November 17, 2023 • 27 mins
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviews Mr. Gordon Fykes, who has worked with The National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care at Tuskegee University as a Project Director leading the research titled "Clinical Trial Participation among African Americans and the ethics of Trust." it was this experience that began in 2014 that led me to found one of the United States only minority-owned clinical trial Site Management Organizations. We aim to provide healthcare for the minority community that can be potentially life-changing and saving.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome to Money Making Conversations.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
It's the show that she has the secrets of success
experience firsthand by Marketing and Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I
will know he's giving me advice on many occasions. And in
case you didn't notice, I'm not broke. You know he'll
be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Decision make because it's what he likes to do. It's
what he likes to share.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Now it's time to hear from my man, Rashaan McDonald
money Making Conversations.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
There we go. Good, Welcome to Money Making Conversation master Class.
Thank you sir for the intro. I'm happy to be here.
Thanksgivings coming, Christmas coming and guess what doing the live
show give you information that you need to know. I
am Rushan McDonald. This is the weekly Money Making Conversation
Masterclass show. I am based in Atlanta, Georgia. Wanted let
(00:52):
everybody know this is something that I really appreciate Atlanta.
If you haven't been to this market, please come. It's
an amazing destination. The culture is incredible, the cost of
living is amazing, and I enjoyed myself of course, I
lived in both Texas and as well as Georgia, and
Texas does not have a state income tax, so I
(01:14):
favorite taxes. Okay cool. The interviews and information that this
show provides off for everyone. It's time to stop reading
other people's success stories and start living your own. My
guest is Gordon Fikes. He's the founder of United Clinical Research,
is one of the only minority owned clinical trial site
management organizations in the United States. The goal is to
(01:35):
provide healthcare for the minority community that can be potentially
life changing and saving. Gordon A s Fight has twenty
five years of award winning pharmaceutical sales experience with many
popular Fortune five hundred pharmaceutical companies. Please welcome to the
money Making Conversation to tell us about United Clinical Research.
Mister Gordon Fikes, how you doing, sir?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I'm doing well. How are you sir?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Okay? Cool? Explanation? What exactly is United Clinical Research.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
NONY Clinical Research is a site a clinical trial site
management company that works with pharmaceutical companies clinical resource research
organizations in order to specifically find my more minorities for
clinical trials. That's why we're in business.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Okay, So break down a little bit more. When you
say you want minorities to participate in tests, or what
is it your trial? The word trials, what is the
word trials?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Good question, good good questions. So to make it simple,
what we want to do is there are thousands upon
thousands of what we call human subject research trials. Right.
The trial is a medical unapproved medication that has to
go through the proper testing in order for the FDA
(03:03):
to approve it. What my company does is assist those organizations,
the pharmaceutical companies we call them CROs, the clinical research organizations,
to find minorities to participate in those clinical trials.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
I'm assuming that you do. I gotta dive a little
deeper on this, mister Fikes, because you know, you know,
I looked at your background, you know, in nineteen ninety four,
a graduate of Tuskegee University, Okay, and I'm African American black,
you know, and when you start using the word trials,
start use word tests around black people, we get real
(03:40):
suspicious and we don't want to be bothered with that.
Now you've started a company, I believe that. I believe
that at all my heart. Now you can tell me
that's why I brought you on the show to help
me and help you because we want to break down
a lot of stereotype. Because we got to get people
to sign up for these trials in order for us
to find cures, for us to find health remedies so
(04:04):
our community can live longer. Because we found out doing
COVID a lot of things. That was the reason we
was high on the lift of people dying or people
succeptible took OVID nineteen was because of our diabetes, high
blood pressure, you know, weight issues and things like that.
And so that's what this whole world of clinical trials
was really important to talk about.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Correct. That is correct, and let me interject and tell
you that he is. The people are not wrong for
what we feel rightay, many of us, many of us
say the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, when it really should be
termed the civilists experiment at Tuskegee. And what happened was
(04:46):
there were six hundred black men in nineteen thirty two,
a portion of them did not have syphiless, and more
than half had syphiless. Ten years later, eleven years later,
in nineteen forty three, when penicillin became the common treatment
(05:07):
for syphilis. Guess what those more than two hundred and
fifty men that had siblists, they were not given the penicillin. Now,
that started the chain of events that lasted for forty
years until nineteen seventy two until somebody said, hey, this
is crazy, this has to stop. So just that grievance
(05:31):
alone has caused a lot of issues with due reason
in our communities. So you know, I want to tell
people that what you feel is is true. It happened,
but I'm here to talk about some things that have
been put in place to change that whole paradise.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Right Because the one thing about it is, you know,
I always try to bring individuals when the show that
moved a needle, okay, United clinical research. You know, I'm
involved with a lot of programs with sickle sale. I
have a sickle cell trade and so always trying to
find out a cure. So you need people for clinical
research in order to be engaged. I'm not saying that's
(06:11):
what this is involved in right now, but I know
that's important to get people engaged to find out if
we're hitting in the right direction. Now with that being said,
because you know, because I'll be honest when I before
the interview, I called mister Fikes. I said, mister fight,
he is the lane of questions. I'm going to ask
because in my mind I want to know and I
want to make sure you're comfortable. We said we share.
