Influential Woman · Oncology Clinical Research
Sarah Smith
Oncology Research Nurse, University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
Her Story
About Sarah
Sarah Smith has spent 20 years in research, specializing in oncology clinical research. She entered the field inspired by her grandmother, who was the first female doctor in Kansas and passed away from lung cancer, turning a personal tribute into a lifelong career dedicated to better patient care and outcomes. Smith leads with integrity and strength, crediting the women who mentored her for teaching her to break through glass ceilings both personally and professionally. She advocates for streamlining clinical research processes to reduce unnecessary red tape while preserving essential safety and ethical standards, enabling faster translation of innovative therapies into real-world practice. Outside her professional work, Smith is actively involved in her Minneapolis community, donating to Judson Memorial Church and organizing support such as food, rent, and supplies for families impacted by immigration enforcement actions.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sarah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success really to all of the female leaders that came before me. They taught me how to lead with integrity and strength, and to crash through that glass ceiling, both personally and professionally. My grandmother was the first female doctor in Kansas and she showed me what leadership looked like. Every single woman who took a chance on me, who hired me, who helped raise me, shaped who I became.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Lead with your strengths, because the most effective leaders don't try to be everything. Invest in what you naturally do well, because your unique strengths can only make the team stronger. We want diverse strengths to build a team that transforms meaningful change.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
There's so much red tape with clinical research that doesn't need to be there. We need to streamline things to make innovative therapies go into real-world practice faster. We need safety and ethical structure, but there's also red tape that doesn't need to be there.
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