The clinical research program at Intermountain Health's St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings, Montana, has achieved a significant milestone, enrolling its 800th patient in a clinical trial. This accomplishment highlights the program's growth and increasing importance in providing access to cutting-edge medical treatments for Montana residents.
Rapid Growth and Efficiency
Founded in 2015 by Dr. Patrick Cobb, an oncologist, and Tina Erhardt, regional director of clinical research operations, the program has expanded from a team of two to 15. Initially, gaining recognition in the clinical research world was a challenge. "Billings was not at the top of minds when it came to cancer research," Cobb noted. To attract pharmaceutical companies, St. Vincent focused on rapid trial initiation, reducing the start-up time from the typical four to six months at universities to just four to eight weeks. This efficiency, along with faster data delivery, made St. Vincent a desirable site for pharmaceutical trials.
Impact on Patient Care
For Erhardt, the development of the clinical trial program was deeply personal. Her experience caregiving for her father, who battled metastatic cancer and had to travel to Denver for clinical trials, motivated her to bring advanced therapeutic access to Billings. "There weren’t trials available here in Billings... It was terrible. I thought, this is not how he wants to spend his time," she said. Her father lived four years because of clinical trials. This personal connection fueled her mission to provide local residents with access to innovative treatments.
From Cold Calls to Reputational Magnetism
Today, St. Vincent's clinical research program no longer needs to solicit pharmaceutical companies; instead, companies are approaching them. "We don’t do cold calls anymore. Pharmaceutical companies are calling us," Cobb stated. Erhardt added, "We’ve created that reputational magnetism." While the 800-patient milestone is modest compared to large academic centers, it represents substantial progress for the program and the community it serves.
Patient Success Story
Gary Mills, a 75-year-old Billings resident with stage 4 lymphoma, participated in a clinical trial for Lunsumio, a novel immunotherapy treatment. After discussing the risks with the research team, Mills chose to participate, becoming one of the first 300 patients on the study nationwide. By September 2023, his cancer was in remission, and he completed his treatments in March 2024. "I couldn’t be more overwhelmed by how good this worked out for me... the payoff is well worth the investment and anxiety that goes into it," Mills said, emphasizing the importance of clinical trials.