(06:33):
Look at it, brother, I know for a fact the
question you asked God to be asked, and I'm going
to answer them because they are true. It did happen
in tuski had nothing, nothing to do with the university,
had nothing to do with Tuskegee Airmen. This happened in
the city of Tuskegee, and it gets lumped into that
whole Tuskegee world. And so you're you've come out of
(06:56):
here become a leader, founded this United Clinical Research. What
is the goal of United Clinical Research?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
You know, I have a long term goal, but the
more immediate goal is I want to help at least
ten thousand minority individuals. Now, let me say this. I
don't discriminate, Okay, we're all one, homogeneous people, Okay, but
this company was founded on the purpose of helping minorities,
(07:27):
people of darker melanin people. You know, I want to
help us find medications, find studies, human subject research, studies
that can possibly save their grandparents, that could possibly save
their parents, that could save a child even you know,
(07:48):
I've been blessed to have the background and the knowledge
that there are there are angels who have put together
some of these medications, and people can take that for
what it's worth, but there is healing in some of
these medications, whether people want to believe it or not.
My background is in biology and chemistry, so the science
(08:11):
of it, I know there are science that can save lives.
And my job is to number one, show people, show
black people that look, what happened in the past cannot
possibly happen in the future. And these are the steps
that the government that we as a people have put
in place. The biggest thing is called informed consent. But
(08:33):
we can get into that if you want.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Absolutely, because I think that's important in order for people
to understand they are protected.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Now correct, correct, they are protected, And for this reason
and this reason only, I'm really moving forward and trying
to position that if you know, if your parent, if
you have a family member who has cancer, you have
a family member that has diabetes, hypertension, plaqueariasis, anything. I
(09:03):
want my company to be the company that you reach
out to to say hey, can you help me and
let me be let me be the person to try
to help you.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Okay, cool, I'm talking about Gordon Fikes. He's the founder
of United Clinical Research, is the one and only minority
owned clinical trial site management organization in the United States. Now,
when you use the word help, you know because we've
been talking about trials and is help getting them into
a trial? Are there other ways you're talking about helping
people who contact you?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
So you know, there's there's been a lot of people
that reach out to me and say, you know what,
I believe in some research, but other natural pathological ways
that I can get help. You know, it's my job
to say, look, here are your alternatives. Yes, there are
some people that are doing natural studies of natural homeopathic
(09:58):
ways of curing things. Mean I happen to know of those.
My job is to provide you with choices. That's all
I can do and let you make your informed decision
on what you want to do. So that's what I
want to do, and for the next year, I want
to help at least ten thousand people who reach those goals.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Right now, they just broke this down, mister Fike's you
know the number ten thousand. Where did that number come from? Why?
Ten thousand?
Speaker 3 (10:29):
You know there is I'm gonna be honest with you,
that number popped up. You know, I was really thinking
about this interview and some of the goals that I've
set for the company's no particularly, I really should have said,
I want to help as many people as possible. But
me knowing this, if I can hit that number, then
(10:50):
I would have done. I would have exceeded my own
expectation of how many people that I can help with
this process.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Now, the thing that is like, if you're being interviewed
on my show and I'm happy it syndicates on the
twenty HBCU Campus series x M one forty two, you
know it drops on my podcasts. So I'm giving you
a platform to educate people about the United Clinical Research.
How can one reach you? And is their website? Yes?
Speaker 3 (11:23):
First of all, the website is under construction. However, if
you reach out to me directly on all social media
platforms on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and you can reach me
by Gordon fights g O R D O N y
k E s. If you reach out to me directly,
(11:45):
I will make sure that my people will will help
anyone that reaches out to me.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Now, but at the time, you now, this is an event.
You know, my degree is in mathematics, and so sure
you know biology, well versed in that, the sciences, well
versed in that. How does one based I know, I said,
twenty five years you've been in the pharmaceutical award winner
in the pharmaceutical field and sales and experience. But how
(12:13):
does one become a founder of a United clinical research
that company? Well, how did that happen?
Speaker 3 (12:22):
You know? So seven years ago I had the privilege
of working at my alma mater as a program director
under the tutor legit mentorship of doctor Ruben Warren. And
it was during this time that we actually worked with
a pharmaceutical company on a project that looked at increasing
(12:47):
minority participation in minority individuals. This was seven years ago
before the FDA stepped in and started making different mandates
that said two pharmaceutical companies that look, you're going to
have to increase your number. So seven years ago doing
(13:08):
this work, I realized that there was an opportunity. And
then April of twenty twenty two, I read some information
from the FDA that said, hey, you know, this is not.
This is no longer a suggestion, This is an op
This is something you all are going to have to do.
(13:31):
And mister McDonald, let me tell you. When the FDA
says that is something you're going to have to do,
that means if you don't do it, it's going to
affect your bottom line, meaning that there is a possibility
that some medications may not get approved because you didn't
test an appropriate number of minorities in the trials.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Absolutely correct. I'm talking to Gordon Fikes, he's the founder
of United Clinical Research. We were right back to you
more about the whole process. You know, he has an
event we talk about a Memphis, Tennessee where he was
attempted to break a world record for screening blood pressure
and an eight hour time perioy. That and more when
you come back on clinical trials in America done by
(14:14):
United Clinical Research. Welcome back to Money Making Conversations Masterclass.
