Please save the date for our second Career Club of the fall semester! We are very excited to listen to Dr. Robyn Balden’s talk about: “Medical Science Liaison and other opportunities at Merck” next Friday, September 20th  at 12:00 PM in NMR/Rm. N127

Dr. Balden is a physician scientist and Regional Medical Scientific Director for Anesthesia/Surgery, South/Central US Medical Affairs division of Merck Research Labs. This role integrates internal and external scientific exchange and collaboration in order to facilitate and support clinical and drug development programs and maximize patient safety and outcomes related to existing pharmaceuticals including clinical trials, investigator-initiated studies, medical education, and scientific content creation.  Her role at Merck began in 2018 as Associate Director, Medical Science Liaison for Anesthesia/Surgery, South/Central US, subsequent to gaining experience conducting medical research and directing business development for clinical trials at the Texas Center for Drug Development in Houston, TX. At the Texas Center for Drug Development she engaged in medical affairs focusing on coordination of clinical research for various therapeutic areas, serving as a supporting investigator for clinical trials, scientific discussion and account management with key physician leaders, and development of medical educational materials. Prior to this role she was a surgical intern, resident anesthesiologist, and clinical scholar at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, where she initiated clinical studies for novel anesthetic regimens.

Dr. Balden received her MD and PhD in Neuroscience from Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. Her passions involve the intersection of medicine and science with neuroimmunology and neuroendocrinology. She also collaborates with advocacy and student organizations, has written several academic papers on Vitamin D, and served as a member of the Vitamin D Council’s Board of Directors contributing as a volunteer writer, podcast contributor, and graphic designer for the Vitamin D Council. She lives with her family in Houston, TX and enjoys painting, design, traveling, scuba diving, outdoors, live music, reading, cooking, and gardening.