Meet Shamine Poynor, clinical research coordinator at Roseman Medical Group. Shamine plays a significant role at the clinic, coordinating the implementation of clinical trials which help identify safe and effective treatments for diseases such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.
We had the opportunity to learn more about Shamine, her role at the clinic, and how she approaches patient-centered care.
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: As a child I lived in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. Around the age of 12 my family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Q: How did you end up in Las Vegas?
A: My husband at the time, had a job where he would have to travel from Salt Lake to Las Vegas. During his trips he passed through the small town of Logandale, Nevada which is about 55 miles north of Las Vegas. In 1999, we moved the two of us and our 4-year-old son from Salt Lake to Logandale. In 2006, I ended up moving to Henderson, Nevada which is where I currently reside.
Q: Describe your professional journey and how it led to your current position.
A:I used to work at the University of Utah Hospital School of Medicine in the Infectious Disease Clinic. When I found out that I was pregnant with my son I did not want to take a chance on a needle stick, so I became a Clinical Coordinator and then an Administrative Assistant at the University. One of the doctors noticed how detail oriented I was and suggested that I move on to a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) position. Once I moved to Logandale it was impossible to find a job as a CRC, so I became an EMT-B working at a local quick care and volunteering at the local fire station. The quick care closed its doors, however it turned out that the doctor I was working with knew the lead research doctor at Nevada Cancer Institute. I applied in 2006 and was back in research. When Nevada Cancer Institute closed in 2011, I relocated to the University of Nevada School of Medicine with Eric Farbman, M.D. and David Ginsburg, M.D. I made a few choices to not stay there and moved on. In 2018, Dr. Farbman called me saying that Roseman was wanting to start up a clinical research program and here I am! It is very surprising to sometimes see the old Nevada Cancer Institute buildings because now they are Roseman University of Health Sciences and Cure 4 The Kids.
Q: What do you do at work daily?
A: I coordinate the implementation and conduct of clinical trial projects. I take the study from the start-up level with the contracts, budgets, and regulatory items. Once that is completed, I maintain regulatory documents; handle data management; process IRB submissions; and report adverse reactions to the IRB, sponsor, and sometimes the FDA. I also see the subjects in the clinic that are on the clinical trials. Dr. Farbman and I introduce them to the trial and through Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines we enroll the subjects in the trial. Once the subject is in the study, I do all the clinic work such as ECG’s, blood draws, and dispensing of study medication.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: I love working with the patients. If I could take all the paperwork away, I would be so happy. I do all the hard work for the patients though, because without them we would not be here to dislike a simple thing like paperwork.
Q: Do you have a mantra or guiding life principle?
A: Make It Right! Never Give Up!
Q: What or who inspires you?
A: My mom has always inspired me. She unfortunately passed away in January from a long battle with kidney disease. She was so strong and fought every single day of her life to do her best. That is exactly the type of person that I hope I am.
Q: How do you make patients feel comfortable and well-taken care of at the clinic?
A: I make sure that they feel like they are the center of attention. I want to make sure that even if I have a bad day the patient never knows that. Before mask wearing was a thing, a smile went a long way, now I just make sure they hear the smile in my voice.
Q: Do you have a favorite hobby or pastime?
A: I love the outdoors – hiking, camping, off-roading, boating, horseback riding, and gardening.
Q: How have you been practicing your own self-care amidst a global pandemic?
A: I quit watching the news and have learned to meditate. It has done a world of good for me and I recommend it to all my friends and family.
Lending an ear, sharing a smile, and caring for your well-being is what we do. Our friendly, caring staff and providers are here for you. Call 702-463-4040 to schedule an appointment today.
