In this speed business networking workshop, participants will learn how to make the most of meeting new people. Including strategies for effective communication, building rapport, and following up with contacts.

Leslie Sam President, Leslie Sam and Associates, LLC View Bio →

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Leslie Sam President, Leslie Sam and Associates, LLC

With 30 years of clinical trial research and quality, leadership and six sigma black belt roles, Leslie Sam, President, Leslie Sam and Associates, LLC, collaborates with clients to transform their clinical quality management system design and implementation. She was sought out by the industry organization, TransCelerate, to co-develop and co-author a conceptual clinical quality management system framework and issue management framework. She was also a reviewer of the TransCelerate conceptual risk management framework. She leverages her depth of understanding of industry leading practices and regulatory guidance to define and apply strategic and tactical risk-based approaches to clinical trial implementation.

David Fryrear, MS EVP & Head of Quality Assurance, Astellas View Bio →

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David Fryrear, M.S. Executive Vice President & Head of Quality Assurance, Astellas

David Fryrear, M.S., is Executive Vice President and Head of Quality Assurance for Astellas. He has responsibility for providing the global vision, leadership and strategic direction for Quality Assurance, from the earliest stages of research, through clinical development and commercialization. David has held a number of senior positions leading quality along the continuum of research, development, manufacturing, and distribution at AbbVie and Lilly. David earned his M.S. at Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Indianapolis where he majored in Pharmaceutics.

Tip: Be sure to bring your Elevator Pitch, if you have one!

Join us for an insightful and inspiring Career Path Panel designed to help you navigate your professional journey with confidence and clarity.

This session is geared to help first-time student attendees navigate the conference and make the most out of their experience. Our navigators will walk you through the schedule, key venues, and tips for maximizing your time at DIA 2026.

Each year, DIA issues one or more specific challenges to which students are invited to respond. The competition will be judged by a committee of DIA Fellows, our most experienced and engaged members, encompassing a broad range of expertise.

The DIA Student Case Competition fosters further engagement between members of DIA's Student Chapters, students at schools throughout the U.S., and DIA. It provides an opportunity to propose viable solutions to current challenges throughout the drug development lifecycle and provides significant visibility for the winning team within regulatory, biopharmaceutical, academic, patient, and CRO communities.

From cutting-edge scientific research to innovative design projects and social initiatives, our Student Poster Sessions feature a wide array of topics that highlight the ingenuity and creativity of the next generation of scholars and innovators.

Interested in submitting a poster? The deadline to submit is March 5, 2026.