Stacy Hurt
Chief Patient Officer
Parexel
Turning Lived Experiences Into Change
Along with an impressive 25+ year career in pharma and healthcare, Stacy Hurt is a true catalyst for change, both within Parexel and the broader healthcare industry.
Throughout her impressive career, Stacy has held various senior-level positions within the healthcare industry with organizations such as Merck, GlaxoSmithKline (now GSK), Transdermal Therapeutics, and the Colon Cancer Coalition. In 2024, Stacy assumed the title of Chief Patient Officer at Parexel, where she supports the company’s patient-focused thought leadership initiatives, helping to shape and influence our industry’s approach to serving patients. As Stacy herself will tell you, her role at Parexel is a culmination of everything she has been through—both professionally and personally.
When Stacy was 35, balancing motherhood with a promising career, her whole life changed—her younger son, Emmett, was diagnosed with an ultra-rare genetic chromosome abnormality at eight months old. Emmett’s condition is so exceedingly rare that only three cases are known worldwide. He is expected to never walk, talk, feed, toilet, or care for himself independently. Caregiving for Emmett is a full-time job.
“Stacy’s ability to share her personal experiences and connect on a truly human level has earned her immense respect and admiration; she makes others feel heard and inspires industry professionals to build empathy for the patient and caregiver perspective.”
Then, after nearly a decade of balancing her roles as caregiver and mother with a career at a pharmaceutical company, Stacy was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer and given a 8% five-year survival rate. After numerous harrowing treatments, Stacy has been NED (no evidence of disease) since 2015.
Drawing from her own personal journey as a cancer thriver and a caregiver for her son, Stacy possesses a profound understanding that empowers her to raise awareness, foster inclusivity, and improve accessibility for patients and care partners. Her resolute advocacy ensures their rightful place at the table, allowing their lived experiences and invaluable recommendations to shape improvements in the earliest stages of the drug development process.
Stacy’s ability to share her personal experiences and connect on a truly human level has earned her immense respect and admiration; she makes others feel heard and inspires industry professionals
to build empathy for the patient and caregiver perspective. Her passion for sharing her experiences and knowledge with others to drive significant transformation in the field is truly inspiring.
