In this edition of our “Meet the Team” series, we’re excited to spotlight Derek Kern, Director of Clinical Operations and Delivery. Derek has spent 15 years in clinical research. The moment that shaped why he does this work didn’t happen in a clinic, but in a conversation with his grandmother. We sat down with Derek to hear that story, and to learn how it continues to shape the work he leads at Lightship every day.
Can you share your full name and job title at Lightship?
Derek Kern, Director of Clinical Operations & Delivery
How long have you been with Lightship, and what brought you here?
I’ve been with Lightship for two years this December and have been in the industry about 15 years.
I joined Lightship because I believe access to healthcare and clinical research should not depend on where someone lives. That belief is deeply personal.
I grew up in a family of farmers in a small town in southern Kansas, where access to specialized healthcare was limited. When my grandmother was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in her 50s, she was given months to live. She searched for options and found treatment several hours from home. Friends and family drove her to appointments several times a week when my grandfather had to work the fields.
Years later, after I’d already started my career in clinical research, she told me the treatment that saved her life was investigational. That conversation helped me understand, personally, the impact of clinical research.
My grandmother lived to be 97 years old, giving our family decades more time with her. Hearing her tell me that story is what shaped my passion for health equity. I really resonate with Lightship’s mission to bring research to participants in distant, underserved, and underrepresented communities.
What does a typical day in your role look like?*
I’m proud to lead our Clinical Operations team. I spend my time supporting clinical teams, helping studies stay on track, and partnering across the organization to optimize how we work. In practice, that means coordinating across every setting we operate in, whether a visit happens at one of our physical sites, in a participant’s home, or through one of our Mobile Research Units (MRUs), to make sure our quality and oversight standards travel with every study.
What excites you most about working in clinical research?
What excites me most about clinical research is the opportunity to help create possibilities for patients and families. Every study is a chance to advance medicine, but more importantly, it represents people looking for answers, hope, or options that may not otherwise be available to them.
I’m especially passionate about finding ways to bring research closer to patients who have historically faced barriers to participation, whether those barriers are geographic, economic, or logistical.
Clinical research sits at the intersection of innovation and human impact, and that’s what keeps me motivated. It’s not just about developing new treatments. It’s about helping ensure that more people have the opportunity to benefit from them.
How does your work contribute to Lightship’s mission of making research participation possible for all?
My role is focused on turning Lightship’s mission into reality. Every day, I work with our clinical teams to execute studies across every delivery model we offer: in clinic, at home, through MRUs, and virtually.
I help ensure our operations are scalable, compliant, and participant-centered, so sponsors have a single, coordinated partner from startup through close-out. When those pieces come together, it shows up in the outcomes that matter: broader reach, stronger retention, and trials that connect with communities they might otherwise have missed.
How do you approach challenges in your role at Lightship?
I’ve learned that successful outcomes often come from staying adaptable, communicating openly, and keeping the patient perspective at the center of every decision. Whether the challenge is operational, technical, or strategic, I try to balance innovation with practicality and focus on solutions that are scalable, sustainable, and ultimately improve the experience for both participants and study teams.
What’s your favorite part about working at Lightship?
Without question, the people. I’m fortunate to work alongside an incredibly talented group of individuals who live our mission and are passionate about their work.
Thank you, Derek, for sharing your story. The belief that research should reach the people who need it most, regardless of where they live, drives everything Lightship’s clinical operations team delivers, study after study.
Stay tuned for our next “Meet the Team” feature!