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Clinical Research Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Bianca Ferreira, MPH, CCRC

Bianca Ferreira, MPH, CCRC

Research Interests: Clinical research, pediatric trials, research education and training, rare blood disorders including hemophilia and sickle cell disease
Background: Bianca has been supporting clinical research trials for over seven years in various therapeutic areas including autism, metabolism, plastic surgery, rheumatology, pulmonology and hematology. Currently, Bianca manages the clinical trials in the section of hematology at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology - Montclair State University; Master of Public Health - Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University; Certified Clinical Research Coordinator Certificate - Association for Clinical Research Professionals
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Susan Flavin, PhD, MSN, BSN

Susan Flavin, PhD, MSN, BSN

Research Interests: Rare diseases, repurposing of drugs, the role of patient advocacy in drug development
Background: Although initially educated as a nurse, Susan has over 25 years’ of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, ranging from small-“ish” biotech to big pharma, in the areas of psych, rheumatology, infectious disease, cardiovascular, pulmonary, dermatology and neuroimmunology. As a nurse, she remains committed to remembering that there is a person behind each subject number. Currently, Susan works as senior scientific director, rare diseases, at a mid-size pharma where our work focuses on the development of monoclonal antibodies for immune-mediated rare diseases.
Education: RN - The Chester County Hospital School of Nursing; BSN - Widener University; MSN - University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing; PhD - The Medical University of South Carolina


Natalie Gofman, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Natalie Gofman, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Title: Director, Pharmacology Services at Global Neurosciences Institute
Research Interests: Anticoagulation reversal, stroke, status epilepticus
Background: Abington Memorial Hospital, Capital Health Regional Medical Center


Cynthia Joiner, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN

Cynthia Joiner, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN

Title: Instructor, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Research Interests: Clinical research; research education and training; cardiovascular risk and obesity in children
Background: University of Alabama at Birmingham


Brian Kuhlmann, MBA

Brian Kuhlmann, MBA

Title: Adjunct Instructor
Background: Brian Kuhlmann is currently the assistant director of industry-sponsored clinical trials post-award finance at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. He has nine years' experience negotiating budgets, sixteen years' experience with coverage analysis and managing finance teams. Brian has 17 years of experience in research administration and 19 years of experience in health care administration.


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Milena Kurtinecz, DPhil, MSCE, MA, MSc

Research Interests: Clinical research; drug development; pharmacoepidemiology; evidence-based medicine
Background: GlaxoSmithKline


Colleen P. Lyons, PhD, MBe

Colleen P. Lyons, PhD, MBe

Research Interests: Ethics and bioethics in relation to biopharma; values-driven leadership and VUCA Voice, change transformation and psychological safe
Background: Academic: PhD Values-Driven Leadership, MBe Bioethics (Penn); Professional: CEO, FUEL Leadership Consulting, Sr. Ethics Advisor, Boeing Company; Ethics Officer, Veterans Administration; IBM; Gartner
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Dennis Melamed, MA

Dennis Melamed, MA

Research Interests: Digital health; inequities in healthcare research, regulatory policies governing biomedical and consumer health products; health data use
Background: President, Melamedia, LLC; Editor, Health Information Privacy/Security Alert; Editor, Drug GMP Report; Editor, BioWatch; Editor, Drug & Biologic Guidance Watch; Editor, CRO Industry Watch; Consultant, National Governors Association's State Alliance For E-Health; Washington Correspondent, Business Week; Vice Chair, Board of Governors, National Press Club; Voted best professor in 2022 by the students, faculty and staff in interdisciplinary and career-oriented programs within the Drexel University College of Medicine's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies.
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Margo Michaels, MPH

Margo Michaels, MPH

Research Interests: Clinical trial recruitment and retention, improving accrual practices, community engagement in clinical research, clinical trials communication and education
Background: Health Access and Action Consulting, Founding Executive Director Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials (ENACCT), National Cancer Institute
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Tara Miller, MS, CROM

Tara Miller, MS, CROM

Research Interests: Clinical research; medical devices; vaccines; continuing education
Background: PharmaJet Inc.; Zynex Medical Inc.
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Esther Nkrumah, DHSc, MS

Research Interests: Clinical Research, Orphan Drug Development, Research Compliance and Ethics
Background: Drexel University College of Medicine/Clinical Research Group, GW/Greenwich Pharmaceuticals, Johnson&Johnson, Sanofi- Aventis, Covance, Saint Peter's University Hospital Office of Research, Novartis


