In recognition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month this May, ACRP asked Sharleen Traynor, PhD, MPH, ACRP-CP, Director of the Clinical Trials Research Associate Program at Durham Technical Community College in North Carolina, to share her thoughts on the importance that AANHPI heritage has had in her life and more broadly in the clinical research enterprise, both for participants and professionals.
ACRP: Can you share with our readers some details on where you grew up, what you studied, how you first got drawn into clinical research, and what your current duties encompass?
Traynor: I grew up in South Florida, just outside Fort Lauderdale. I come from a mixed household—Chinese mom and Caucasian dad—where it wasn’t uncommon to have my grandmother’s homemade jiao zi (dumplings) for dinner one night and cheeseburgers the next. It was great being able to experience traditions of multiple cultures, not only at home but with the diverse backdrop of South Florida life.
In school, I was a typical nerd gravitating toward math and science, but I struggled to figure out what I wanted to do as a career. The world of infectious diseases fascinated me, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a basic scientist tied to a microscope. I liked working with people, but I didn’t necessarily want to treat diseases as a clinician.
Then I discovered epidemiology and the world of public health. It was the perfect way to study the intersection between health and society. I worked as an applied epidemiologist for several years before transitioning to research, where I held positions as a study coordinator, data analyst, and clinical project manager. But my true passion is teaching, and now I am educating students about clinical research at Durham Technical Community College. It is a joy to teach people about such a rewarding career that offers endless opportunities!
ACRP: What does AANHPI Heritage Month mean in your personal and professional life?
Traynor: During AANHPI Heritage Month, I feel a great sense of pride. It is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions AANHPIs have made to society and to reflect on the journey that we have taken to be where we stand today.
Personally, I think a lot about my own family and take the opportunity to celebrate our traditions through good food, stories, and shared memories. Professionally, I see opportunities to listen and learn. It’s a time to recognize the value of diverse perspectives, both as clinical research professionals and as study participants. If we want better representation in our field, we need to create spaces where we elevate the voices of AANHPIs and increase our understanding of their wants and needs in research.
ACRP: From what you’ve seen, can you characterize how active persons of AANHPI heritage are right now as students in clinical research-related disciplines and early-career entrants to the field in the U.S. versus what would be an ideal situation in terms of representation? What can/should ACRP and similar organizations do to address any gaps in this area?
Traynor: We know there are major disparities in representation of AANHPI in clinical trials. To improve representation, it will take a multi-pronged approach that includes increased awareness of clinical trials, engagement and collaboration with AANHPI communities, better representation of AANHPI in the clinical research workforce, cultural competency training, and efforts to address language barriers.
I am happy to share that about 25% of the clinical research students at Durham Tech are of AANHPI heritage, which means increased diversity of early talent entering the field. Representation matters, and patients are more receptive to learning about clinical trials if the message comes from someone who they can relate to. For example, a recent report from the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum that looks at the participant side of AANHPI involvement in trials demonstrates that 83.7% of survey respondents agreed with the statement, “I feel more comfortable with healthcare providers/researchers who are similar to me (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, etc.).”
ACRP has done a great job of promoting diversity in the workforce through its Access for Students to Clinical Research Training scholarship. It would be great to also develop mentorship programs to help professionals navigate the career lattice and achieve leadership positions in the industry.
It is important to continue our efforts to improve representation in clinical trials, despite other efforts to knock down diversity. It’s not a political issue but a matter of smart science. Let us push ahead with initiatives to create more inclusive studies to represent the patient populations we serve!
[Note: Traynor was among the panelists at the recent ACRP 2025 gathering in New Orleans who spoke on “Innovative Models to Promote Pathways into the Clinical Research Workforce.” This session and others from the conference will soon be available as recordings through the ACRP Course Catalog.]
Edited by Gary Cramer
