Thomas Desena

About Thomas Desena

I am a current Director of RWE Project Management at CTI. My past roles include working as Principal Methodologist at Verana Health. My primary tasks was as the \"architect\" of proposals. I worked along side of business development and delivery to design solutions including strategizing delivery, budget and client considerations. Prior to that I worked at IQVIA as as a Product Strategy Lead within Medical Affairs at IQVIA. Also at IQVIA, I worked as an Analytics Insights Manager in Real World Evidence. This role consisted of analyzing data to provide data-driven recommendations for site identification and feasibility of real world studies. Prior to that my previous roles also included working as a strategy consultant at Triangle Insights Group. This role consisted of providing analysis and recommendations for clients in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. In particular, my analysis included market research with physician, payers and patients as well as commercial assessment models for late stage pharmaceutical assets. Before business school, I worked as a Clinical Interventionist for an NIMH funded HIV prevention study with the homeless and persons with mentally illness at the Boston Medical Center. My primary responsibilities included delivering the motivational interviewing-based intervention, conducting psychosocial and neuropsychological assessments, and data management and manuscript preparation. I am a graduate of Western Kentucky University where I studied Psychology and Writing. I continued on to the Boston University School of Medicine where I earned a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine with an emphasis in Sport Psychology. I have spent several years of relevant research experience, working in motivational studies in Kentucky, an HIV pilot study in Boston, and organizing logistics and data for several HIV and motivation studies in the greater Dallas/Ft. Worth area in Texas. I have experience working as part of multidisciplinary care teams providing individual and group psychotherapy, neuropsychology assessments and psychotherapy, and counseling to families facing multiple challenges. I enjoy working with disadvantaged individuals in an effort to promote health and wellness among a population affected by mental illness.Specialties: Medical Affairs, Clinical Research, Problem Solving, Real-World Evidence, Feasibility, Clinical Research Site Identification Revenue Forecast, Pharmaceutical Industry, Life Sciences, Market Research

Experience

1. Executive Director, Advanced Analytics & Data Science

   BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

   Mar 2026 — Present · Durham, NC, US

Education

• Boston University School of Medicine

  Master of Arts, Mental Health Counseling

  2007 — 2009

• Western Kentucky University

  Bachelor of Arts, Psychology

  2003 — 2007

• UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Health/Health Care Administration/Management

  2014 — 2016

Skills

• Social Media
• Psychotherapy
• Mental Health Counseling
• Client Relations
• Strategy
• Psychology
• Motivational Interviewing
• Teaching
• Treatment
• Nonprofits
• Healthcare
• Business Development
• Group Therapy
• Interventions
• Community Outreach
• Research
• Stress Management
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Adolescents
• Cbt
• Strategic Planning
• Public Speaking
• Coaching
• Therapists
• Leadership
• Prevention
• Microsoft Office
• Mental Health
• Family Therapy
• Google Groups
• Spss
• Treatment of Depression
• Microsoft
• Team Leadership
• Customer Service