Academic medical centers (AMCs) remain essential to the clinical research enterprise, yet they are operating in a rapidly shifting environment defined by sponsor‑driven timelines, accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, and increasing operational complexity. This session will explore how AMCs can strengthen and communicate their competitive position while preserving the scientific rigor, mission‑driven culture, and patient‑centered values that set them apart. Attendees will learn about the structural and operational challenges AMCs face and how these pressures are amplified in an AI‑enabled trial ecosystem.

The session will also highlight the unique advantages academic institutions bring to industry partnerships and address practical strategies for reducing site burden, improving operational agility, and preparing academic teams for AI‑supported workflows. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A to support real‑world application and shared problem‑solving.

CEU: 1.0 ACRP

Speaker:

• Edwina McNeill-Simaan, MSHS, EdD, CCRP, CCRC, Program Director, Vanderbilt University Medical Center