This is your host with Sean McDonald. I've been speaking
to Gordon Fightights, he's the founder of United Clinical Research
and clinical trials. You know, we talked about stereotypes, rumors,
urban legends that oftentimes stops black people from participating all minorities,
(14:35):
and sometimes you have to watch the word minority because
now white women are considered minorities, and so a lot
of people don't know that, and so that word has
been allowed to be engaged in different relationships. But before
we go in there further, I have a phone call
that I want to go to right now, Beverly from Decatur.
How are you doing, Beverly?
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:54):
I'm well, how are you? Miss mac donald?
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Welcome to Money Making Conversation master Class. You're on the
phone where Gordon Fikes, the founder of United Clinical Research.
What is your question?
Speaker 4 (15:03):
My question is, if you you have blacks that are
willing to participate in these clinical trials, how can we
be assured that we are actually given the correct medicine
and we're not being given up placipo or or some
arbitrary medicine.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
So that there is one thing that you can do
is once you find out that there is a possible
trial for you, the very first question you should ask
is will I be given to study drug? And based
on the answer of that, if you get an answer
that says you know it's possible or no, then at
(15:43):
that point you have to make a decision on whether
or not you want to, you know, be a part
of that clinical trial. But that should be one of
the first questions that you ask any anyone that's offering,
you know, such a research. Twelve four years.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Now, Beverly, based on your question, would you consider participating
in a clinical trial?
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Well, you know, actually, unfortunately I was streating with COVID
back in twenty twenty one. I want to believe, and
I was given the when I was because I was
admitted into the hospital and I was administered the rem
DECA there I think that's how you pronounce it. Yeah,
(16:31):
and uh, you know, and that was what they told
me that I was being given. And you know, eventually
I got better over a month or so. But I
still had my concerns if it was the actual medicine
they said it was, you know, based on our history
with you know, medicine or science and research.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Yeah, because that's what we was talking about, you know,
it was talking about that history that rumors because they
are true in the community and mister Fis has to
fight against that. And I just want to ask you
an honest question, Beverly. Thank you for calling Money Making
Conversation master Class. You know, when you hear these, we
can say the word urban legends. What drives you not
to trust? What drives you in your mindset? I can't
(17:14):
feel comfortable participating, so it can help us get there,
so we can get more African Americans. Guess what this
is all about? African Americans? We say to my word
minority really is about African Americans?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
What?
Speaker 4 (17:25):
What? What?
Speaker 1 (17:25):
What engages you to say yes or no as a participant.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Well, just some of the you know, some of the
stories we've read in the news, uh, you know, in
our history, the one that you use for an example,
the Tuskegee Toskegee study, and then that was and then
we just kept the we're just in the dark so
much about our medicine. But I can't even and I
can't think of the lady's name, but she played a
(17:52):
major role in cancer. I think the Harvard took some
of it was either John.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Read Yeah, so.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Her blood and all of this coming out so many,
you know, decades later.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
There's just.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
There's just quite a bit of history that leads me
to feel that way. And you know, and it's sad
because I know there are trials out that it could be,
you know, quite beneficial to us, but if we're scared
to use them, you know, how we ever know if
we and even sometimes my own doctors, Uh, I'm faced
(18:31):
with something now. I've been going to see the same
doctor for so many years and knows my history, you know,
backwards and forth. But I've been stricken with something that
I'm dealing with now right that should have been and.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Dealt with absolutely that happened to me, you know, with
my cancer discovery. You know my doctor, mister, and the
person who's doing my blood test is the one who
found it. And it was a doctor I was going
to over at least ten years, and I think there
was the casual relationship we had created that allowed him
to just you know, walking in door, sit down, ask
(19:06):
me about my life, ask me how I've been doing,
and then walk right back out there. It was the
same thing with my dinnists. So I think that what
mister Fike said earlier, asking the right question, making sure
you don't make assumptions, and make sure that whatever how
they respond, you're comfortable with. If the response doesn't allow
you to be comfortable, ask another question. If it leads
(19:29):
to them going shrugging their shoulders or going you can
do this if if you want to, then get up
and get out. And that is and that's the bottom line, and.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Usual that's what I do. Because I'm seeing three specialists
now about my well, I've gone to three and I
wanted to make sure I wanted to not double with
triple check that my eyes are being treated for what
is the actual diagnosis because of the lack I guess
(20:01):
the lackadaisical relationship like you said you had with your dog.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Absolutely absolutely, you know some Beverly, and I tell you
to everybody, and I want to thank you for calling
the show, is that the bottom line is all tied
to you and what you feel you have to do
and want to do. There are a lot of people
walking around here just like Beverly, don't want to make
the phone call, got ideas. I'm not gonna be bothered
with that. There are a lot of people who lost
(20:26):
their lives during COVID because they didn't want to wear
a mask, They didn't want to be they didn't want
to be involved in that situation. So my whole purpose
of bringing mister Fikes on the show, and you know,
I called him before the show. I said you I
told something said brother it's some urban legends out there
that just working against your dreams. That number of ten
(20:48):
thousand sounds good, but there's an uphill can But I said,
look here, I want to be a champion for you,
because if I can't convince you, if I can't help
you get there, then guess what somebody else needs to
step in and help you. But each one is a
leg up. It's a leg up. It's like climbing the ladder.
