Broadcast uh I or maybe our guest will follow up with you if you have certain questions but you are in for a treat this is going to be amazing information and we’ve been talking a lot about it here at blackd doctor.org so I’m really excited to have this conversation and
Let me bring out my guest good evening hi good evening how are you doing I’m great how are you fabulous fabulous happy to be here awesome so today guys we have Omar Barnett he is the CEO of prospective research so he’s going to tell us all about prospective
Research and we’re going to then talk more a little more about exactly what he does there and stuff but first just tell us about prospective research uh sure uh prospective research uh is a leading research company um in the city of Branch kumonga uh founded back in 2014
And we’ve been steadily growing since then uh we’re multi- therapeutic uh currently the only thing that we uh do not do research in is oncology which we’re steadily working our way up to that ladder so when you say therapeutic so what exactly are you guys do you have
Doctors there nurses there what exactly are you guys doing um we have everything uh you know especially for the research studies I do networking every day uh so we have from oncology um Opthalmology Internal Medicine P medicine um so on my staff itself uh we have we have approximately
About uh 10 staff members um and we steadily growing and we have doctors that oversee each of our clinical research projects uh we do studies from knee pain back pain ulcer colitis diabetes uh obesity uh depression just the name a few so if you could think about think of the diagnosis are
Probably works on it if not I’m getting there awesome so I have to ask how did you get into this space because I know you’re not a scientist are you uh no I am not thought I love I love the that’s what I’m saying so how did you get into
This because it’s so fascinating when I hear about business people who get into science much like the CEO of blackdoctor.org who is not a scientist either but every day through his you know through this through the website through the programming he is helping to you know change lives and make our
Community healthier right so how did you get into this uh you know that is a awesome question uh I would say by the grace of God to be honest uh I when I first move moved over here to the states obviously I’m from Jamaica I’m Jamaican um and I
Was uh 20 years old and I signed up with a temp agency and would you have would you know that uh the temp agency uh and got me into this medical research center granted I didn’t I I did not know anything about medical research however from that point uh I don’t know
I just fell in love with it uh you could see I work my way from the bottom to the top so you named something I probably know it so to speak so I that’s want say does anyone ask me that question I always say by the grace of God because
Uh it’s just it’s something that is dear to me so I just fell into watch I should be doing that’s awesome that is awesome it’s a calling and and then what we’ve talked about so much especially in covid we talked about how important clinical trials are to black and brown
People yes because unfortunately in case no one knew most of the times they do a clinical trial the participants are white males um you know middle-age and honestly it’s already been proven there are medications currently on the market that do not work the same in black
People that’s just I mean there’s a I can right off top of my head there’s a hypertension drug that does not work well in black people because it was never tested on us so they didn’t even realize this problem till after it came out on the market so that is why
Clinical trials are clearly very important to our community and so I know that that is very important to you as well to make certain that people you know of all Races and ethnicities are represented right um actually you’re absolutely right and uh you know I’ll touch a little bit on the covid vaccine
Because you know there was a study done by Harvard that showed that that I think maybe say 18 or less percent of uh ethnic um participants were in the in the study so you could imagine that that goes from African-American um Latin to Hispanic Asian so it just shows the lack of
Diversity however I do see the FDA kind of going back to our kind of implenting um uh a new way of doing clinical research where now I could see the Promise close there now they’re looking for research companies that could you know uh facilitate that need for ethnic
Diversity especially in sites you know sites like my center right now um so that but you know I’m africanamerican so it’s it make a little easier for to you know recruit and to locate those type of personnel yeah and you know um it I know it’s not written in stone yet but the
FDA is slowly moving towards making it kind of a requirement for um pharmaceutical companies to have to do some sort of diversity um uh you know as some sort of diversity recruitment when they do try to get you know people for clinical trials so you know like you
Said your your your your business would be a perfect place to recruit people and in case people have not heard me talk about it blackdoctor.org we have clinical trials as well um that we’re trying you know we we have the community here and so we’re trying to make certain
That we are a part of it and I think people and I’m sure you can speak to this what do people think when you um you know you say well why don’t you try this clinical trial or you know why don’t you look into this what do they
