LIFE SCIENCE OKLAHOMA APPOINTS DIRECTOR – A Q&A WITH MICHELLE GREGORY
Life Science Oklahoma, the state’s life science association, recently appointed Michelle Gregory as its new director. Gregory has a history of leadership in nonprofit organizations in the healthcare sector.
Gregory sat down with the VeloCity team to discuss her role as director of Life Science Oklahoma. Q. Tell us a little about what attracted you to Life Science Oklahoma? A. I have a history in healthcare, as I started out in pharmaceuticals and have worked in nonprofit organizations for several healthcare-focused groups. However, it is more of a personal passion of mine, as my own family has had many healthcare challenges through the years, enabling me to understand the importance of cutting-edge research and access to quality healthcare in your own backyard. Q. Why do you feel the Life Science industry is important for our state? A. I believe there are several different reasons that Life Science is important for our state. From an economic development standpoint, it is important to diversify the state, so we are not only reliant upon oil and gas. I came from an oil and gas family, and I can remember the days of anticipating whether my father had made the cut during layoffs or if we had to move across the country so he could keep his job. Oklahoma is a great place to live, and there needs to be opportunities for other industries so we can keep our citizens here. I have heard countless stories from individuals who have a great idea for a biotech product and must leave the state for the idea to come to fruition. Because of this process, we are losing high-quality talent in our workforce. It is obvious it is important to the community to grow the Life Science industry in our state.
You can look at two areas – workforce development and access to healthcare. The Life Science workforce does not only include Ph.D.’s, but it also includes the creation of jobs for lab workers who can get certified through the new BioTC in three weeks, as well as creating jobs for nurses, doctors and more. You can also see the need for this cutting-edge availability of research through the work of those at Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC). Specialists there are creating access to cancer treatments readily available to not only the larger cities in Oklahoma, but also to rural and indigenous communities. Q. For people not as familiar with the industry, what do you think are the strengths of the industry in Oklahoma? A. Oklahoma has several state-of-the-art programs creating very promising research for patients. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) is one of the leaders in many different areas of research, including autoimmune diseases, sickle cell disease and more. We also have strong biomanufacturing companies poised for growth, as we have created BioTC, which will aid in creating the workforce needed to continue to grow. Coupled with the access to land and a low cost of living, Oklahoma should be positioned to become the next Life Science hub.
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