Stacey A. Cook leads liver disease research site in Indiana

Stacey A. Cook, site director at ObjectiveHealth in South Bend, Indiana, oversees clinical trials for fatty liver disease, MASH/NASH and cirrhosis. Her work helps connect patients to investigational treatments while supporting research that has contributed to new liver disease therapies.

Why it matters: - Liver disease treatments have historically been limited, especially for cirrhosis and fatty liver disease. - Clinical trials at Stacey A. Cook's site are helping expand treatment options for patients with serious liver conditions. - The work also supports patients with obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes who may improve liver health through research-backed care.

What happened: - Stacey A. Cook serves as Site Director and Clinical Research Coordinator at ObjectiveHealth in South Bend, Indiana. - Cook oversees the Digestive Research Alliance of Michiana, which runs clinical trials focused on digestive and liver disease. - Her site studies fatty liver, MASH/NASH and cirrhosis. - Cook has worked in clinical research since 2020. - The profile was published by Influential Women on Nov. 11, 2026.

The details: - Cook guides patients through diagnostic workups, investigational treatments and multi-year study protocols. - She coordinates with GI specialists and family physicians to keep studies and patients on track. - Under Cook's leadership, the site has been recognized as one of the top-performing locations in the world across several clinical trials. - Cook earned an Associate of Science degree in Medical/Clinical Assisting from Brown Mackie College. - She became a Registered Medical Assistant before moving through family medicine, cardiology, occupational health and podiatry. - Cook later stepped into a practice management role, which prepared her for site leadership. - Her current responsibilities include reviewing site finances, recruiting patients and supervising staff. - Cook said her drive to help others grew out of the sudden loss of her father in 2008.

Between the lines: - Cook's career path shows how broad clinical experience can translate into research leadership. - Her emphasis on mentoring suggests the site is built to grow talent, not just run trials. - Cook's work reflects a broader shift in liver disease care, where long-term studies are opening paths to new therapies. - Her team played a role in research that supported approval of semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy and Ozempic, for liver disease.

What's next: - Cook expects new medications and long-term clinical trials to keep changing outcomes for patients with liver disease. - She continues to focus on patient care, staff development and community impact. - Through her Influential Women profile, Cook is sharing her experience and professional journey.

The bottom line: - Stacey A. Cook has turned personal loss, clinical experience and mentorship into a leadership role that helps move liver disease research from the lab to real patients.