Jeffrey Paul, PhD

Jeffrey Paul, PhD

Research Interests: For the past 15 years, Dr. Paul's research interests have been focused on clinical pharmacology aspects of neuropharmacology and the early clinical development of experimental therapeutics. Specifically, his current interest is in developing tools for the de-risking and early decision making for neurological, psychiatric, and pain experimental therapeutics using translation, experimental medicine, and biomarker evaluations. As a clinical pharmacologist, he looks to integrate basic pharmacology principles and clinical approaches into furthering the value of the clinical pharmacology discipline. The platforms that he uses include pharmacogenomics, pharmacometrics, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, translation/biomarkers, and precision medicine (where possible) in early clinical drug development.
Background: Dr. Paul is a clinical pharmacology consultant to the pharmaceutical industry, focusing his practice on the early clinical development of drugs for CNS and pain. Dr. Paul has spent nearly 30 years in pharmaceutical R&D, including discovery, and phase 1 through 4 clinical development phases. He has global clinical and regulatory experience, especially in Europe and Japan. He has worked at Berlex, Pfizer (formerly Wyeth), and Astellas at the executive director/assistant VP level. Dr. Paul has an adjunct faculty appointment at Drexel Medical College (Philadelphia) where he teaches in the graduate Drug Discovery and Development, Neuropharmacology courses, as well as serving as course director for Clinical Pharmacology (i.e Pharmacotherapy) in Drexel’s Clinical Research for Health Professionals Program. Dr. Paul is also active in promoting translation medicine as a member of the Executive Committee of Translation, Clinical Pharmacology Division of Am. Soc. for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET), and the Am. Soc for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT).
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Ronald F. Polizzi, MBA, CRA (Certified Research Administrator)

Ronald F. Polizzi, MBA, CRA (Certified Research Administrator)

Title: Director of Business Operations, Thomas Jefferson University; Associate Director, Contracts, Office of Research Administration, Jefferson Clinical Research Institute
Research Interests: Research Administration, Contracting
Background: University of Pennsylvania, Cooper University Medical Center, RCA/GE
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Gelvina Rodriguez Stevenson, JD, MA

Gelvina Rodriguez Stevenson, JD, MA

Title: Associate General Counsel, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Research Interests: Health law, clinical research, drug development, bioethics
Background: Eisai, Inc., Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City Council
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Dennis Salotti, MS, MBA, CCRA

Dennis Salotti, MS, MBA, CCRA

Title: Sr. Director & Head, Strategic Outsourcing, Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Education: BS Biology, Sacred Heart University; MS Clinical Research Organization Management, Drexel University College of Medicine; MBA, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Research Interests: Clinical operations; clinical outsourcing; vendor management; eClinical technologies; new product development; strategic management
Background: The Avoca Group, WriteResult, 3C Company, Inc., Merck, Pfizer
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H. Anne Smallwood, MS, CCRA

Hillary Anne Smallwood, MS, CCRA

Education: BS in Physics, Grinnell College; MS in CROM, Drexel University College of Medicine
Research Interests: bionic artificial upper limb development; respiratory diseases
Background: Ms. Smallwood has now worked for several decades in the pharmaceutical industry, including early work in cardiovascular medicine, then reproductive medicine, transplant and immunosuppressive medicine, and finally oncology/hematology. During her work with 4 companies, she participated in 14 drug launches, did stints in marketing and training, helped design and operationalize clinical trials, participated in strategic planning, and most enjoyably worked as a senior medical science liaison. She currently works on the board of trustees for LimbitLess (a non-profit developing bionic arms for pediatric and adult patients that will make this prosthetic, now considered a "medical luxury," a common intervention) and advises on pharmacoeconomic development. Smallwood also serves on the Council of National Trustees for National Jewish Health, the number one center in the United States (US News and World Report) for respiratory health research and treatment.
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Erik V. Soliz, MS, CIP

Erik V. Soliz, MS, CIP

Title: Adjunct Faculty, MS Clinical Research Organization & Management (CROM) Program
Background: For the past 18 years Mr. Soliz has worked in the arena of human subject protections. He currently holds a leadership position within the Human Research Protection Program Office at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical (UTSW) Center in Dallas, Texas. He has worked in different settings with a focus on human subject protections that includes academia, private sector, Veterans Affairs medical center, large and small hospital systems, and as a contractor for the Department of Defense. His specific research interest lies in the realm of expanded access for treating single patients with investigational agents.
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William L. Tobia, MS, MBA

William L. Tobia, MS, MBA

Title: Founder and CEO, Clinstruct, Inc.
Research Interests: Clinical research, education, technology
Background: Novartis, Becton Dickinson, Phase Forward, PAREXEL
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Emil Wang, BS, JD

Emil Wang, BS, JD

Title: Senior Advisor for Manufacturing and Regulatory Policy, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Research Interests: FDA regulation and regulatory affairs - product development and premarket approval, manufacturing, inspections, and compliance and enforcement
Background: FDA (Senior Regulatory Counsel, Case Expert, Division Director, Branch Chief, Investigator, and Scientific Reviewer), Private Law Firm (Associate Attorney)

 
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A Clinical Research program graduate student working in the laboratory at Drexel University College of Medicine.