Sharon H Jaycox, PhD

Sharon H. Jaycox, PhD, is a strategic healthcare and patient advocacy executive with more than 12 years of experience advancing patient-centered research, clinical development integration, health equity, and community engagement across public health, liver disease, metabolic health, and clinical research. Most recently, Dr. Jaycox served as Liver Disease Program Director at the Global Liver Institute, where she led enterprise-level patient-strategy initiatives to raise awareness of liver and cardiometabolic diseases, advance research engagement, and influence policy. In this role, she developed and strengthened multi-stakeholder partnerships among advocacy organizations, researchers, clinicians, and community leaders to improve patient engagement strategies and integrate the patient voice into research and educational initiatives. Previously, Dr. Jaycox served as Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Celerion, where she designed and implemented global strategies to improve diversity, access, and patient engagement in clinical trials. She partnered closely with Clinical Operations, Scientific and Medical Affairs, and Regulatory teams to support patient-centered protocol design, accessible study materials, and equitable recruitment strategies across global research programs. Her leadership focused on building trust, awareness, and participation among historically underserved and underrepresented populations. Dr. Jaycox also held progressive leadership roles at Celerion as a Metabolic & Pharmacodynamic Specialist, supporting clinical research operations, feasibility assessments, patient recruitment initiatives, and community-based disease awareness programs focused on metabolic health and early detection. Earlier in her career, Dr. Jaycox served with the Arizona Department of Health Services as a Chronic Disease & Healthy Aging Coordinator, overseeing statewide chronic disease prevention initiatives and leading collaborative public health engagement strategies that involved advisory councils, coalitions, government, and community stakeholders. A recognized leader in patient advocacy and stakeholder engagement, Dr. Jaycox has extensive experience building partnerships that connect patient communities, healthcare organizations, clinical research teams, and public health systems. Her work consistently advances equitable access to healthcare, improves the patient experience, and integrates patient insights into strategic decision-making. Dr. Jaycox has served on numerous professional and community leadership boards and advisory groups, including the American Diabetes Association Community Leadership Board (Phoenix), the Arizona Diabetes Coalition, the Arizona Diabetes Leadership Council, the Arizona Obesity Coalition, and the Arizona Commission on African American Affairs, where she served as Health Pillar Chair. She is also the immediate past First Vice President of Programs for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Phoenix Metropolitan Chapter. Dr. Jaycox earned a Bachelor of Science in Life Science–Biochemistry/Physiology from Arizona State University, a Master of Health Administration from the University of Phoenix, and a PhD in Health Science/Research from Walden University. She is a licensed chaplain and an active community leader, and she remains committed to advancing patient advocacy, clinical innovation, and equitable health outcomes.