Like people you know black people always are skeptical especially when it comes to medical things and I mean rightfully so rightfully so but you know we’re trying to get get away from you know Henry LAX Henryetta LAX and of course the dis trying to get away from that but
What do they say to you when you ask them you know what you know what do you think about trying this yeah it’s the is one of the things that uh myself and my wife were trying to overcome is this thing of I hate to
Say the word of do a clinical study the skinny peig error type of thing when it’s not you know this is how you uh better your current medication regiment and even future regiment to better your family you know siblings um and it’s it’s hard to overcome it because it’s
Been going on for so many years but I could say that one thing the co co has taught us was a little more education on how beneficial research is because you know on the lockdown everyone and anyone needed to get the covid vaccine and obviously that that was done via the
Research by Madman ER so it kind of shows the efficacy which which uh uh which uh would be more beneficial for this part are not for this person but it’s really education that we need to get into our communities especially in the black and brown you know there just
A lack of uh education as far as medical research and better medication for them themselves and their family yes definitely and um I think that and that’s why you know here black doctor we’re working with you know the faith-based community we’re working with you know um uh sororities and
Fraternities just any large groups of you know black people so that we can help to get that education and the messaging across we’ve had um Dr fouchy here then Dr fouchi was here and talked about you know this is that’s very good not to mention Dr k um kazia is that her
Name I feel so bad now I can’t remember but um the wonderful young woman that created that was very instrumental in the um she was in the fiser I think vaccine right and so you know being a she was a black woman it was you know all the things that we need
To make certain um that we’re very well informed we of course we were telling people please go get vaccinated and my it was a running joke they had vaccines plethora vaccines basically in the hood because we were so afraid to get them but people were going there to get them
Because they knew that they were untouched uhuh so right so I was like so if that doesn’t tell you that you need to go on and get vaccinated I’m not sure what would you know so so honestly as soon as the the vaccine came out um well
I’ve done some fiser so um okay fiser I’m right in the line right and I and you know and actually I I’ve had all mines are all been madna but you know you you do you know but you I think that education you’re right is the key and making sure
That people understand what you’re talking about which is what I love about black doctor.org is that we bring it down so that everyone can understand we’re not speaking you know doctor talk and you know science we are like this is the meat and potatoes you know it’s this
And this is what happens and unfortunately I think that so many people in our community were touched by so many people that died from covid that I think that that was a rude awakening because it was not just older people it was across the board you know young old
It didn’t matter men women so I think that that Al unfortunately that had to happen for a lot of people to say hey wait a minute maybe I need to go and get that vaccine which is unfortunate but so what are some of the um current studies
That you’re looking at right now that you’re trying to recruit for So currently we’re uh we have depression uh bipolar schizophrenia uh asthma UL colitis um and currently have a few more in line for PTSD just in my few and you know I’m always recruiting actually I’m
Always applying for uh new studies on a daily basis so and uh myself you know I love to network with other doctors to see if they would like to participate or get into the field of research itself because you know even with companies like mine we cannot be by ourself so
It’s it’s it’s really just number one educating the patient themselves and also doctor because some doctors can be uh not as comprehens comprehend I’m sorry comprehensive as far as to getting their patients into a research project I don’t know why but that’s just kind of
The thing uh that I see I think you know I think it’s probably that they’re not necess they don’t necessarily know about what studies are out there I mean needless to say they’re extremely busy so maybe they don’t know what studies are out there to tell them you know you
Know that this might be something and I also heard something recently it is better for you to get into a clinical trial before you get sick than to wait and let that be the last resort before you know unfortunately you’re about to die or something so and I I think that I
I took that to heart but I also I’ve personally participated in clinical trials with asthma and I I’ve had asthma my whole life and it was just I found out about a study and was like sure and um and I participated and I’ve done all sorts of studies I did one study
Where they did um they were looking at my lungs and I had to go to sleep and they stuck a tube down my throat and everyone’s like you’re gonna volunteer for that I mean I was like I was sedated it wasn’t you know I woke up
