Staff
Directors
Kathy Taylor: Managing Director
Douglas J. Pearce, M.D.: Medical Director
Team Leaders
Lynn Peterson: Business Operations Team Leader
Jane F. Jackson, MSN, RN: Clinical Team Leader
Research Nurse Coordinators
Kristie Hayes, MSN, C-FNP
Mitzi Baker, MSN, RN
Jan Dunn, RN, MSN, CCRN
Pamela Holzmer, RN
Sean Johnson, RN
Erin Kenna, RN
Jodi Pogue, RN, BA
Becky Duncan, RN
Sherry Bowman, RN
Denetra Smith, RN
Cathy Shell, RN
Clinical Research Coordinators
Cindy Beesley, BA
Rachel Donegan
Kim Owens, MPH, CCRP
Regulatory Specialists
Martha Green, CPS, CIM
Laura Lawson
Secretary
Megan Estrada-Rardin
Research Assistant
Scott Kennedy
History
In 2000, Saint Thomas Hospital formally introduced the Research Institute as a department dedicated to clinical research. Since then, the Research Institute has advanced Saint Thomas Health Services’ mission, working effectively with sponsors, physicians and patients to improve the health of the communities we serve. In 2007, the Research Institute became a free-standing entity under Saint Thomas Health Services, a network comprised of four community hospitals in Middle Tennessee.
Goals
- To investigate treatments that lead to better healthcare outcomes.
- To forge strong physician relationships where we treat the sponsor as the client.
- To be the research facility of choice for sponsors and patients.
- To be nationally recognized as the model for a community-based research facility.
- To provide cutting edge treatment to our patients.
What We Do
Saint Thomas Research Institute is a community-based clinical research site based in Nashville, Tennessee. Focused on high quality research practices, the Institute works effectively with sponsors, physicians, and patients to improve the health of the community through our conduct of research. Acting as a partner and system-wide resource, the Research Institute launches studies and enrolls patients quickly, which allows physicians to spend more time with their patients.
How We're Different
- Community Based: Unlike many academic research settings, Saint Thomas Research Institute is part of a community-based hospital system, focused on integrating clinical research and standard patient care in the most cost-effective way possible.
- Network Affiliation: We utilize Saint Thomas Health Services’ four regional hospitals and affiliated physicians among numerous specialties.
- Patient-Focused: Abiding by our mission, we specialize in community-based healthcare that focuses on clinical research with patients. We test drugs, devices, and treatments that are both in early development phases or nearing FDA approval.
- Resources: We manage and oversee the entire clinical trial process from protocol review to study close. Our internal team, including physicians, business administrators, research coordinators, regulatory specialists and support staff, works effectively with outside parties, such as Clinical Research Organizations and Review Boards, to launch and coordinate clinical research trials and enroll patients quickly. This allows for better patient-physician interaction and creates better healthcare outcomes.
