Kerr Appointed CAAPCR Commissioner

November 2024 - Jared Kerr, clinical associate professor in the clinical research program at the College of Health and Human Services, has been appointed as the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) Commissioner for the Committee on Accreditation of Academic Programs in Clinical Research (CAAPCR). In this role, he will take on a variety of responsibilities, including approving bylaws, mission, and vision statements, endorsing new Committees on Accreditation, and overseeing the activities of the Board of Directors.

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is a recognized accrediting body that ensures the quality and standards of allied health education programs in the United States. It is responsible for accrediting programs in various health-related fields, such as medical assisting, radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, and clinical laboratory science, among others. The Committee on Accreditation of Academic Programs in Clinical Research (CAAPCR) is an organization dedicated to the accreditation of academic programs in the field of clinical research. It ensures that these programs meet high educational standards and effectively prepare students for careers in clinical research, which involves the design, implementation, and management of clinical trials and research studies in healthcare.

Since joining UNC Wilmington in 2014, Kerr has focused his career on improving public health through innovation. His teaching encompasses project management, regulatory affairs, intellectual property, scientific writing, data analytics, and visualization. Kerr’s academic research centers on competency-based training and assessment, simulation-based applied learning, and workforce development in clinical research.

Prior to UNC Wilmington, Kerr spent more than 20 years in a variety of roles across the biopharmaceutical industry, contract research organizations (CROs), academia, and state and federal government agencies. His experience spans pharmaceutical research and development, project management, legal and scientific research, and includes all phases of clinical research in global markets.

Kerr said of the appointment, “I’m honored to be appointed as a Commissioner for CAAPCR. I believe such service is essential to the awareness and growth of clinical research as a profession.”