LaShonda Crane

I attribute my success to more than 35 years in clinical research and nursing, beginning with an unexpected entry into the field when I participated in a clinical antidepressant study while caring for a newborn, which led to a job offer and launched my research career. I had the privilege of working for about 15 years alongside a pioneering psychopharmacology physician, whose mentorship shaped my foundation in clinical science, and when he retired I pursued nursing, earned my license, and joined Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, where I spent nearly 20 years as a Principal Investigator leading large-scale, multi-site clinical trials while continuing my education and ultimately earning my Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2019. During my career, I contributed to research in HPV testing and vaccination, STI diagnostics, contraceptive development, and infectious disease studies including COVID-19 and influenza, as well as work that helped inform national Pap screening guideline updates, and I am especially proud of my role in advancing FDA-approved innovations such as the Teal Health home self-collection HPV testing device recognized by Time Magazine as an Invention of the Year and receiving a Best Research Abstract award, with my success grounded in lifelong learning, professional certifications through ACRP, and a consistent commitment to excellence in clinical research and patient care.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is that you can work hard and build a fulfilling career that never becomes boring, because healthcare is constantly evolving and always changing in ways that challenge you to grow, learn, and improve how we care for patients.

I would tell young women entering this field that you can build a successful and deeply fulfilling career doing work you love while making a real difference in people’s lives through clinical care and medical research. This industry offers the opportunity to directly contribute to improving health outcomes and even saving lives through studies and innovation. I would also encourage them to stay committed to learning and excellence, because the work is both challenging and incredibly rewarding, as I’ve experienced throughout my own career, including recognition such as a Best Abstract Award for my work in HPV home testing research.

The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is adjusting to a new role after my previous position of 20 years ended when the Planned Parenthood facility closed due to the political climate, and transitioning from a long-standing focus on diagnostic and preventive research into early-phase clinical drug studies, which I’ve only been involved in since April. While the work is still highly meaningful and involves promising therapies, the focus is primarily on safety and early development, and the timeline for seeing patient impact is significantly longer compared to diagnostic research, where advancements can sometimes reach clinical use more quickly. I am also adjusting to the complexities of telehealth practice, where licensing across multiple states remains a barrier for nurse practitioners and physicians who often must obtain separate state licenses rather than operating under a compact system like nursing, which can limit flexibility in care delivery and research participation.

The values most important to me in my work and personal life are making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, compassion, and service to my community. I’ve always been driven by the ability to help patients access care they might not otherwise receive, whether through my work in clinical research at Planned Parenthood or through my ongoing involvement with the SHIFA Charity Clinic, where I’ve been serving since 2014 and continue to provide care and long-term patient support, including telehealth relationships that have lasted for years. I also value consistency, trust, and showing up for people in both professional and personal settings, which is reflected in my commitment to mentoring, supporting families in crisis, and engaging in community outreach such as speaking at domestic violence shelters. Outside of my clinical work, I extend those same values through service initiatives like my “Stuffies for Sissy” donation program in honor of a family tragedy, fostering children, and supporting my own family during difficult times, all of which reinforce my belief that true impact comes from compassion, presence, and lifting others up whenever possible.