blessed to have so many thoughtful people at work. We received so many things pink, our little girl will surely be a girlie-girl. THANK YOU EVERYONE!! Your kindess and thoughtfulness is heartfelt, and we are greatful to share in this moment in our lives with you all.

With 12 days to go until the scheduled arrival (unless baby decides she wants out earlier!) we are more or less set and ready.

Happy 2009 to all!

CRCP

I attended a conference in DC/Virginia last week for four days. The conference was for clinical research professionals - investigator sites, sponsors, CROs, and everyone else in between.

Having been "on the job" now for 7 months, it was SUCH a great learning experience. I would even go so far as to say it was the most enjoyable conference I have ever attended (granted all other conferences I have been to were academic by/in nature and enjoyable for other reasons).

I learned the ins and outs of the clinical research profession - specifically about contracting agreements/budgets for clinical trials research. The conference was set up in "tracks" with parallel sessions covering different topics: Track A - budgets, Track B - regulatory, Track C - etc .. There were many great sessions that I had wanted to attend, but they were being offered at the same time, and so I had to be very selective.

On the last day of the conference, I took a qualification exam to be a Clinical Research Contracts Professional. I just received notification that I passed my exam. The exam must have been graded on a curve, since I answered all of 8 questions (out of 20!) Actually, I answered most questions, but had to rush answering 12 of the last questions in 5 minutes. So much for pacing. It clearly showed just how much exam-writing skills I have lost since my days as a student.

Time to put all that learning to practice and build a successful (and profitable) research program.

Out Of Sorts

What a day. So crippling when technology lets you down. With the exception of a few important exchange of emails on prospective study opportunities, little else was accomplished today. Sigh. I guess I should leave work now and pick Ethan up and go home. I miss my friends and family. I miss playing sports. I miss so much of my earlier life. And THAT my friends is precisely how I feel and the product of putting thoughts to keyboard when at an end to an otherwise totally unproductive and underwhelming day. What the heck am I doing?

Hungry Hungry Hippo

Well, since it is my "lunch break", and I am not actually eating anything (because I'm fasting), and since I can't find any other (better) time to sit down and write a blog entry these days, here goes one ...

(not claiming any responsibility for how this entry will make sense or not since blood/brain glucose levels are surely waaaay low ... not too mention tummy grubmling is quite the distraction!)

So for the last day of Ayyam-i-Ha and the first day of the Fast, Kelly, Ethan and I spent time with our friends the Teskes in Jasper. Bella and Adib were their usual playful selves but were also overcoming some sickness. Still, Ethan loved playing and chasing and interacting with his friends.

We went to a local park with a toddler playground (on sand, instead of the usual mulch). Adib and Bella had a bunch of toys to play in the sand with including a bucket, dump truck, shovels/spades and the like. Ethan enjoyed scooping sand and filling up the truck or the bucket or any other place actually. Needless to say his shoes were filled with the grainy stuff! :-D

Ethan is now 17 months old. (did I write an entry for this milestone? hmmm... I don't think I did!) Another time maybe. He still only has 8 teeth (4 up, 4 down) and according to a pediatric report that Kelly showed me once, Ethan has up to 19 months (old) before his first set of molars are to break through/come in. Of course all of this is relative, since we know of some babies who went their whole first year and more without a nubbin' in site. So the pearlies will just have to come in when they come in. It is not preventing Ethan from eating a whole lot, since he manages to break his solid foods well, albeit a bit slower than Kelly or I would like.

I have a bunch of picture to upload still.

Yesterday, our family attended a work conference in Atlanta. Never again! It was such hard work coordinating Ethan and the various sessions, not to mention the huge disruption to his "regular routine" which toddlers live on (where/when to heat his food, where/when to sleep, where to change diappies). I think we will take each investigator meeting from now on, separately, either Kelly or myself, the other staying home with Ethan. These conferences are simply not family-friendly.

OK, 12:30pm, and I've noticed a couple work emails have just come in. And my tummy has stopped grumbling (for now).

Running With Research

River Birch Research is picking up the pace!

