Conducting a Health Equity Assessment for a Leading Diagnostics Company
This case study dives into how the Clarkston team supported a diagnostics company in conducting a health equity assessment. Read a synopsis of the project below or download the full case study.
Download the Conducting a Health Equity Assessment Case Study Here
A leading global life sciences company engaged Clarkston Consulting to strengthen its approach to diversity in clinical research and health equity. While the organization had launched several initiatives, efforts were fragmented, primarily volunteer-driven, and lacked consistent measurement and governance. To advance its mission of inclusive research and equitable access, leadership recognized the need for a comprehensive assessment and long-term health equity strategy spanning the enterprise.
In conducting a health equity assessment for the client, Clarkston found that while the organization was committed to scientific excellence and operational speed, diversity efforts weren’t systemically embedded in trial planning. Clinical teams often viewed health equity initiatives as time and cost-intensive, creating tension with trial delivery goals.
Early efforts have been limited to pilots and grassroots initiatives but these highlighted greater systemic gaps. These included inconsistent enrollment targets across 12 business units; limited full-time resources dedicated to diversity in research with most work led by volunteers; siloed processes across R&D, Clinical Operations, Marketing, and business units; lack of clear metrics and accountability to track progress or ROI; and the absence of a unified strategy to guide trial design and site selection. Without clear metrics, governance, or cross-functional accountability, progress risked stalling.
Clarkston partnered with the client to conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing initiatives, benchmark maturity against a health equity framework, and facilitate alignment among leadership and stakeholders. Through structured interviews, surveys, workshops, and analysis, Clarkston identified capability gaps and prioritized initiatives across governance, training, patient engagement, communications, and data and analytics.
Through the engagement, Clarkston provided a five-year roadmap and operating model designed to embed inclusive practices into the fabric of clinical research across the organization. Key recommendations included strategies for establishing a patient advisory board, institutionalizing holistic and role-specific training, creating an enterprise-wide health equity playbook, incorporating demographic data into site selection, and developing a sustainable governance model.
By equipping the organization with a strategic framework, an actionable roadmap, and a program structure, Clarkston laid the foundation for long-term transformation. The client is now positioned to move from advocacy to accountability, embedding equity across research practices, building trust with patients and communities, and strengthening its reputation as a leader in inclusive clinical research.
This also demonstrates how life sciences companies can move beyond fragmented DEI or Health Equity efforts to build a roadmap that balances equity with efficiency. Clarkston helps clients turn health equity into a competitive advantage, accelerating enrollment, strengthening community trust, and driving measurable ROI from inclusive research practices.
