Interview with: Nalin Payakachat, BPharm MS PhD
Eli Lilly and Company
Nalin Payakachat, BPharm MS PhD, has been active in ISOQOL for many years and most recently served on the ISOQOL Board of Directors from 2019 to 2022. With her term as a Director-at-Large having concluded following the Annual Conference in October, ISOQOL would like to thank Dr. Payakachat for her involvement and dedication to the Society.
In an interview with QualityTALK, the departing Director-at-Large talks about her experience with the Society and lets members get to know her better.
Can you tell a little about your journey to becoming an ISOQOL board member?
Nalin Payakachat (NP): I have been an ISOQOL member since 2009 and always want to contribute and be a part of the organization. I was a co-chair for Child Health SIG in 2016 and had the opportunity to attend SIG meetings with ISOQOL board members. That made me realize that I could be a part of the planning strategy for the organization. I recognized that the Board of Directors is open to ISOQOL members who are interested to be in a leadership position to help improve the organization, bring new ideas and maintain high quality sciences.
What does serving on the ISOQOL Board of Directors mean to you?
NP: It is a great pleasure to work with other board members and ISOQOL staff. I understood the structure, mission, and direction of ISOQOL much better. I am proud to be a part of the decisions from the board. It has been fun.
What is your favorite thing about ISOQOL?
NP: ISOQOL is a great research community and more like a gathering place to catch up with friends and learn new tricks/tips/ideas from cool researchers across the globe. The ISOQOL annual meeting is my favorite conference to attend. I haven’t missed an annual meeting since 2009.
What does being an ISOQOL member mean to you?
NP: I am a proud ISOQOL member! I feel like I belong to ISOQOL; being a member is like being in a community with people who are like me, sharing our passion of quality of life research.
How long have you been a member of ISOQOL and why did you join?
NP: I’ve been a member since 2009; it has been 13 years. I was a sub for my research team to present our work at ISOQOL. I wasn’t thinking much about ISOQOL at first. I still remember my first ISOQOL meeting, I had a “new member” ribbon on my badge and someone came to say “welcome to ISOQOL, I’m glad you are here.” That made me feel very welcome. I like the community and I like the contents of an annual meeting and the mission of ISOQOL.
What do you love most about HRQL research?
NP: Patients are the recipient of treatments and saving their lives are not good enough. We want them to live well and happy. My focus is whether a treatment improves patient’s HRQL and also their family/caregivers.
What’s your biggest (or one of your biggest) professional accomplishment(s) so far?
NP: The most proud moment was when my first PhD student graduated and landed in the job/career that he wishes.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
NP: “The work never ends and it will always be there tomorrow. Go home and have a life.”
What’s one thing – either industry-related or not – you learned in the last month?
NP: Based on the current literature, an open-label trial design doesn’t create bias in PRO data (7th FDA Annual Clinical Outcome Assessment workshop).
What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
NP: I go fly fishing about 100 days per year.
Is there anything else you would like to share with ISOQOL membership (e.g., current projects you are working on)?
NP: I’m working on a guidance on how to incorporate family health spillover effects into economic evaluation.
This newsletter editorial represents the views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ISOQOL.
How to Submit a Newsletter Editorial
Do you have something to share about health related quality of life and patient-centered outcomes? We want to hear from you!
Learn More
The International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL) is a global community of researchers, clinicians, health care professionals, industry professionals, consultants, and patient research partners advancing health related quality of life research (HRQL).
Together, we are creating a future in which patient perspective is integral to health research, care and policy.