So far in 2008, we have 5 active studies - already equal more than half the total (n = 8) of 2007 - and we are only a week into February. We have a COPD study, as well as a rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, stroke/atrial fibrillation and osteoarthritis of the knee. Due to confidentiality agreements we've signed, this is all I will say for that. But I am getting very excited about where we are going.

I have interviewed an applicant (Deb) for a study coordinator position, who we hope to hire very soon. With another full-time coordinator, and several other studies in the pipeline, and a stylish and clean new look to our website (www.riverbirchresearch.com) things are slowly coming together.

We have brought in a few providers and staff members to our research team. In just this past week, Dr. Leski (sport's medicine), Dr. Sabreen (nephrology and hypertension), Dr. Issa (internal medicine and pulmonology) and Cami (women's and perinatal nurse practitioner) have joined our team at River Birch!

Next week, I am meeting with Dr. Mannino (cardiology), Dr. Whaley (oncology) and Deb (coordinator applicant).

Unlike basic science research, I can actually see immediate results to things I implement. And I realized something about myself -- that I need this steady supply of rather "instant gratification" to keep motivated (something that happens all too infrequently in academic research).

I truly enjoy directing our whole program. Far from knowing for sure if the changes I am introducing will translate to financial gains, I am still hopeful we can meet and exceed "2003" - our last respectable fiscal year revenue-wise.

Another goal and personal challenge: a satellite branch for RBRA in Atlanta, GA.

Regeneron Investigator Meeting

Last Thursday I left to Atlanta to catch a flight to Las Vegas for an investigator meeting sponsored by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. On the way to the airport, I stopped by the nearest Toyota dealership for Kelly's 10,000 mile maintenance checkup. An oil and filter change, tire rotation and fluids check later, I was on my way to the airport's park-and-ride.

The flight to LV was more or less uneventful, which is always a good thing. The only exception was going through a thunderstorm in the first 15 minutes of the flight, which provided some uneasy moments for me (turbulence) but at least the storm provided good amounts of rain in Blue Ridge. Turbulence on flights always makes me worried.

I arrived at the airport in LV (for the first time) and was surprised to find slot machines in the airport! (I don't know why I was surprised). A shuttle service awaited us - several conference attendees. We stayed at the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort which was about 24 miles or so away from "the strip" or the glitz of Vegas. The resort, situated in the desert in a sort of valley, surrounded by generous hills, the road or driveway leading to the entrance lined with palm trees, was really quite nice and impressive. We arrived around sunset and so you know I had to take some photos.

The meeting was over Thursday and Friday. Thursday's agenda was registration and dinner (which was fantastic BTW). Friday was the full day, starting at 7am for breakfast, concluding at 5:30pm or so. We were introduced to the study protocol, the investigational drug, the regulatory material, shipping of materials for lab testing, all the ins and outs of conducting this clinical trial. We received electronic data capture (EDC) training for this study also.

At 5pm, I get a text message from Ray (my boss) saying we have a ride waiting out front. -- I guess we were skipping the remainder of the meeting (which was only the wrap-up session and dinner left). Lee (Ray's wife) had a night on the town planned for us which included: (1) dinner at the ultra trendy nightclub and restaurant called Tao (located at the Venetian hotel) -- asian bistro cuisine, (2) a stroll through some of the hotels and shops at the strip, (3) gelato at the Venetian for dessert .. and best of all (4) tickets to the show La Reve, which was showing at the swanky (new) hotel, the Wynn.

I have to thank the Tidmans, especially Lee, for organizing this evening and for including me. They planned to stay an extra day/night and I am sure their Saturday would have included all of this though not necessarily the exact itinerary. But knowing I was leaving very early on Saturday, the Tidmans decided to quickly come up with a night on the town for my first Vegas experience. Thank you! There's nothing like experiencing Vegas the Tidman way: personal drivers to and from hotel (no waiting for taxis), near front row seats at our show, and more.