You can't climb the ladder unless you take one step
at the time. Now you can try to jump some steps,
(21:09):
and most time you jump some steps in the ladder,
you're gonna fall off and hurt yourself. And so we're
not trying to hurt anybody. This show is an honest show.
We're inviting people to call on. And plus I wanted
to open up mister Fikes's eyes to the community too
so he can hear and go, oh, Rashan you it
really is out there, because you know we can hear.
But she the community just called in. She Beverly is community,
(21:33):
she's neighborhood and those same type far But also what
I heard in Beverly is that I try, I do,
and that's all you want, right, mister Fikes.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
That's right, that's right. And here's something for both anyone listening.
I didn't share this with you earlier, mister McDonald, Miss Beverly.
The motto for United Critical Research is trust worthiness must
precede trust. So what does that mean? It's not so
(22:03):
for so long. The pharmaceuticals, even some doctors say, well,
those people should trust us. Now, if you walk in
an office and you don't feel like whoever you are
working with is trust worthy, walk out. We have to
show that we're trustworthy before you exhibit trust in anything.
(22:25):
And I want anybody to know that we have to
show that we're trustworthy before you trust. So I want
everybody to remember that.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Oh I've got a few minutes left, but I want
to make sure I talk about your Memphis vent that's
coming up. I believe, well, you want to break a
world record for screening blood pressure in an eight hour
time period. Now, you know blood pressure, that's serious. And
whenever I go to a doctor, they take my blood pressure.
In fact, I'm on blood pressure peels okay, And so
every morning I get up, I take my blood pressure pel. Again.
(22:55):
A lot of people, a lot of people don't understand
the power, and the blood pressure really is a silent killer.
There's a lot of people you hear stuff like, oh,
he looks so good. I was just talking to him
the other day. I saw him in church. He was
running and jogging and playing basketball. Well, see that's what
blood pressure will allow you to do until you keep
(23:18):
consistently hitting that number. And so my blood pressure pills
forced me to change my diet but also allows me
to live a normal life. But if I act stupid,
I'm mean, use the word stupid and stop taking that pill.
Guess what I'd be one of those stories you hear about, Well,
we shall look so good. You know, I was just
eating with him, I saw him and go in the coreer,
(23:39):
what's wrong? What happened? And so so now you're in
Memphis trying to break a record. Tell us about this,
and I want to wish you great luck on on
on doing it, but tell us about the bigger picture
and when is this happening?
Speaker 3 (23:51):
All right? Eighth No February second four. You've got the
clinical research along with the music Moves You. Foundation has
a title sponsor America of Tennessee, who has said, you
know what this is something great for the Memphis community.
(24:13):
And along with the Memphis Grizzlies, the basketball team, we're
gonna try to break the world record of twenty six thousand,
seven hundred and forty four people were tested in India?
Did you hear what I said India? A few years back?
(24:34):
I talked about this earlier this.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Now, what was that number?
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Again?
Speaker 1 (24:37):
One more time, sir? What was that number?
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Twenty twenty six thousand, seven hundred and forty four people.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
I'm telling you now, you know you're in Memphis.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Now.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Memphis is not a big city. Now. Now, if you
told me you was coming down here and doing it
in Atlanta, you know, Houston, or even New York because
you can probably get them out of all the boroughs.
But you're in Memphis trying to break a record right now.
I'm just gonna let you know. You really pushing it,
my friend, You've really pushing it.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
But I respect. Let's make it simple, though.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Let's make it simple, Okay.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
I don't know the census population, yes, sir, I would.
I would assume there's at least twenty two hundred and
seventy thousand black folks.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Yes it is, Yes, it is, Yes, it is at
least that yes, it is.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
If I can't get ten percent of that population, sir,
to test their blood pressure, I'm not doing something that
none of us are doing.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
I tell you what we do. What's that date, February.
What's that date?
Speaker 3 (25:33):
February, February second.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Okay, cool, this is what we're gonna do, mister Fikes.
You know New Year's Resolution, that's what that's what people do,
turn loose, think about their health. Blood pressure. So we're
gonna bring you back on the show the Tuesday before
that event. That could. That's a deal.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
That's what.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
That's the deal, because you gonna need help now. I'm
just telling you gonna need help now. I know you
try to get ten percent, but you gotta get them.
You gotta get some people coming from Nashville drive up
to last You're gonna need to help, my friend, and
I'm wondering to help you out. More importantly, I want
to thank you for allowing me to have an honest
conversation with the community about what you're trying to do.
(26:08):
Because what you're trying to do needs to get done.
And I'm speaking to the founder of the United Clinical
Research He's the one and only minority clinical trial site
management organization in the United States. Gordon Fikes, thank you
for coming on Money Making Conversation Masterclass and we will
see you the first Tuesday before your event, February second.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Okay, hey, I appreciate you, Sir, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Stays strong.
Speaker 5 (26:33):
Thank you for joining us for this edition of Money
Making Conversations Masterclass. Money Making Conversations Masterclass with rough Shan
McDonald is produced by thirty eight to fifteen Media Inc.
