Stacy Hurt, M.H.A., M.B.A.

Stacy Hurt passionately pursues her purpose, to make it easier for patients to participate in clinical trials and as Chief Patient Officer of Parexel, a leading Phase I-IV CRO, she is influencing change on a global scale. Stacy ensures that patients and caregivers have a seat at the table to translate their lived experience and recommendations into improvements in the drug development process at its earliest stages. Mindful of her son’s profound apparent disabilities and her own non-apparent disabilities from cancer treatment, Stacy champions accessibility to clinical research by expanding the definition of diversity to ensure that people with different abilities have an equitable chance at better treatments, improved outcomes, and cures.  

With two decades of professional experience in the healthcare industry combined with personal experience, both as a cancer survivor and a caregiver to her son who has an ultra-rare genetic chromosome abnormality, Stacy brings a unique perspective. Her true gift is to inspire clinical trial sponsors and build empathy for the patient and caregiver perspective. Formerly Parexel’s Patient Ambassador, Stacy uses her voice to represent patients everywhere, even when they are not in the room. Her highly sought after insights shape strategies for clinical trial design and delivery.

A globally recognized advocate within the patient community, Stacy Hurt also champions Parexel’s patients-first culture. She helps each one of us reflect on the person behind the patient, recognize how our work impacts the patient/caregiver experience, and she reminds us to honor the patient’s role as a key stakeholder within every trial. 

In addition to advocating for patients in her professional capacity, in her personal time Ms. Hurt has volunteered across several colorectal cancer advocacy organizations such as Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Colon Cancer Foundation, Colon Cancer Coalition, and Fight Colorectal Cancer. She is also vice chair of the board of the American Cancer Society Northeast Region (Pittsburgh market). 

Work Experience 

Stacy is an award-winning 25-year pharma executive with experience in functional areas such as sales, marketing, training, operations, and physician practice management. Stacy is a frequent conference speaker and industry influencer, always championing patient involvement in clinical research, for example, as a member of the Global Annual Meeting Program Committee for Drug Information Association (DIA).

She has been honored by Fierce Pharma as one of their “Fierce 50” in the Patient Advocacy category and by University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health with the Margaret F. Gloninger Service Award.  

Education

Stacy holds a bachelor’s degree in labor and industrial relations from Penn State University and master’s degrees in health administration and business administration from the University of Pittsburgh.