La Reve

Now I can say: Been there, done that -- I should have bought the book! This show rocked. A la Cirque (de Solei?), La Reve was absolutely breathtaking. The light show, the athletic and jam packed routines were just unbelievable. The difference between Cirque and Reve, I think, is that the latter is focused on utilizing water in their shows (diving, that sort of thing). The theatre being dome-shaped, and I don't know if I can explain what I am about to say and do justice to this one part of the show ... where, at ever increasing heights, performers (and as part of the routine or show) were being "dropped" into the pool -- and we're talking heights of 30-40 feet!! ... And then, this one last "diver", was lifted through and out the top of the theatre ceiling (usually the case if the performer is changing to another costume or whatever for the next scene) .. only for the brief suspense of nothing happening broken by the re-entry of this performer down to the pool - OK some 60-75 feet?? It was ridiculous! R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S! Here I thought this part of the show was over and on to the next, when this final guy comes through the theatre dome top to be dropped into water, perfectly vertical, little splash. Gasp! Needless to say the appreciative crowd gave a thunderous applause and many oohs and aahs. (don't people die at impact at those heights? hmmm)

Late and exhausted we returned to the hotel. I had but a few hours before I had to meet my shuttle service at the lobby the following morning for an early flight back.

So much for what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

www.riverbirchresearch.com

Several weeks in the working and our company's website is now much more polished and more or less complete. Thanks to my friend Frank Lam, we now have a professional presence on the internet to reflect the quality of work we do in clinical research.

Frank has put up with my many "requests" for changes or ideas, many of which are still ongoing as we strive to put together the best website for our company's current needs. But this is not merely my own vision. Oh no. Frank has inputted many of his own ideas and design elements, many of which I initially would "gently" disagree with, but later find Frank's eye for webpages and his ideas more appropriate and aesthetic than my own. And for this, your own critical decisions for our site, I thank you immensely.

So as we strive to bring more clinical trials studies to Northern Georgia, I welcome you all to view our new look at www.riverbirchresearch.com.

"Vegas, Baby!"

Everyone seems to be saying it. :-D

Next investigator meeting will be in Las Vegas, NV! And this time, I will be able to attend! The last meeting which was sponsored by Roche was held at the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne, FL. I missed that opportunity for family reasons. And now, I get to go to the Regeneron meeting which will be at the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort (Jan 10/11, 2008). Kelly had the opportunity to go since she will be sub-investigator for our site for this study, but someone's got to be with Noomsie. Instead, it will be the boss (Ray) and I.

Mountain Medical Potluck

We leave for Singapore in three days, and we have a lot to do before then.

Work aside, we have to: (1) find a new home for Sparky (and permanently since we think Ethan is allergic to her) and (2) prepare to host our colleagues and work friends for a potluck dinner at our home (yes, the night before we leave!). Pretty crazy, I know. But we have more or less packed for our trip already. Toiletries and the usual chargers for cell phones and the like for which we will be using up to the point we leave our home, remains to be added to our luggage.

It will be nice to host our co-workers in our home. Kelly and my contribution to the potluck will be Adobo (chicken) and Islanboli pollo (Persian tomato rice dish -- with green beans, and with or without meat).

Josie and Renea have kindly offered to bring us to and from the airport. So we're pretty much all set to go. Will add photos after we return from our trip on Dec 16th.

www.riverbirchresearch.com

My friend Frank is helping me create a website for our clinical research company, River Birch Research Alliance, L.L.C. So far we've managed to register the domain (see blog entry title) for the site, but little else. Still work-in-progress, but I am very excited as this will be one step closer to getting our name out into the wider community, as the current existing website for our research work is not great.

There will be a "home" page that lists all the various tabs/pages, as well as pages for: (1) our company (brief history), (2) our philosophy (mission statement), (3) our team (list of providers, research staff and me), (4) information for sponsors (pharmaceutical companies) and CROs (clinical research organizations), (5) information for patients (how to enroll in studies, etc..), (6) current/ongoing/upcoming clinical trials studies and our past research experience and (7) a "contact us" page.

The site will be simple and clean, with a lot of white spaces and calm nature pictures of the Blue Ridge area, with easy flowing text. Easy enough to envision, but it will probably be a greater task to communicate effectively cross continent with my friend Frank in getting it done just right.

