Leadership
GuideStar’s accomplished leadership team directs the key functional areas of the organization, articulating strategic direction and guiding philosophies while providing support and guidance. A deeply ingrained service ethic keeps us headed in the right direction. We share a cohesive focus on GuideStar's vision to be the national authority on outsourced clinical trials management.
Shirley Trainor-Thomas, MHA
Vice President of Business Development
Shirley Trainor-Thomas has spent her entire career in the healthcare field focusing specifically on clinical research for nearly the last decade. As Vice President of Business Development of GuideStar Clinical Trials Management, she is responsible for driving the sales efforts for the company, building and maintaining relationships with physicians involved in clinical trials, and coordinating logistics with trial sponsors.Having worked extensively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare systems, Shirley has a proven track record for building and managing clinical research sites across the country. Her expertise lies in overseeing operational efficiency, research quality and profitability of each site. Additionally, she has developed systems for communicating with pharmaceutical and device companies to ensure the most desired clinical trial opportunities are offered to client research sites.
Prior to joining GuideStar, Shirley was vice president of business development for Compass Point Research. There, she spearheaded partnerships with numerous health systems, hospitals and physician practices and directed the clinical trial procurement process for those clients. Before gaining her clinical research experience, Shirley worked in several hospital systems holding management positions that included business development, managed care contracting, marketing, outpatient service management and physician acquisitions.
Shirley earned her Bachelor degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. She received her Master degree in Health Science Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Complementing her professional career, Shirley has held board positions with many civic and non-profit organizations including Rotary International, the American Hospital Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