More information about thirty eight to fifteen Media Inc. Is
available at thirty eight to fifteen media dot com. And
always remember to lead with your gifts
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Distinct perspective.
Welcome to Money Making Conversations.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
It's the show that she has the secrets of success
experience firsthand by Marketing and Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I
will know he's giving me advice on many occasions. And in
case you didn't notice, I'm not broke. You know he'll
be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Decision make because it's what he likes to do. It's
what he likes to share.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Now it's time to hear from my man, Rashaan McDonald
money Making Conversations.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
There we go. Good, Welcome to Money Making Conversation master Class.
Thank you sir for the intro. I'm happy to be here.
Thanksgivings coming, Christmas coming and guess what doing the live
show give you information that you need to know. I
am Rushan McDonald. This is the weekly Money Making Conversation
Masterclass show. I am based in Atlanta, Georgia. Wanted let
(00:52):
everybody know this is something that I really appreciate Atlanta.
If you haven't been to this market, please come. It's
an amazing destination. The culture is incredible, the cost of
living is amazing, and I enjoyed myself of course, I
lived in both Texas and as well as Georgia, and
Texas does not have a state income tax, so I
(01:14):
favorite taxes. Okay cool. The interviews and information that this
show provides off for everyone. It's time to stop reading
other people's success stories and start living your own. My
guest is Gordon Fikes. He's the founder of United Clinical Research,
is one of the only minority owned clinical trial site
management organizations in the United States. The goal is to
(01:35):
provide healthcare for the minority community that can be potentially
life changing and saving. Gordon A s Fight has twenty
five years of award winning pharmaceutical sales experience with many
popular Fortune five hundred pharmaceutical companies. Please welcome to the
money Making Conversation to tell us about United Clinical Research.
Mister Gordon Fikes, how you doing, sir?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I'm doing well. How are you sir?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Okay? Cool? Explanation? What exactly is United Clinical Research.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
NONY Clinical Research is a site a clinical trial site
management company that works with pharmaceutical companies clinical resource research
organizations in order to specifically find my more minorities for
clinical trials. That's why we're in business.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Okay, So break down a little bit more. When you
say you want minorities to participate in tests, or what
is it your trial? The word trials, what is the
word trials?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Good question, good good questions. So to make it simple,
what we want to do is there are thousands upon
thousands of what we call human subject research trials. Right.
The trial is a medical unapproved medication that has to
go through the proper testing in order for the FDA
(03:03):
to approve it. What my company does is assist those organizations,
the pharmaceutical companies we call them CROs, the clinical research organizations,
to find minorities to participate in those clinical trials.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
I'm assuming that you do. I gotta dive a little
deeper on this, mister Fikes, because you know, you know,
I looked at your background, you know, in nineteen ninety four,
a graduate of Tuskegee University, Okay, and I'm African American black,
you know, and when you start using the word trials,
start use word tests around black people, we get real
(03:40):
suspicious and we don't want to be bothered with that.
Now you've started a company, I believe that. I believe
that at all my heart. Now you can tell me
that's why I brought you on the show to help
me and help you because we want to break down
a lot of stereotype. Because we got to get people
to sign up for these trials in order for us
to find cures, for us to find health remedies so
(04:04):
our community can live longer. Because we found out doing
COVID a lot of things. That was the reason we
was high on the lift of people dying or people
succeptible took OVID nineteen was because of our diabetes, high
blood pressure, you know, weight issues and things like that.
And so that's what this whole world of clinical trials
was really important to talk about.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Correct. That is correct, and let me interject and tell
you that he is. The people are not wrong for
what we feel rightay, many of us, many of us
say the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, when it really should be
termed the civilists experiment at Tuskegee. And what happened was
(04:46):
there were six hundred black men in nineteen thirty two,
a portion of them did not have syphiless, and more
than half had syphiless. Ten years later, eleven years later,
in nineteen forty three, when penicillin became the common treatment
(05:07):
for syphilis. Guess what those more than two hundred and
fifty men that had siblists, they were not given the penicillin. Now,
that started the chain of events that lasted for forty
years until nineteen seventy two until somebody said, hey, this
is crazy, this has to stop. So just that grievance
(05:31):
alone has caused a lot of issues with due reason
in our communities. So you know, I want to tell
people that what you feel is is true. It happened,
but I'm here to talk about some things that have
been put in place to change that whole paradise.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Right Because the one thing about it is, you know,
I always try to bring individuals when the show that
moved a needle, okay, United clinical research. You know, I'm
involved with a lot of programs with sickle sale. I
have a sickle cell trade and so always trying to
find out a cure. So you need people for clinical
research in order to be engaged. I'm not saying that's
(06:11):
what this is involved in right now, but I know
that's important to get people engaged to find out if
we're hitting in the right direction. Now with that being said,
because you know, because I'll be honest when I before
the interview, I called mister Fikes. I said, mister fight,
he is the lane of questions. I'm going to ask
because in my mind I want to know and I
want to make sure you're comfortable. We said we share.
