Aaron Riggs, ACRP-CP, is a research oversight committees administrator with the UF Health Cancer Institute.
Q: What is your hometown?
A: Vero Beach, Florida.
Q: Describe your educational and professional background.
A: I got my bachelor’s degree in business administration from UCF in 2011. During that time and up until I started at UF, I worked for Publix. I received ACRP-CP certification in February 2019.
Q: How did you get into your current career path and how many years have you been in the role?
A: When I started at UF in 2016, I was an OPS clerk with the position known as “The Mail Runner.” It is an antiquated position nowadays, but it gave me the opportunity to meet and rub elbows with all our departments that are spread across campus. After four months, I took over as the IRB coordinator for the hematological malignancy trials. After a few years, I became a research oversight committees administrator with an emphasis on the Disease Site Groups (DSGs) and a supporting role in Scientific Review and Monitoring Committee (SRMC) reviews. I have been in my current role since June 2021.
Q: What is a typical day like in your job?
A: Typically, I am preparing agendas and reports for upcoming DSG and executive meetings. On DSG meeting days, I host the meetings and help the groups discuss their portfolios and enrollments. As studies come up for continuing renewal with the SRMC, I prepare the CAP and PAR forms for the study team and principal investigators.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of working for the UF Health Cancer Institute?
A: Seeing the positive effects the Cancer Institute has on the patients we enroll on trials.
Q: How do you keep your skills current and continue to learn and grow?
A: I watch a lot of the Advarra webinars for ACRP credit, which are also very informative on the best practices and changes in our industry. Also, the Excel training classes hosted by Pandora are full of great information, as well as new tips and tricks.
Q: Describe how you would spend your ideal day off from work.
A: I would love to spend my day off playing one of the many video games in my backlog, followed up by an evening of board games with friends and then ending the night building a LEGO set while rewatching “Community” or “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
Q: As you celebrate your 10-year anniversary with the UF Health Cancer Institute this March, what has kept you committed over the years?
A: Getting to be part of something so impactful on so many people and the benefits aren’t too shabby either. If I can stay here until I reach retirement age, I should have a nice pension!