It's exciting! And thanks, Frank, for lending your time, and expertise! I will work to get you justly reimbursed or rewarded for your time.

Chamber Of Commerce Banquet

On Saturday, Kelly and I attended the annual banquet hosted by our very own Fannin County Chamber of Commerce.

Considered by many who live and work in the region to be THE most anticipated event of the calendar, this year's event was held at the ultra-posh Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, GA.

Our place of employment (Riverstone MD, PC) is a corporate sponsor of the event, and so we had a table for eight reserved for our group. For dinner, I enjoyed prime rib with roasted asparagus and a ball of mashed potato, while Kelly had the pecan stuffed grouper (fish) with wild rice and grilled vegetables.

Jody Davis, who is the chief financial officer (CFO) of Riverstone, was elected as Member of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce for 2008. It was nice to see a member of our group achieve the position, and Jody was clearly the most junior of the inductees -- he is only 29 or 30 years old. Congratulations, Jody!

Many awards were given out during the evening, and since Kelly and I are new to the community, we only recognized a couple of names. One (name) that markedly stood out to us was that of the Mercier family. The late Mr. Mercier (passed away this summer) and his wife, Mrs. Mercier, were awarded a Lifetime Honorary Member of the COC for their family's contribution to tourism and general support for community life in Fannin County. The Mercier family own the largest (and oldest) apple orchard in Blue Ridge - some 200 acres and thousands of apple trees - and for generations have been a huge attraction to the region. Our family has made a couple visits to the Mercier (store) just outside the orchards and especially love the deep friend apple pies! Yum!

The evening nevertheless was short for us. We essentially ate dinner and left while the live band hired for the evening played their first song. It is not that we were being antisocial, rather, with a 40 minute drive back to Blue Ridge, and Ethan being in Linda's care for the evening, we had to make good time to bring Ethan back home.

Linda Gray and husband Jimmie (?) are just lovely folks, and very caring. Our family will likely return to Brasstown Valley Resort to celebrate Kelly and my third year wedding anniversary, and we will be sure to bring Ethan to enjoy the sights.

Opportunity Missed

Yesterday at work I was told there was an investigators meeting in Key Biscayne, Florida, with accommodation at the Ritz-Carlton hotel! All expenses paid. Unfortunately, my first business trip was not to be, since the dates coincide exactly to when my sister and family are coming to visit. It is no one's fault. Just really bad timing. We secured the accounts to participate in this study a little too late, and so the fax for registration for this meeting came the day it was also due. I had a couple hours to decide: miss family, or miss a great opportunity to learn, network, and see the sights of KB. I chose family. I told Ray I want 'dibs' on the next meeting, though, knowing me, it will be local (probably in Atlanta or some place near) and certainly not anywhere as fancy as the Ritz. Nah...

Casual Fridays

Today is Friday, and at work they observe casual dress on the last day of every week. To be safe, I did not wear jeans, but did wear a polo shirt instead of a button shirt and tie. It is only my first week, and so I figured I would dress the part well and be on my best professional attire -- that is, until my coworkers really get to know me over time (joking, as if anyone could be fooled, I've been waiting to have a shirt-and-tie-type-of-work for so long, something not expected in the arena of academic research).

So, yea, my first week of work! I can't believe it has already been one week. Well, I did start on Tuesday. But sure feels good to come up to a weekend having been productive. I've managed to organize all our active contracts into one binder -- and if you knew the amount of paperwork I needed to sift through to get all this into one place, you would be impressed I did this in the time that I did (essentialy over just two days). Moreover, I managed to compile some budget data for '06 and what we have so far for '07. I may have to go back to '05 and even '04 (or earlier) to really get the accounts up to date. Thereafter, all new and incoming grants we successfully acquire should be easier to maintain as they will have started on my watch from day one. But still, paperwork inevitably get mixed up from time to time, but this should be a far better situation I feel, when I have some control over things.

Looking forward to the weekend! We are likely going to Dawsonville to the outlet shops while mom is still in town for another few weeks. Oh, and must remember to blog about my fig tree, which, FYI, is currently taller than me!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Budgets, Contracts, Grants

All confidential stuff!! Hmm.. how can I write this entry in a way to depict what I did today and what my job entails...?