(06:33):
Look at it, brother, I know for a fact the
question you asked God to be asked, and I'm going
to answer them because they are true. It did happen
in tuski had nothing, nothing to do with the university,
had nothing to do with Tuskegee Airmen. This happened in
the city of Tuskegee, and it gets lumped into that
whole Tuskegee world. And so you're you've come out of
(06:56):
here become a leader, founded this United Clinical Research. What
is the goal of United Clinical Research?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
You know, I have a long term goal, but the
more immediate goal is I want to help at least
ten thousand minority individuals. Now, let me say this. I
don't discriminate, Okay, we're all one, homogeneous people, Okay, but
this company was founded on the purpose of helping minorities,
(07:27):
people of darker melanin people. You know, I want to
help us find medications, find studies, human subject research, studies
that can possibly save their grandparents, that could possibly save
their parents, that could save a child even you know,
(07:48):
I've been blessed to have the background and the knowledge
that there are there are angels who have put together
some of these medications, and people can take that for
what it's worth, but there is healing in some of
these medications, whether people want to believe it or not.
My background is in biology and chemistry, so the science
(08:11):
of it, I know there are science that can save lives.
And my job is to number one, show people, show
black people that look, what happened in the past cannot
possibly happen in the future. And these are the steps
that the government that we as a people have put
in place. The biggest thing is called informed consent. But
(08:33):
we can get into that if you want.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Absolutely, because I think that's important in order for people
to understand they are protected.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Now correct, correct, they are protected, And for this reason
and this reason only, I'm really moving forward and trying
to position that if you know, if your parent, if
you have a family member who has cancer, you have
a family member that has diabetes, hypertension, plaqueariasis, anything. I
(09:03):
want my company to be the company that you reach
out to to say hey, can you help me and
let me be let me be the person to try
to help you.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Okay, cool, I'm talking about Gordon Fikes. He's the founder
of United Clinical Research, is the one and only minority
owned clinical trial site management organization in the United States. Now,
when you use the word help, you know because we've
been talking about trials and is help getting them into
a trial? Are there other ways you're talking about helping
people who contact you?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
So you know, there's there's been a lot of people
that reach out to me and say, you know what,
I believe in some research, but other natural pathological ways
that I can get help. You know, it's my job
to say, look, here are your alternatives. Yes, there are
some people that are doing natural studies of natural homeopathic
(09:58):
ways of curing things. Mean I happen to know of those.
My job is to provide you with choices. That's all
I can do and let you make your informed decision
on what you want to do. So that's what I
want to do, and for the next year, I want
to help at least ten thousand people who reach those goals.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Right now, they just broke this down, mister Fike's you
know the number ten thousand. Where did that number come from? Why?
Ten thousand?
Speaker 3 (10:29):
You know there is I'm gonna be honest with you,
that number popped up. You know, I was really thinking
about this interview and some of the goals that I've
set for the company's no particularly, I really should have said,
I want to help as many people as possible. But
me knowing this, if I can hit that number, then
(10:50):
I would have done. I would have exceeded my own
expectation of how many people that I can help with
this process.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Now, the thing that is like, if you're being interviewed
on my show and I'm happy it syndicates on the
twenty HBCU Campus series x M one forty two, you
know it drops on my podcasts. So I'm giving you
a platform to educate people about the United Clinical Research.
How can one reach you? And is their website? Yes?
Speaker 3 (11:23):
First of all, the website is under construction. However, if
you reach out to me directly on all social media
platforms on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and you can reach me
by Gordon fights g O R D O N y
k E s. If you reach out to me directly,
(11:45):
I will make sure that my people will will help
anyone that reaches out to me.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Now, but at the time, you now, this is an event.
You know, my degree is in mathematics, and so sure
you know biology, well versed in that, the sciences, well
versed in that. How does one based I know, I said,
twenty five years you've been in the pharmaceutical award winner
in the pharmaceutical field and sales and experience. But how
(12:13):
does one become a founder of a United clinical research
that company? Well, how did that happen?
Speaker 3 (12:22):
You know? So seven years ago I had the privilege
of working at my alma mater as a program director
under the tutor legit mentorship of doctor Ruben Warren. And
it was during this time that we actually worked with
a pharmaceutical company on a project that looked at increasing
(12:47):
minority participation in minority individuals. This was seven years ago
before the FDA stepped in and started making different mandates
that said two pharmaceutical companies that look, you're going to
have to increase your number. So seven years ago doing
(13:08):
this work, I realized that there was an opportunity. And
then April of twenty twenty two, I read some information
from the FDA that said, hey, you know, this is not.
This is no longer a suggestion, This is an op
This is something you all are going to have to do.
(13:31):
And mister McDonald, let me tell you. When the FDA
says that is something you're going to have to do,
that means if you don't do it, it's going to
affect your bottom line, meaning that there is a possibility
that some medications may not get approved because you didn't
test an appropriate number of minorities in the trials.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Absolutely correct. I'm talking to Gordon Fikes, he's the founder
of United Clinical Research. We were right back to you
more about the whole process. You know, he has an
event we talk about a Memphis, Tennessee where he was
attempted to break a world record for screening blood pressure
and an eight hour time perioy. That and more when
you come back on clinical trials in America done by
(14:14):
United Clinical Research. Welcome back to Money Making Conversations Masterclass.