I was fine I didn’t feel you know was in pain so and so I said you know that’s fine and then I also did another one and this one was rough though I did one where they did the allergy testing which I already know that I’m allergic to a lot
Of things environmental and food and so of course they pricked me and then I couldn’t scratch for an amount of time and oh my God I thought I was going to die I was like what was I thinking to try to do this I know I’m allergic to
Everything that they just stuck in there and I survived but I was like oh my God that was a lot but I tell people one they compensate for it so you know they paid for my parking and they gave me some money and then one of the studies
Was this test asthma Texs usually happen at night and so they did a test um they wanted to see your sleeping patterns and so they did it with a Fitbit and at the end of the study we got to keep the fitbits and actually that is the reason
Why I wear a Fitbit to this day this was probably 15 years ago so I’ve had every iteration of fitbits up until now because of that one study I had not purchased a Fitbit before that wasn’t going to but because they gave me that one I just got on the train and have
Been on it since but um but my whole thing is I think um because I know that more than likely when I have children they will have asthma just because it runs in my family but if they can um eliminate having to spend as much time
Time as I did in the hospital then I know that thankfully I did something to help with that so um so yeah that that’s my whole thing you know you know um you know that’s um I love that story that’s a testament to how beneficial uh medical
Research is because just as you said you know we really have to educate um the massive when you go do a medical research you’re getting free Advanced medication yep free physical free Labs full workup honestly it’s a free doctor’s appointment think about it more than likely you’re doctor and that’s
Extra doctor time that you you know you don’t have to pay for and you’re ins doesn’t either and you know the funniest thing is that if you put all these procedure that you part uh participate in a clinical research uh study you know how much that would cost you outside of
The stud you know it’s it’s it’s czy what I had with the lungs I can’t even imagine like I said I was put to sleep so an anesthesiologist was hired you know I me like the pulmonologist was that I mean that was a lot of people that you’re right would be very costly
Yeah and then and and finally you can always take it to your doctor and say hey you know what they found this in in the in the stud the next thing say you can EAS ask them can I have a copy of whatever and you can take it right to
Your doctor and show them because the other thing I also had a lot of pulmonary function tests anyone with asthma nose you blow into the machine and they’re testing your lung capacity and that’s something that you know costs a lot of money with the insurance
Company I think they pay for one or two a year right but I had extra ones because I was doing the study and taking whatever the study meds were I kept having them they were like here and they printed it out for me and I took it to
My doctor or I faxed him you know so these are just things that we added to my chart and he was like oh you know I see you’re improving or not and then also I was testing out drugs that he hadn’t prescribed so then he could see
If maybe I need to be switched over to this you know it it’s just I mean and plus like I said I went I was healthy as a horse I was fine so this was really you know great time for me to go because
I was fine and we could see if this was helping and making my lung capacity better or was it making it worse we could see and I did once test that um they actually they trying to provoke you to start wheezing and it worked I fifth dosage I was over there like
Like please okay truce like we’re done we’re done and then you know I tell everyone I stayed away from going to things because I didn’t want to be Pro tested and they’re like what it’s no big Dayal I go no I do well with things in my nose I
Remember one of the studies they had to stick something in my nose I literally took the girl’s hand and took it out like I was like and I was so embarrassed because I mean that was me I was a doctor at times I was so embarrassed I
Was like oh my God I am so sorry but I felt like you were touching my brain and I just was like oh my God I I’ll do better okay try again try again because she didn’t get what she needed but but yeah I think that it’s it’s amazing how much information you
Can get for free yes because you participated and helped to either you know help yourself or the next person you never know yep you never know you know it’s so funny the the thing I love is when a patient is H in a study and the medication is working for them so
Well they like to oh thank you so much thank you for putting me in this study um you know I’ve had well I’ve done so many studies I have patients that I do I don’t ever want to get out of this study because it just works for them so well
You know and instead of you going to your doctor and trying all these medications you know exactly what works for you right you know that’s that’s the beauty of it you know yeah and again it’s all free and you get compens for your time for participating you help us
To better yourself you know it all helps you all up each other right exactly and you know it it’s amazing especially like I said I’ve had asthma my whole life to see where even asthma has gone from when I was younger to where it is now there’s