OK, so my first day on the job was pretty laid back. I did the usual admin stuff: (1) payroll, (2) confidentiality agreement, (3) organize desk space and work surroundings, (4) set up computer connection, (5) telephone/direct line, (6) work email address, (7) medical insurance paperwork, etc.. etc..

I met with Ray to discuss plans and what I can get a start on right away and more long term goals. The immediate thing was to learn how the grants all work: how different study grants are applied for, how the billing/payment works, relationship between CROs (clinical research organizations)-pharmaceutical companies (or sponsors)-institution/investigator/site, how patients get erolled (inclusion/exclusion criteria), etc.. etc..

By the end of my first day, I am now pretty familiar with what a standard grant/agreement/protocol looks like. Over the next few days I will be learning a whole lot more, when I get to create my own spreadsheet/system of organizing the various budgets (monies received, etc..), a system for keeping track of all active grants, and also to inform more physicians in the practice (Kelly too!) of what we (the research folks) are doing so that we can enroll more qualified patients in to studies, and thus increase and build this fledgling enterprise.

Ooohhh, it just sounds too exciting. I think I've been craving a challenge like this for some time: refine my management skills (or if any, acquire some more... hee hee), learn a bit of the industry of pharmaceutical science/clinical trials, and get a general sense of business type applications -- i.e. getting as far away from basic science research as humanly possible :-D

That is not all accurate actually, since part of many/all contracts I've seen (today anyway) include clauses for intellectual property and publications. And I for one would like to keep up my skills and experience in writing manuscripts for publications, and this would also be a viable way to get our company name (River Birch Research Alliance, LLC) into the wider scientific community and thus more grants.

More learning. Yay!

My First 26 Minutes At Work (So Far)...

A year and a few minutes later, I am back at a workplace! I am at my new job. Day one. A meeting is taking everyone's time right now, and leaving me to myself for the meantime. I will meet with Dr. Tidman after their conference meeting is over, to hash out a few things that I will be doing I'm sure. I feel a bit out of pace, what with everyone having something to do, some place to be, someone to see. We'll see how robust (or not) my day ends up :-D

Mom is with Ethan at home. Kelly and I carpooled to work together. It was super foggy on the road.

Sparky dug some dirt out of my fig tree's pot, and left this huge mess on the deck. At least I think it was Sparky. It could easily have been this other nocturnal friend - namely this racoon who has been frequenting Sparky's new crib. I hope mom can fix up the mess when Ethan is napping, and cover some of the fig tree's exposed roots as a result. I would have done so myself, but, well, I am all dressed for work!

More later...

A-P-P-R-O-V-E-D !!

YES!!! I was just informed by my immigration attorney that my H-1B visa has been APPROVED!! Two weeks ago we heard the great news that my petition was one of the randomly selected by computer-generated lottery, but that only ensured processing. Now, it's official! I am just over the moon :-)

THANK YOU for your absolute professionalism, Aronson & Associates, PA, especially, our immigration attorney, Ms. Sarah Peterson-Stensrud and leagal assistant, Mr. Bryan Bradford. Thank you!!!

With such odds to overcome I was really down-hearted and worried about my chances. I already had my "back up" plan to do an MBA at Emory, though I may still do this down the road. If my H-1B were not approved, I would have had to file for a different visa status (e.g. TN-1) to enable myself to work in the country. If not, I could legally stay in the country as Kelly's dependent (H-4 status), but this latter status is a non-work one, hence my alternate plan to go to school if that were the case.

Now, I can look forward to begin my position as Chief Research Officer for RiverBirch Research Alliance!!! Not sure if I have announced this job on my blog yet, since I was so worried, though I was offered the job, that my visa paperwork would not come through.

I am keen to explore this CRO position and grateful for this opportunity since it will be my first job outside basic science research (academic research). And for the first time I will have responsibilities in management/business/finance and overseeing good clinical research practices and hopefully growing this small company. Surely a lot of learning will go on before any tangible effects of my work will manifest, but knowing me, I will soon have things moving forward. (God willing!)

