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Clinical researcher and health entrepreneur joins WesternU board

by Rodney Tanaka

March 13, 2018

Read 3 mins

Sean P. Stanton, BS, CRC

An accomplished clinical researcher and health entrepreneur has joined the Western University of Health Sciences Board of Trustees.

Sean P. Stanton, BS, CRC, has more than 20 years of experience managing clinical research studies. He co-founded Compass Research in 2004 and turned it into one of the premier research sites in the world. In 2016, Compass Research joined Bioclinica Research, a leading international clinical trial services provider. Stanton serves as Bioclinica’s Global Chief Operating Officer.

Stanton previously co-founded Clinical Neuroscience Solutions, where he served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and managed a large staff throughout the Southeast. He also served as Clinical Research Coordinator at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Cincinnati. After graduation, Stanton was hired as the first research associate of future WesternU President Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD.

“Over the last 20 years he has built Compass into the largest privately owned clinical trials company in the United States, which is remarkable,” Wilson said. “He built a company from scratch based purely on his own ideas and initiative. He has not just clinical research knowledge but also entrepreneurial skills and contacts in medically related industries. And he is unchanged for all his success. He is still an enthusiastic, modest, down-to-earth individual with boundless ideas and energy as well as a strong moral compass.”

Stanton’s introduction to WesternU was attending the University’s “A Tribute to Caring” annual fundraising gala. He immediately saw WesternU poised on an exciting trajectory for growth. In his interactions with WesternU faculty, staff and students he found them to be happy, committed to being great, collaborative, and results-oriented.

“They engage with smiles and laughs. Each person I met enjoyed what they do,” Stanton said. “Each person showed pride in what they were working on. For me, being on a team requires this, and we have to be committed to the cause. I did not sense a closed system. They want to openly engage in sharing and creating ideas through innovation and strategy to do great things.”

Stanton said he is excited to join the WesternU Board of Trustees and is looking to add value on every level. He expects to grow, prosper, educate, learn and laugh out loud.

“I see so much potential in what I can offer, from business strategy to engaging with the community to create a center of excellence clinically,” Stanton said. “Most of all I see a place for clinical trial learning in the colleges. This is the bridge from bench to bedside, and WesternU has it all.”

“We are excited to have Mr. Stanton join our board,” said WesternU Board of Trustees Chairman Richard Bond, DO ’82, DrPH. “His extensive background in research and outreach will be a welcome addition to our current board, and we hope he can give us some insight into how we can expand our research program at WesternU.”

WesternU has the basic clinical and academic pieces in place to grow robustly and in new directions, Stanton said.

“The industry-sponsored work will grow exponentially. This research is both scientifically gratifying and financially rewarding,” he said. “My goal would be to have a nationally recognized clinical trial center of excellence in five years. I also want us to create an educational platform for students to be able to be clinical trial trained when they complete their education.”

“Sean Stanton’s enthusiasm for the University’s mission is contagious,” said WesternU Board of Trustees Vice Chair Linda Crans, BS. “Based on the depth of his knowledge and experiences with clinical research and his innovative thinking, Sean will provide valuable insight to Board discussions and planning.”

Stanton and his wife, Charlet, have four children – Savana, Alexis, Brooks and Briana – as well as two dogs, two turtles and one spiny-tailed lizard.

“There is nothing more important to me than family. We’re Catholic, and although I am not always the most reliable to Mass, spirituality is critically important to me,” Stanton said. “Fitness and health are emphasized in my home. I am on a competitive cycling team and use this not only to stay healthy, but also to work with a group of people as a team outside of work.”

Stanton supports a number of causes, including the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, local arts, and neurodegenerative diseases.

“I am man for others. Although I have been fortunate in life, I believe this has happened by putting my needs last,” Stanton said. “Somehow it always works out, because I get more out of seeing people grow through my support.”

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