So many different drugs on the market so much better treatments on the market and it’s all because of research and studies like this oh yeah actually I’ve seen studies uh you know come across my desk I obviously I can’t do them like oh I wish I could you know it’s really it’s really
Getting the fear out of everyone’s mind you know there that fear that’s just that’s I don’t I think it’s probably instilled from years of miseducation right and it takes you know person like yourself to let a massive know no you have to do this it’s something you you
Can do you know if someone does have insurance guess what research study you don’t need insurance no need insurance seen a doctor for anything anything happen to still you’re seen a doctor yep you know yeah so it’s a it’s a winwin there’s no I don’t see any negative in
It right right and I um with the asthma study because they were giving me um you know new drugs and taking me off of what I usually take they gave me prednizone which is what usually will break my asthma attacks and so just in case you get sick and I mean
Free yeah Free bottle I mean a bottle of several I was like oh my goodness oh okay and they said you know this is if you you know if something happens call us first but we wanted to make sure you have these just in case and I was like
Oh okay great thank you you know so you’re right it’s just it’s it’s so beneficial and I understand people are scared but it’s really beneficial if you just try you know just check and try and see you never know yeah it’s really just to getting a better um publicity as far
As when it comes to research you know that’s what we’re all about you know but as I said right now your medication is covered while you’re in the study you know there’s nothing out your pockets but a better education on your health that’s better education on your health
That’s what you’re going in there for yeah and you know honestly because you’re in the study you know I love I love all of my colleagues but I completely understand I’m a patient myself the doctors just have a lot of patients and a whole not not a lot of
Time whereas you’re in a study they take their time to explain everything to you I mean first of all those um the consent forms are usually so long it’s just ridiculous and they want to make sure you understand every single aspect so they take their time to explain it to
You and make certain that you understand if you have any questions about your condition now is the time you can ask this person and they’ll explain it to you and they’ll take their time so it’s just there’s so many benefits that you know the benefits so much outweigh you
Know obviously not sometimes it’s a it’s a study with Placebo and maybe you don’t get the drug you know we you know it’s a blind study usually you don’t know but there are so many benefits and usually once you get in the system they’ll keep calling you back yeah provided you do
What you’re supposed to do because of course you know certain time some medicines you have to take them at a certain time and you have to record whatever and so as long as you do your part they would love to have you back because now you’re familiar with what
Has to you know what goes on so yeah yeah and that’s another thing I actually is something I practice and I teach my staff as well um bond with your patient this is something they don’t really get in a general practice because again you say they’ve seen patient but in the research
You know it’s oneon-one so they could be on the side an hour or two but get to know them you know they’re volunte they’re helping us we’re helping them you know ask how the day is going you know how the stud how the week yeah the patient actually helps them fulfill the
Requirement of the study because some as you know you said the can’t this long and the study requirements may this but guess what once a patient is aware step by step you know every time they come in you know go through their prior labs and everything you know be with them bond
With them the more the more they um they feel that connection the more they help you which in turn guess what helped the study itself yeah I did um a fibroid study and it was over a long period of time like several years and okay I did not have
Fibroids but they needed people with fibroids and without and so I would you know every few months I would come in and you know I would chat with them and the one of the young ladies that worked there she was thinking about going into medicine so I would check on her and
Stuff so you know we truly did Bond it was great you so when you said that I thought about that and yeah and um it’s so it’s it’s wonderful that you can bond with the patients and it’s even better like I said for the patient you have
Someone you can trust and ask them the questions that maybe your doctor didn’t have a chance to answer oh yeah and they’ll explain to you even if it’s not a St you know the study they’ll explain to you these are how the drugs work because sometimes that’s something
That the pharmacist didn’t explain or your doctor didn’t have time to explain but this is so important so important so there’s lots of clinics like yours across the country because I can think there’s a few in Chicago but um how many like is there a bunch in your area or
Are you like the only one well there’s uh there’s few centers around my area but I’m the only one in Ranchi Kanga our goal is to go to 10 facilities by you know 2027 love it love it yeah you know I’m always looking to expand that’s why
