From the Frontline to the Backend: a Conversation with Chestnut Data Scientist Dr. Katie Clark

Dr. Katie Clark, Data Scientist at Chestnut Health Systems, discusses her unusual journey, from counseling individuals experiencing substance use, mental health, homelessness, trauma, and medical conditions, to her current work as a data scientist. With Chestnut, she leads data collection initiatives, doing everything from methodology consultation to grant writing, to software and database development, data visualization, and program evaluation. The episode centers on CRICIT (Clinical Research Information Core for Integrity and Tracking systems), Dr. Clark's innovative platform designed to help researchers maintain fidelity to study protocols. She breaks down how CRICIT addresses common clinical study challenges by streamlining data collection processes and ensuring research integrity through customizable tracking systems. She details CRICIT's flexibility in adapting to individual research project requirements while eliminating typical bottlenecks that plague clinical studies. She also discusses how she is beginning to utilize AI and highlights several of her current projects. For anyone interested in getting at the essence of what Chestnut/Lighthouse do, and why they are the "gold standard" in the field - combining lived experience and state-of-the-art data science - this is the podcast to listen to!