Piotr Piotrowski, Medical Director, on his long-term experience in KCR

Medical Director, Piotr Piotrowski has spent nearly nine years with KCR. He has decided to pursue his career further as a researcher, but before he leaves, we got the opportunity to sit down with Piotr for an interview about his experiences and to reflect on the growth, challenges and relationships his KCR career has brought. Like all our employees, his involvement helped advance our solution offerings and truly made a difference.

KCR: What did you enjoy most about your career journey at KCR?

Piotr: Working at KCR has been a streak of challenges, and the challenges have been the most enjoyable part of this history. Thanks to the relatively small size of the company, especially during the first few years, I had a chance to face a variety of indications, investigational products, and service areas. It has necessitated intellectual effort but also creativity in finding solutions, to help our clients execute their projects. So, one may say, that there has been a chance to learn and play, which I doubt can be seen to such extent in large CROs, tending to build narrowly specialized teams.

Probably equally to the above, I have much appreciated the opportunity to work with fantastic people who are engaged, open and quality focused. From my personal perspective, I have also appreciated the ability to communicate directly within the organization and express my views openly. This may be quite unique for the companies in this industry, and eventually can help the organization to better consider pros and cons.

KCR: How has KCR supported your career advancement?

Piotr: Joining KCR was like exploring a new world. Even though I had had some experience in clinical development from my former professional assignments, work at KCR allowed me to evolve to an expert level in this domain. Exposure to projects across several dozens of indications, to studies of all phases, to wide products’ range, from medical devices and immunotherapy, up to gene therapies, has helped me acquire great experience and knowledge. The size, origin, and the way this company has been managed, have given me the unprecedented chance to develop and eventually advance my career.

KCR supports external clinical and /or scientific activities pursued by their expert resources, which has allowed me to successfully complete the next step in my scientific career while working for KCR. At present, we also have several practicing clinicians on board, as an example of how KCR supports professional career advancement even outside of KCR. I think it is a model strategy for individual development of key resources in the life-science industry.

KCR: What are you most proud of during your time at KCR?

Piotr: This may be surprising, but I would say that relations with many colleagues that I was able to develop and maintain, I hope they have shared my perception of our friendships. From a more professional perspective, I feel proud of being able to quickly and efficiently dive into new areas and provide expected support for new projects.

KCR: Do you have any advice for someone beginning their career in clinical research?

Piotr: If someone plans to start a career in clinical research, my only advice can be “go for it,” if you feel it may be interesting for you. Regardless of your background, there is a role suitable for you. Once you are in, you will see how wonderful it can be. You will experience stress, frustration, the feeling of being lost at times. But at (many) other times you will have a chance to implement the newest technical solutions, face challenges which you will successfully overcome, meet great people, work in international teams, and be involved in very innovative projects on development of new therapies which are known to just dozens or hundreds of people in the entire world!

KCR: What was the main factor that contributed to your career success?

Piotr: There are different paths to achieve professional success, and I have not taken the easiest one. My answer to this question is that the most important factor is to have the right people around. I have been lucky to meet people ready to trust me with important projects, people eager to collaborate and help without being ordered to do that, but just the kindness, engagement, teamworking spirit, and perception of responsibility has made such a difference. Such a microenvironment has had tremendous positive impact on my development.

Dear Piotr, thank you for your service to KCR, and best of luck in your future endeavors!