Meet our SC of the Month: 
Hannah Yan-Zhen Hsu

Recognising the faces and stories that drive our mission forward

"I graduated from a nursing program and began my career as an emergency room nurse, where I worked for four years in a high-pressure and fast-paced clinical environment, building a strong foundation in patient care. Since 2017, I have been working as a Study Coordinator in the field of infectious diseases, integrating my clinical experience with research and contributing to the advancement of evidence-based medicine.

My experience participating in the RAPID trial has been both challenging and highly rewarding. Although the inclusion criteria may appear straightforward, their implementation in real-world settings is often difficult. One of the key challenges is completing patient enrollment within a limited time frame while ensuring strict adherence to the study protocol at every step. This requires strong situational awareness, effective cross-disciplinary communication, and a constant focus on maintaining both patient safety and data quality.

One particularly memorable case involved a terminal cancer patient whose FilmArray report indicated a target pathogen belonging to the primary study group, making the patient eligible for protocol-directed treatment with ceftazidime/avibactam. However, during the course of treatment, the patient became emotionally distressed due to the burden of advanced cancer and at one point refused all medical interventions. This experience highlighted that, beyond protocol compliance and pharmacological treatment, addressing a patient’s psychological and emotional needs is equally critical. Through patient and compassionate communication by the principal investigator and treating physician, the patient ultimately agreed to resume treatment, allowing the course of care to continue.

Participating in the RAPID trial has reinforced for me that teamwork and perseverance are essential to successful clinical research. Although the work can be demanding, it has also enabled me to gain valuable professional knowledge and experience. To all fellow coordinators, I would like to emphasize that your work is truly meaningful—every effort contributes to advancing medical progress and improving patient outcomes.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling. I value my role as a study coordinator, as it allows me to continuously learn and apply medical knowledge, not only in my professional work but also in caring for my loved ones.

I am sincerely grateful for this recognition and will continue to dedicate myself to clinical research with professionalism and passion, striving to further enhance the quality of patient care."