Clinical care at Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley has experienced remarkable growth over the last decade. This expansion is marked by significant investments in both inpatient and outpatient facilities, attracting a diverse range of medical specialties among its 119 full-time faculty members. Driven by a growing and diverse patient population, this development is creating exciting new avenues for clinical research and collaborative team science within the Stanford Health Care Tri-valley Program.
Research initiatives at Tri-Valley gained momentum in 2020, catalyzed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which urgently prompted the launch of a clinical trial within weeks. Since then, several more trials have been initiated or successfully concluded. Initially, research efforts were concentrated on Covid-19, notably the RECOVER trial, conducted simultaneously at SHC Tri-Valley and Stanford, which has now reached its target enrollment.
Since these initial steps, the Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley program has broadened its research scope, exploring new areas of study. “We are currently in a significant expansion phase,” stated Minjoung Go, MD, Academic Physician-in-Chief at Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley. “Our commitment to a team science approach has broadened access for patients in the East Bay interested in participating in clinical trials.”
David Svec, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer for Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, noted the increasing efficiency in research operations. “For our initial trials, establishing workflows with physicians and staff, updating compliance and finance protocols, and enhancing the IT infrastructure required considerable time and effort. However, each subsequent trial has become progressively easier,” he explained. “We are now capable of accommodating a wider range of patient demographics, clinical conditions, and a larger geographical area within the Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley program.”
Currently, the faculty at Tri-Valley represents 13 departments and 20 divisions, showcasing the program’s comprehensive medical expertise. Hospital medicine plays a particularly prominent role, spearheading team science initiatives due to its frequent interaction with various specialties. The culture at Tri-Valley fosters vital interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging frequent exchanges of ideas, experiences, and joint projects among faculty within the Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley program.
“The future looks very promising, with Stanford faculty here demonstrating strong enthusiasm for research. The academic presence will continue to grow, encompassing more service lines and specialties, effectively creating a mini Stanford Medicine campus and numerous new opportunities for team science advancements within the Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley program.”
Strategically located with main facilities in Pleasanton and Livermore, and satellite clinics throughout the region, Tri-Valley is ideally positioned to deliver both primary and specialized care to a diverse patient population, encompassing various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Furthermore, its close proximity to national laboratories and pharmaceutical hubs enriches the research environment, fostering “a fertile ground for research and the potential for exciting collaborations,” according to Svec, enhancing the Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley program’s research capabilities.
These factors also contribute to a valuable learning environment for future medical professionals within the Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley program. “We are in the process of establishing a family medicine residency program, with hopes to launch in 2025,” Go mentioned. Tri-Valley already provides training opportunities for PA students, engages with the local community through summer academies, and aims to soon welcome medical students, further solidifying the Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley program‘s role in medical education.
“The outlook is very positive, and Stanford faculty here are eager to engage in research,” Go reiterated. “The university presence will continue to expand, bringing in more service lines and additional specialties, building a substantial Stanford Medicine presence and numerous new avenues for team science.” This ongoing expansion of the Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley program will adopt a phased approach, in close collaboration with Clinical Research Quality (CRQ) Director Jennifer Brown, RN, who has been integral to the expansion process, ensuring adherence to compliance and high scientific standards. Go also acknowledged the crucial support from the Program Management Office (PMO) under Ken Mahaffey, MD, and especially Ruth O’Hara, PhD, Senior Associate Dean of Research. “Dr. O’Hara’s leadership has been pivotal to the successful research expansion at SHC Tri-Valley,” Go concluded, highlighting the collaborative effort driving the Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley program forward.
