Her Story
About Stacey A.
Stacey A. Cook has worked in clinical research since 2012 and currently serves as Site Director and Clinical Research Coordinator at ObjectiveHealth, where she oversees the Digestive Research Alliance of Michiana in South Bend, Indiana. In this role, she leads clinical trials centered on digestive and liver disease, including fatty liver, MASH/NASH, and cirrhosis, guiding patients through diagnostic workups, investigational treatments, and multi-year study protocols while coordinating closely with GI specialists and family physicians. Under her leadership, her site has earned recognition as one of the top-performing locations in the world across several clinical trials, and her team played a role in research that supported the approval of semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy and Ozempic, for the treatment of liver disease.
Cook's path into clinical research grew out of hands-on experience across multiple areas of medicine. After earning her Associate of Science degree in Medical/Clinical Assisting from Brown Mackie College, she built a career as a Registered Medical Assistant, working first in family medicine before moving into cardiology, occupational health, and eventually podiatry, where she stepped into a practice management role. That progression gave her a broad clinical foundation and prepared her to take on the operational and scientific demands of running a research site, including reviewing site finances, recruiting patients, and supervising staff.
Cook traces her drive back to a difficult personal experience in 2008, when her father's death prompted her to reconsider her purpose and pursue a career centered on helping others. That motivation continues to shape her approach today: she finds particular fulfillment in guiding patients from diagnosis toward improved health, often watching them reduce or eliminate medications for conditions such as obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Beyond patient outcomes, she places strong value on mentoring her team, believing that developing others multiplies the impact she can have, alongside her commitment to community and family.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Stacey A.
01What do you attribute your success to?
Following the sudden loss of her father in 2008, I found myself reevaluating my life and recommitting to making a real difference for others. That commitment drew me into healthcare and ultimately clinical research, where I've been able to grow as a leader by turning around and managing a clinical site, and by mentoring and developing the staff around me.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering this field to fully master the basics of their role before moving on. Take the time to develop real competence and get it down to a T, then use that foundation to keep learning and expanding into new responsibilities.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest historical challenges in my field has been the limited treatment options available for conditions like cirrhosis and fatty liver disease. At the same time, this creates a major opportunity, as new medications and long-term clinical trials are emerging that can meaningfully change patient outcomes. Our site's participation in multi-year studies has directly contributed to research supporting the approval of semaglutide for liver disease.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
What matters most to me is being able to walk alongside a patient from diagnosis all the way to recovery. It's incredibly fulfilling to help patients with obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes improve their liver health to the point where they can reduce or even eliminate their medications. I also place high value on mentoring my team, making a difference in my community, and protecting time for my family.
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