Dear SCDM Friends,

What a year it has been! So much excitement, inspiration and innovation happened this year! Here are a few highlights and a sneak peek at what’s coming next year!

Events:
India Single-Day Event (26 August 2023)

The India SDE centered around the theme of CDM – Revisiting Fundamentals in an Evolving Clinical Research Landscape. Attendees explored Clinical Data Management, building a foundation of understanding the fundamentals of data management. Topics ranged from ensuring SDTM delivery models are set up to deliver first-time-right datasets by study go-live to study design fundamentals to challenges and mitigations of multiple data sources. The excitement of discussion, the exchange of ideas and the networking opportunity made this single-day event a huge success!

Annual Conference 2023 (October 8-11)

This year’s Annual Conference was the 25th Anniversary of the AC, and the largest, most attended conference in the history of SCDM! With over 1000 attendees (1072 to be exact!), 5 parallel educational tracks, 50+ sessions, 2 Keynote addresses and 145 speakers from 79 organizations providing 3 days’ worth of innovative ideas and educational content. Added to that the AC boasted 66 exhibitors and sponsor providing outstanding opportunities to explore technological innovation and services. Attendees experienced world-class speakers presenting topics on AI & Cognitive Tech, DCT/Hybrids, RB-CDM, CDS and Analytics, and the world-famous regulatory panel! Rounding out the conference tracks was a Volunteer Happy Hour as well as a “Leader Mashup” – a chance to speak with industry leaders on their career journeys and development. The dynamic environment allowed Clinical Data Sciences professionals to learn from each other and exchange ideas in beautiful San Diego, California.

India Conference 2023 (December 1-2)

“The Human Behind Clinical Data Management Connect an Evolving Clinical Research Landscape” is this year’s theme for the India Conference 2023, where sessions will explore how humans play a vital role in managing, collecting, validating and analyzing clinical data. Moving with the times and the evolution of data management from paper to EDC and beyond, it all relates to the data manager being able to analyze, accurately assess and provide insights into the data collected. Coupled with evolving regulatory requirements, it is up to the human behind the data management process to ensure the best way to deliver data ethically and quickly. Join the conversation in December!

Education and Certification

Our strategic priorities continue to focus on our educational content with an effort to raise existing content and add new content from our recent conferences and published papers. Registration for a beta test of CCDA (Data Associate) certification exam is underway, and the development of a new CCDS (Data Scientist) certification is in development.
Also, as part of our educational content, we have launched the SCDM Podcast, a multi-part series of podcasts related to eSource. Listen wherever you find your podcasts.

Volunteer

As always, I encourage you all to volunteer. As I have stated in previous newsletters, YOU are SCDM! I invite you to get involved and volunteer. You can review a chapter of GCDMP, help with the Innovation Committee, get involved in creating the new CCDS certification, or any other number of things to support the Society. Register online and help support the 2023-2025 (and beyond) Strategic Plan!

Thank you!

As this is my last newsletter in my role as Secretary of the SCDM Board of Trustees I would like to thank you for all you do, for your contributions and participation in making SCDM the leading educational professional society for data management. I now pass the reins to Stephen Cameron, 2024 Secretary. I wish Stephen luck in his role and look forward to his insights and reflections in this newsletter.

Have a great end of the year and wonderful holidays! However you celebrate, may it bring you joy!

Carol Schaffer
Secretary, SCDM Board of Trustees