My first-year roommate from UBC, Doug, who is completing his MBA at INSEAD in Singapore/France will surely be thrilled to hear this news. And I will be sure to pick his business brain in times to come.

1 of 65,000 H-1Bs. Cool.

:-)

Kelly's Professional Head Shot (Photo)

Here's Kelly's professional head shot for her practice in Blue Ridge. Pretty hot mama, eh? (Is that even appropriate to say?) Ahem... well... We got it done at Sears Portrait Studio, and it took all of 5 minutes. I love you, Honey :-P

Last Call

Yay, Kelly is almost through with all of her call nights! Tuesday/Wednesday will be Kelly's final call night of her residency - a four year Internal Medicine and Pediatrics combined program. Of course, this does not mean she is not without other types of "call". There's Jeopardy call, short call, this-and-that call :-) (ok, so I made up that last one)...

I am soooo proud of you, Honey!! The light at the end of the (4-year) tunnel is surely brighter now.

Looking back at when Kelly and I were first dating, I remember her as an intern (first year resident). Those were not easy days. There were many nights filled with self-doubt, tears, and hardship. And I was not particularly fond of any of her colleagues then. This was because I had always thought Kelly deserved better (respect) from her friends, and I was just not sure she was getting this from the folks in her program.

Fast forward four years, and Kelly is a senior resident, and soon to be Internist and Pediatrician. That is, a doctor-doctor. Yes. Kelly and her class will be specializing in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. And I have grown to understand and respect her colleagues which are very dear friends of ours, who have witnessed Kelly and my early days as friends, through dating, engagement, wedding, and the birth of our son. In between all those significant life milestones have been numerous movie nights, dinners, devotional programs, birthday celebrations, nights of reflection and support for one another.

Indeed, with both Kelly and my family all over the world, Kelly's colleagues, as well as the Baha'i community here in Durham, have been our surrogate families and have seen our family grow.

I will write a separate blog entry specifically on Duke's med/peds residency class of '07 in a few months time, but would like to congratulate them all now, and to look forward to the final 4 months of their training!!!

I have no doubt this group of fine professionals will serve humanity well.

One Of Those Days/Nights

Today was Kelly's last day off. She returns to work tomorrow, and, naturally, she'll be 'on call' (which means we won't see her until Friday afternoon).

So, this morning Kelly baked some cinamon rolls for breakfast. We kept to the house for a little while until we decided to go out for lunch. Meanwhile, Kelly was preparing all her things for a long shift, overnight in the hospital, making sure she has everything she needs in her duffle bag for tomorrow. The sisters debated over Korean or Japanese for lunch, and we ended up going to Shiki Sushi only because it was open, and its proximity to the house is really second to none.

Nothing fancy was ordered. Just good sushi. And Ethan was very behaved, but did need a feed around the time our food arrived, so everyone got their fill.

Back at home, we had dessert - left over apple crumble and vanilla ice cream - and I also made fruit smoothies. We usually have a huge bag of frozen cut fruit that we buy from Sam's Club that is just perfect for smoothies. I usually make them with milk, but this evening, I decided to make them with cherry limeade (like lemonade) that we had in our fridge. It was OK. A very cold drink option for a brisk December evening. :-D

We watched a couple episodes of Season One of Grey's Anatomy (Adeline is hooked on this show - as are Kelly and I, I suppose). Mom and I bathed Ethan (sorry Viet, very untimely call! I will call you back soon) and Kelly fed him, before Kelly retired for the evening.

Going to bed before 9pm is not uncommon for Kelly when she's on a rough rotation at work. And actually, we are down to one car, since my GTI is at the dealership being looked at after a good friend spotted a few too many oil spots under my car. There were other things I wanted looked at anyways, like the sunroof would automatically decide to open and close at random, and the rear driver-side seat would not fold down properly. I got a call this evening saying it will be another couple of days. So, I will drive Kelly early to the hospital tomorrow and pick her up on Friday. Adeline also heads back to Sydney tomorrow.

Will be a quiet house with just Ethan, mum and I. (and so I'll probably call you then V).