This is your host with Sean McDonald. I've been speaking
to Gordon Fightights, he's the founder of United Clinical Research
and clinical trials. You know, we talked about stereotypes, rumors,
urban legends that oftentimes stops black people from participating all minorities,
(14:35):
and sometimes you have to watch the word minority because
now white women are considered minorities, and so a lot
of people don't know that, and so that word has
been allowed to be engaged in different relationships. But before
we go in there further, I have a phone call
that I want to go to right now, Beverly from Decatur.
How are you doing, Beverly?
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (14:54):
I'm well, how are you? Miss mac donald?
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Welcome to Money Making Conversation master Class. You're on the
phone where Gordon Fikes, the founder of United Clinical Research.
What is your question?
Speaker 4 (15:03):
My question is, if you you have blacks that are
willing to participate in these clinical trials, how can we
be assured that we are actually given the correct medicine
and we're not being given up placipo or or some
arbitrary medicine.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
So that there is one thing that you can do
is once you find out that there is a possible
trial for you, the very first question you should ask
is will I be given to study drug? And based
on the answer of that, if you get an answer
that says you know it's possible or no, then at
(15:43):
that point you have to make a decision on whether
or not you want to, you know, be a part
of that clinical trial. But that should be one of
the first questions that you ask any anyone that's offering,
you know, such a research. Twelve four years.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Now, Beverly, based on your question, would you consider participating
in a clinical trial?
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Well, you know, actually, unfortunately I was streating with COVID
back in twenty twenty one. I want to believe, and
I was given the when I was because I was
admitted into the hospital and I was administered the rem
DECA there I think that's how you pronounce it. Yeah,
(16:31):
and uh, you know, and that was what they told
me that I was being given. And you know, eventually
I got better over a month or so. But I
still had my concerns if it was the actual medicine
they said it was, you know, based on our history
with you know, medicine or science and research.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Yeah, because that's what we was talking about, you know,
it was talking about that history that rumors because they
are true in the community and mister Fis has to
fight against that. And I just want to ask you
an honest question, Beverly. Thank you for calling Money Making
Conversation master Class. You know, when you hear these, we
can say the word urban legends. What drives you not
to trust? What drives you in your mindset? I can't
(17:14):
feel comfortable participating, so it can help us get there,
so we can get more African Americans. Guess what this
is all about? African Americans? We say to my word
minority really is about African Americans?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
What?
Speaker 4 (17:25):
What? What?
Speaker 1 (17:25):
What engages you to say yes or no as a participant.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Well, just some of the you know, some of the
stories we've read in the news, uh, you know, in
our history, the one that you use for an example,
the Tuskegee Toskegee study, and then that was and then
we just kept the we're just in the dark so
much about our medicine. But I can't even and I
can't think of the lady's name, but she played a
(17:52):
major role in cancer. I think the Harvard took some
of it was either John.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Read Yeah, so.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Her blood and all of this coming out so many,
you know, decades later.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
There's just.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
There's just quite a bit of history that leads me
to feel that way. And you know, and it's sad
because I know there are trials out that it could be,
you know, quite beneficial to us, but if we're scared
to use them, you know, how we ever know if
we and even sometimes my own doctors, Uh, I'm faced
(18:31):
with something now. I've been going to see the same
doctor for so many years and knows my history, you know,
backwards and forth. But I've been stricken with something that
I'm dealing with now right that should have been and.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Dealt with absolutely that happened to me, you know, with
my cancer discovery. You know my doctor, mister, and the
person who's doing my blood test is the one who
found it. And it was a doctor I was going
to over at least ten years, and I think there
was the casual relationship we had created that allowed him
to just you know, walking in door, sit down, ask
(19:06):
me about my life, ask me how I've been doing,
and then walk right back out there. It was the
same thing with my dinnists. So I think that what
mister Fike said earlier, asking the right question, making sure
you don't make assumptions, and make sure that whatever how
they respond, you're comfortable with. If the response doesn't allow
you to be comfortable, ask another question. If it leads
(19:29):
to them going shrugging their shoulders or going you can
do this if if you want to, then get up
and get out. And that is and that's the bottom line, and.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Usual that's what I do. Because I'm seeing three specialists
now about my well, I've gone to three and I
wanted to make sure I wanted to not double with
triple check that my eyes are being treated for what
is the actual diagnosis because of the lack I guess
(20:01):
the lackadaisical relationship like you said you had with your dog.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Absolutely absolutely, you know some Beverly, and I tell you
to everybody, and I want to thank you for calling
the show, is that the bottom line is all tied
to you and what you feel you have to do
and want to do. There are a lot of people
walking around here just like Beverly, don't want to make
the phone call, got ideas. I'm not gonna be bothered
with that. There are a lot of people who lost
(20:26):
their lives during COVID because they didn't want to wear
a mask, They didn't want to be they didn't want
to be involved in that situation. So my whole purpose
of bringing mister Fikes on the show, and you know,
I called him before the show. I said you I
told something said brother it's some urban legends out there
that just working against your dreams. That number of ten
(20:48):
thousand sounds good, but there's an uphill can But I said,
look here, I want to be a champion for you,
because if I can't convince you, if I can't help
you get there, then guess what somebody else needs to
step in and help you. But each one is a
leg up. It's a leg up. It's like climbing the ladder.
