Gerencia senior
Dan Duffy
Chief Executive Officer
Dan Duffy is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience spanning biopharma, provider, and payor services in the life science and healthcare industries. He has focused his expertise on clinical research site platforms, serving as both a Board member and an executive leader, where he has been instrumental in steering organizational growth and innovation.
Dan’s leadership extends into regulatory and commercial strategy, market access, patient support programs in oncology and rare diseases, as well as digital health and private equity firm search and strategic due diligence.
As a committed advocate of people-centered leadership, Dan is dedicated to cultivating differentiated organizational cultures that prioritize strategic organic growth and mergers and acquisitions. His approach effectively supports team member development on both personal and professional levels, while delivering elevated patient outcomes in areas with
unmet medical needs.
Beyond healthcare, Dan’s versatile career includes leadership roles in operations, corporate finance, strategic planning, business development, and mergers and acquisitions across various industries. He is equally passionate about social entrepreneurship, actively engaging in ventures aimed at enhancing global health and wellness.
Dan holds a Bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, equipping him with a solid foundation to drive meaningful impact in the healthcare sector and beyond.
Eli Alford
Chief Operating Officer
Eli Alford is Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Pinnacle Clinical Research. Eli served 26 years as a combat arms leader and in research and analysis roles in the U.S. Army, retiring as a colonel.
His second professional chapter has been in management consulting on federal contracts and operational leadership roles in the clinical research industry, starting with INC Research (now Syneos Health).
Prior to Pinnacle, Eli served for eight years as a COO, first with Schulman Associates IRB (now Advarra) and then with Elligo Health Research, a clinical research site network integrated with healthcare.
His qualifications include Six Sigma Blackbelt and Certified IRB Professional. He received a BA from the Virginia Military Institute, MS from the University of Southern California, and was a National Security Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Dra. Rashmee Patil
Hepatologist & Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Patil is a fellowship-trained Hepatologist, Principal Investigator on over 60 clinical trials in MASLD/MASH, and Founder of South Texas Research Institute (STRI), the premier private clinical research site network originating in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Beginning as one site and five employees in 2020, STRI grew to 2 locations and over 30 team members in 2022. STRI partnered with Pinnacle Clinical Research in 2022, and Dr. Patil served as CEO of the combined entity from 2022-2024.
During this time, Pinnacle grew from 5 to 13 wholly owned sites and expanded its geographic reach through M&A in New Jersey and Nevada – this expansion came with significant organic revenue growth under her leadership. In late 2024, Dr. Patil stepped into the role of Chief Medical Officer and is leading the organization’s physician/investigator teams through the next phase of growth and transformation. Pinnacle Clinical Research is the leading clinical research network in the field of Hepatology in the US and was founded by Dr. Stephen Harrison in 2016.
As a Hepatologist, her focus is on MASLD/MASH, non-invasive testing, preventative health, and racial/socioeconomic disparities in liver disease. As a clinical trialist, her focus is on building a physician community of investigators and improving awareness about this career path, increasing accessibility to clinical trials for patients living outside of the boundaries of academic centers, and improving site-Sponsor relationships. She is an active member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease and has published in major journals such as the NEJM, Hepatology, Lancet, and Nature.
Michelle Papka, Ph.D.
Director Científico del SNC
La Dra. Michelle Papka es una respetada líder intelectual en EA que cuenta con más de 30 años de experiencia combinada como investigadora y médica especializada en el campo del envejecimiento, la enfermedad de Alzheimer y la demencia. Ha ejercido como neuropsicóloga, psicoterapeuta e investigadora, y se ha desempeñado como investigadora principal en más de 35 ensayos clínicos recientes para la enfermedad de Alzheimer y el deterioro cognitivo relacionado con la edad. La Dra. Papka ha publicado numerosas publicaciones sobre su trabajo y es una oradora pública activa, editora invitada, revisora de subvenciones, consultora y miembro de comités de múltiples organizaciones y publicaciones especializadas en el campo del envejecimiento y la enfermedad de Alzheimer.
Acerca de CRCNJ
Fundada en 2009 y con sede en Springfield, Nueva Jersey, CRCNJ es una red líder de investigación clínica sobre el SNC con sede en el noreste, centrada en la EA. CRCNJ opera un sitio en Springfield, Nueva Jersey, y actualmente está abriendo su segundo sitio en Ridgewood, Nueva Jersey. La reputación de CRCNJ por su atención de alta calidad es un factor fundamental de las derivaciones de pacientes en el espacio del SNC, tradicionalmente difícil de reclutar.
Diana R. Kerwin, MD, CPI
Director Médico del SNC
La Dra. Diana Kerwin es una líder de opinión clave con más de 20 años de experiencia en el Alzheimer y la investigación cognitiva. Anteriormente trabajó en el mundo académico en el mundialmente famoso Centro de Neurología Cognitiva y Enfermedad de Alzheimer de la Universidad Northwestern y ahora es profesora asistente adjunta en la Universidad. del Centro Médico Texas Southwestern. Está certificada por la Junta en Medicina Interna y Geriatría, y es la investigadora principal en ensayos clínicos de fase I, II y III para el desarrollo de terapias para el Alzheimer y demencias relacionadas, como la parálisis supranuclear progresiva (PSP) y la enfermedad de cuerpos de Lewy (LBD). y estudios financiados por los NIH para la prevención de la demencia de Alzheimer.
Acerca del Centro Médico Kerwin
Fundado en 2019 y con sede en Dallas, Texas, Kerwin Medical Center es una red de investigación clínica líder con una reputación establecida por su inscripción superior y atención al paciente para estudios complejos del SNC con un enfoque en la EA. KMC se fundó en Dallas y se está expandiendo al sur de Dallas con la apertura de un sitio en Oak Cliff.
André De León, CPA
director financiero
Margaret Leal, MS, CCRC
Vice President of Corporate Development
Mónica Garza, CCRC
Vicepresidente de Cumplimiento
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