Interview with Virb CEO Garrett Walker

What happens when a veteran HR leader sets out to revolutionize the clinical trial staffing industry? Meet Garrett Walker, founder of Virb, a people-centric clinical trial ecosystem designed to provide top talent for pharma companies and clinical research organizations. In this engaging conversation, we explore Garrett's background, his career journey from working in his father's lab to leading talent management at big-name organizations like Verizon, IBM, and Quintiles, and the challenges he's tackling in the clinical trial staffing world.

As the clinical trials industry continues to evolve and expand, so does the talent gap. Garrett shares his insights on the importance of investing in early career professionals to fill critical roles like clinical research associate, statistical programmer, biostatistician, and data manager. We discuss the challenges and value of recruiting and re-badging experienced professionals from pharmaceutical companies and the need to provide on-ramps for those just starting their careers. Plus, we delve into the opportunities presented by remote work, AI, and career changes for these early career professionals.

But how do we bridge the gap between certification and job readiness? Enter Virb. We explore the role of Garrett's company in creating a training platform that utilizes spiral learning and AI-based systems to customize training for students, helping to shape a new generation of clinical research professionals. Garrett also shares his passion for historical fiction and its connection to the mindset needed for successful career changes. Don't miss this informative and insightful discussion on the future of the clinical trial staffing industry and the critical role talent management plays in running a successful business.

As of March 2025 HealthBiz is part of CareTalk. Healthcare. Unfiltered and can be found at the following links:

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• Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caretalk-healthcare-unfiltered/id1532402352
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CareTalkPodcast
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Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group.

Episodes through March 2025 were produced by Dafna Williams.