Reaching know to doctors that may you’re looking to get into medical research you know I’m I’m right here to them information in the chat I mean in the um in the post well I I’ll make sure I put your information because if there are any Physicians that would like to reach
Out definitely um any patients doctors you know we’re scroll the um ticker right now is his website so if you are patient in that area go to his website and see if there’s any trials and don’t forget to look at the trials on the black do.org page and just see maybe
There’s something there that you qualify for and then you have to go through a process of course of course they have you know questions left to ask you to see if you do actually qualify but you got to start somewhere so start now do you have a place in Jamaica too or
No uh I it’s already put in the universe so the universe knows we have it we just haven’t uh opened it yet antean so you can come on over to Antiga put put a spot there too hey there’s no stopping me right there exactly exactly but I I just
Love I I love that um you as a black man did this because obviously I don’t know any others that are run by a black person to be honest with you um and like I said I can think of a few off the top of my head so I think that’s wonderful
Um because of course here at blackd do.org we always like to support our own but I think that not only are you a black business person but the fact that you’re in this field is amazing because like you said you as a black person can speak to other black people and say hey
Come on you know check this out try you know I know that you know you’ve been struggling with whatever try this trial and see you know maybe you could figure out a different way to treat it so I think because I I know in my past job I
Was the face I I was the one talking to people about donating their um their baby’s cord blood and we and as black people it is in desperate need and so it was good that I was the one saying it because they were like oh okay so you
Know you think this is a good idea and then I was like oh absolutely you know so I think that it’s great that it’s you that are you know able to do that because you know you know our people don’t necessarily trust everyone and so more somebody that looks like us so I
Think it’s great that it’s you doing it and I mean this is such important important work and especially now because there’s so many things happening so quickly that are you know they’re finding new just um as a matter of fact there’s another um episode that I’ve done recently about the um HIV
Vaccine who knew how wa wait you know so the fact that that’s on the Forefront and then you know all these drugs they have now that can prevent you from getting HIV that was nothing but a clinical trial everyone that was a clinical trial few years ago Lots oh see
Lots of studies and they figured out you know these drugs and so the only way for us all to get better and treat you know and live longer is to participate in clinical trials so that we can make certain that we are represented because if they don’t represent us then we can
Never guarantee that the drug is actually safe for us to take yes another you know everyone you know that all research studies are ifda approved for the research study so yep you they all go through a different com uh commity before it even comes on to like you
Know yeah yeah yeah you have to you have and it’s a that’s why that consent form is so [Laughter] thick your audio something happened to your audio we can barely hear you it’s still faint okay how about now yes okay we’re good but yeah so that’s why those
Consents are so thick because it has went through so many different processes and you know people reviewing and stuff because the this is not these aren’t experimental these are these are FDA approved they have gotten past look past the rats and everything that they’re okay to going humans now so um I think
That everyone should go visit your website and check it out and see if there’s something if you’re if they’re in your area check it out and if you’re not in his area go to clinical trials the tab and the blackdoctor.org page and see if there’s something there that you qualify
For but I greatly appreciate your time and if there’s anything else that you want to share with us let me know uh I said uh go to my website we’re always here to network um this is a family atmosphere research the family community be a part of the community you
Know help us better our patients family friends um so you name it doctors nurses we’re all here for you thank you so much for your time this evening Omar and good luck I don’t I know you don’t need it much success to you because I know that you will have
The 10 offices especially because I know your wife so well and for so many years now so I know oh I have to thank my wife Alvar Gman for uh doing this for me because you know we’re we’re an advocate of medical research yes we spread it in our
Community so now thanks to you we can to the masses as well oh definitely definitely and so thank you thank you Alvar um because this is such important information I’m so glad that we were able to get this time and I want everyone that’s in the Rancho Cucamonga
Area to please go to his website check it out and if you are a physician if you’re a hospital there’s somebody that can help you with your Recruitment and so thank you so much everyone have a good night
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