You can't climb the ladder unless you take one step
at the time. Now you can try to jump some steps,
(21:09):
and most time you jump some steps in the ladder,
you're gonna fall off and hurt yourself. And so we're
not trying to hurt anybody. This show is an honest show.
We're inviting people to call on. And plus I wanted
to open up mister Fikes's eyes to the community too
so he can hear and go, oh, Rashan you it
really is out there, because you know we can hear.
But she the community just called in. She Beverly is community,
(21:33):
she's neighborhood and those same type far But also what
I heard in Beverly is that I try, I do,
and that's all you want, right, mister Fikes.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
That's right, that's right. And here's something for both anyone listening.
I didn't share this with you earlier, mister McDonald, Miss Beverly.
The motto for United Critical Research is trust worthiness must
precede trust. So what does that mean? It's not so
(22:03):
for so long. The pharmaceuticals, even some doctors say, well,
those people should trust us. Now, if you walk in
an office and you don't feel like whoever you are
working with is trust worthy, walk out. We have to
show that we're trustworthy before you exhibit trust in anything.
(22:25):
And I want anybody to know that we have to
show that we're trustworthy before you trust. So I want
everybody to remember that.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Oh I've got a few minutes left, but I want
to make sure I talk about your Memphis vent that's
coming up. I believe, well, you want to break a
world record for screening blood pressure in an eight hour
time period. Now, you know blood pressure, that's serious. And
whenever I go to a doctor, they take my blood pressure.
In fact, I'm on blood pressure peels okay, And so
every morning I get up, I take my blood pressure pel. Again.
(22:55):
A lot of people, a lot of people don't understand
the power, and the blood pressure really is a silent killer.
There's a lot of people you hear stuff like, oh,
he looks so good. I was just talking to him
the other day. I saw him in church. He was
running and jogging and playing basketball. Well, see that's what
blood pressure will allow you to do until you keep
(23:18):
consistently hitting that number. And so my blood pressure pills
forced me to change my diet but also allows me
to live a normal life. But if I act stupid,
I'm mean, use the word stupid and stop taking that pill.
Guess what I'd be one of those stories you hear about, Well,
we shall look so good. You know, I was just
eating with him, I saw him and go in the coreer,
(23:39):
what's wrong? What happened? And so so now you're in
Memphis trying to break a record. Tell us about this,
and I want to wish you great luck on on
on doing it, but tell us about the bigger picture
and when is this happening?
Speaker 3 (23:51):
All right? Eighth No February second four. You've got the
clinical research along with the music Moves You. Foundation has
a title sponsor America of Tennessee, who has said, you
know what this is something great for the Memphis community.
(24:13):
And along with the Memphis Grizzlies, the basketball team, we're
gonna try to break the world record of twenty six thousand,
seven hundred and forty four people were tested in India?
Did you hear what I said India? A few years back?
(24:34):
I talked about this earlier this.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Now, what was that number?
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Again?
Speaker 1 (24:37):
One more time, sir? What was that number?
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Twenty twenty six thousand, seven hundred and forty four people.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
I'm telling you now, you know you're in Memphis.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Now.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Memphis is not a big city. Now. Now, if you
told me you was coming down here and doing it
in Atlanta, you know, Houston, or even New York because
you can probably get them out of all the boroughs.
But you're in Memphis trying to break a record right now.
I'm just gonna let you know. You really pushing it,
my friend, You've really pushing it.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
But I respect. Let's make it simple, though.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Let's make it simple, Okay.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
I don't know the census population, yes, sir, I would.
I would assume there's at least twenty two hundred and
seventy thousand black folks.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Yes it is, Yes, it is, Yes, it is at
least that yes, it is.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
If I can't get ten percent of that population, sir,
to test their blood pressure, I'm not doing something that
none of us are doing.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
I tell you what we do. What's that date, February.
What's that date?
Speaker 3 (25:33):
February, February second.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Okay, cool, this is what we're gonna do, mister Fikes.
You know New Year's Resolution, that's what that's what people do,
turn loose, think about their health. Blood pressure. So we're
gonna bring you back on the show the Tuesday before
that event. That could. That's a deal.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
That's what.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
That's the deal, because you gonna need help now. I'm
just telling you gonna need help now. I know you
try to get ten percent, but you gotta get them.
You gotta get some people coming from Nashville drive up
to last You're gonna need to help, my friend, and
I'm wondering to help you out. More importantly, I want
to thank you for allowing me to have an honest
conversation with the community about what you're trying to do.
(26:08):
Because what you're trying to do needs to get done.
And I'm speaking to the founder of the United Clinical
Research He's the one and only minority clinical trial site
management organization in the United States. Gordon Fikes, thank you
for coming on Money Making Conversation Masterclass and we will
see you the first Tuesday before your event, February second.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Okay, hey, I appreciate you, Sir, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Stays strong.
Speaker 5 (26:33):
Thank you for joining us for this edition of Money
Making Conversations Masterclass. Money Making Conversations Masterclass with rough Shan
McDonald is produced by thirty eight to fifteen Media Inc.
More information about thirty eight to fifteen Media Inc. Is
available at thirty eight to fifteen media dot com. And
always remember to lead with your gifts
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Distinct perspective.
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