It's not always easy to participate in a clinical trial. Even if you want to, how do you get the time off from work? Starting in 2025, thanks to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, there is a provision called the FMLA Clarification, which essentially states that you can participate without fear of losing your job. In this episode of the FSR Sarc Fighter Podcast, Dr. Ennis James, a sarcoidosis researcher and physician at the Medical University of South Carolina, and Tricha Shivas, Chief of Staff and Strategy at FSR join me to talk about how difficult life can be for patients. Dr. James shares a real-life story about a woman who fought to stay in a trial after problems arose at work.

SHOW NOTES

OP-ED by Dr. Ennis James in STAT: https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/24/clinical-trial-patient-fmla-foundation-sarcoidosis-research-job-security/

SHRM: https://www.shrm.org/

FSR News Release: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/coalition-to-transform-clinical-trial-engagement-launches-champions-for-change-pto-initiative/

More from FSR: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/fsr-receives-confirmation-from-the-department-of-labor-ensuring-patient-access-to-fmla-for-participation-in-clinical-trials/

MORE FROM JOHN:

Cycling with Sarcoidosis http://carlinthecyclist.com/category/cycling-with-sarcoidosis/

Do you like the official song for the Sarc Fighter podcast? It's also an FSR fundraiser! If you would like to donate in honor of Mark Steier and the song, Zombie, Here is a link to his KISS account. (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) 100-percent of the money goes to the Foundation. https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/MarkSteier

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/

Donate to my KISS (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) fund for FSR https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/JohnCarlinVsSarcoidosis?fbclid=IwAR1g2ap1i1NCp6bQOYEFwOELdNEeclFmmLLcQQOQX_Awub1oe9bcEjK9P1E

My story on Television https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/news-anchor-sarcoidosis/

email me carlinagency@gmail.com

#sarcoidosis #sarcoidosisawareness #fmla #fmlaclarification

Let's say you or a family member wants to participate in a clinical trial, but the boss doesn't want you to have the time off because of extra visits to the doctor's office. Under new rules spearheaded by the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, companies must now allow patients time away from the job without fear of losing their employment. In this special edition of the FSR Sarc Fighter Podcast, FSR CEO Mary McGowan joins me, along with Emily Dickens, Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs, and Corporate Secretary for Society for Human Resources Management. Together they will walk us through the new guidelines for HR departments when it comes to allowing employees to participate in clinical trials. @SHRM #SHRM #humanresources #clinicaltrial

Show Notes

SHRM: https://www.shrm.org/

FSR News Release: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/coalition-to-transform-clinical-trial-engagement-launches-champions-for-change-pto-initiative/

More from FSR: https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/fsr-receives-confirmation-from-the-department-of-labor-ensuring-patient-access-to-fmla-for-participation-in-clinical-trials/

MORE FROM JOHN:

Cycling with Sarcoidosis http://carlinthecyclist.com/category/cycling-with-sarcoidosis/

Do you like the official song for the Sarc Fighter podcast? It's also an FSR fundraiser! If you would like to donate in honor of Mark Steier and the song, Zombie, Here is a link to his KISS account. (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) 100-percent of the money goes to the Foundation. https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/MarkSteier

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/

Donate to my KISS (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) fund for FSR https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/JohnCarlinVsSarcoidosis?fbclid=IwAR1g2ap1i1NCp6bQOYEFwOELdNEeclFmmLLcQQOQX_Awub1oe9bcEjK9P1E

My story on Television https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/news-anchor-sarcoidosis/

email me carlinagency@gmail.com

#sarcoidosis #sarcoidosisawareness

In this episode of the FSR Sarc Fighter Podcast, it's time to think. Borrowing some thoughts from a man who faced a possibly fatal brain condition, I look at how similar his case is to our own -- bearing in mind that he expresses his case so much better than most people can or could. Also, Sarcoidosis News is out with a study showing that Black Women are more likely to develop kidney stones than other groups.

Show Notes

Eric Markowitz's Essay: https://bigthinkmedia.substack.com/p/what-brain-surgery-taught-me-about

The Big Think https://substack.com/@bigthinkmedia

Black Women and Kidney Stones https://sarcoidosisnews.com/news/sarcoidosis-increases-risk-kidney-stones-black-women-us/

MORE FROM JOHN:

Cycling with Sarcoidosis http://carlinthecyclist.com/category/cycling-with-sarcoidosis/

Do you like the official song for the Sarc Fighter podcast? It's also an FSR fundraiser! If you would like to donate in honor of Mark Steier and the song, Zombie, Here is a link to his KISS account. (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) 100-percent of the money goes to the Foundation. https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/MarkSteier

The Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/

Donate to my KISS (Kick In to Stop Sarcoidosis) fund for FSR https://stopsarcoidosis.rallybound.org/JohnCarlinVsSarcoidosis?fbclid=IwAR1g2ap1i1NCp6bQOYEFwOELdNEeclFmmLLcQQOQX_Awub1oe9bcEjK9P1E

My story on Television https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/news-anchor-sarcoidosis/

email me carlinagency@gmail.com

#sarcoidosis #sarcoidosisawareness