Providers
Rashmee Patil, MD
CEO and Principal Investigator
Specialty: Hepatology, Internal Medicine
- Principal Investigator for over 100 research studies in the areas of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Founder of South Texas Research Institute, the premier clinical research site network of the Rio Grande Valley
- Director of the Hepatology Department at DHR Liver & Transplant Institute
Madhavi Rudraraju, MD
Medical Director of Phase 1
and Central Texas
Specialties: Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology
Education: Andhra Medical College, 2001
Residency: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 2006
Fellowship:
Transplant Hepatology at Mayo Clinic – Arizona, 2007
Gastroenterology and Hepatology at University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, 2010
Practicing Since: 2010
Certifications/Publications: Over 6 original publications in peer-reviewed journals and 4 publications worldwide. 3 board certifications, and over 2 years of research support in the areas of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
Provider Background: Dr. Rudraraju is a board certified hepatologist with over 12 years of practice. Throughout her career she has had tremendous positions, including:
Medical Director of Methodist Liver Disease and Transplant Program VNOS Director
Medical Executive Committee as Chief of Transplant service line
Clinical Review Committee
Physician Advisory Committee
Active member of American Medical Association, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterology Association, and the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL).
Dr. Rudraraju has been with Pinnacle since 2020 and has formed a multitude of relationships with San Antonio’s physicians and experts to raise awareness of liver disease and find a treatment for the patients that need it most.
Michelle Papka, Ph.D.
CNS Scientific Director
Principal Investigator
Dr. Michelle Papka is a respected thought leader in AD who has over 30 years combined experience as a researcher and clinician specializing in the field of aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. She has practiced as a neuropsychologist, psychotherapist, and researcher, and has served as a Principal Investigator on more than 35 recent clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive impairment. Dr. Papka has had numerous publications of her work and is an active public speaker, invited editor, grant reviewer, consultant, and committee member of multiple specialized organizations and publications in the field of aging and Alzheimer’s Disease.
About CRCNJ
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Springfield, New Jersey, CRCNJ is a leading Northeast-based CNS clinical research network with a focus on AD. CRCNJ operates one site in Springfield, New Jersey, and is currently opening its second site location in Ridgewood, New Jersey. CRCNJ’s reputation for top quality care is a core driver of patient referrals in the traditionally difficult-to-recruit CNS space.
Diana R. Kerwin, MD, CPI
CNS Medical Director
Principal Investigator
Dr. Diana Kerwin is a leading Key Opinion Leader with over 20 years of experience in Alzheimer’s and cognitive research, who was previously in academia at the world-renowned Northwestern University Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Center and is now an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, and is the principal investigator on phase I, II, and III clinical trials for the development of therapeutics in Alzheimer’s and related dementias such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy(PSP), Lewy Body disease (LBD) and NIH-funded studies for the prevention of Alzheimer’s dementia.
About Kerwin Medical Center
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Kerwin Medical Center is a leading clinical research network with an established reputation for superior enrollment and patient care for complex CNS studies with a focus on AD. KMC was founded in Dallas and is expanding to south Dallas with a site opening in Oak Cliff.
Dimple Patel Desai, MD
PI & South Texas Medical Director
Brownsville, TX
- Expertise in obesity medicine, integrative medicine, and behavioral health
- Award-winning author of “The Lambda Factor”
Mary Margaret Ara, MD
Principal Investigator
Specialty: Family Medicine
Medical Education: The University of Texas at Austin; The University of Texas Medical School at Houston (McGovern School of Medicine)
Residency: Christus Spohn Family Medicine Residency Program Corpus Christi
Practicing Since: 2011
Certification/publications: Board Certified by American Board of Family Medicine
Provider Background: Dr. Ara is a native of South Texas. She has worked for more than a decade in the Corpus Christi area, providing inpatient and outpatient care to a diverse population of patients. She has been involved with residency education and has served on numerous hospital committees and boards during her time in Corpus. Dr. Ara is passionate about preventative measures and counseling her patients on ways they can help prevent disease progression and how to identify early signs of medical comorbidities. Dr. Ara joins Pinnacle with a desire to work to identify potential treatments for metabolic syndrome associated liver disease and improve quality of life for her patients.
Hobbies: When not at the office, Dr. Ara loves to spend time with her husband Reagan and their three children. They enjoy rooting on their Texas Longhorns! And as a child of ranchers, she enjoys being outdoors, working cattle and riding horses.
Nirupama Esther Jerome,
DNP, FNP-C
Principal Investigator
Austin, TX
Education: Doctor of Nursing Practice, Purdue university, West Lafayette, Indiana
Background: From her hometown in India, Esther is multi-lingual to include: english, telugu and tamil. She comes from a previous background in internal medicine, hospitalist, orthopedic surgery, cardiology, and cardio thoracic surgery.
Memberships/Certifications:
- Certificate in post-graduate cardiothoracic nursing and operation theatre technique and management
- Member of American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, The Association of Clinical Research Professionals, Austin Advanced Practice Nurses, and Texas DNP
Provider Quote: To provide patient-centered care with excellence so patients are empowered and motivated to achieve their health care goals.
Rohit Puskoor, MD
Principal Investigator
Georgetown & Austin
Education: Baylor College of Medicine
Practicing since: 2012
Specialty: Internal Medicine, Hospital Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
As the new Principal Investigator at the Austin and Georgetown PCR locations, Dr. Puskoor hopes to broaden awareness regarding the prevalence and risks of fatty liver disease and the benefits of participating in clinical research.
Hobbies: In his free time, Dr. Puskoor likes to run!
He has snagged personal records for 5K (Houston – 23:56), Half Marathon (Houston – 1:47:49), and 10K (Las Vegas – 50:07).
Lauren Jones, MPAS, PA-C
Sub-Investigator
San Antonio, TX
Master of Physician Assistant Studies at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Shalene Thomas, MPAS, PA-C
Sub-Investigator
San Antonio, TX
MPAS at the University of Texas Health at San Antonio.
Ana Diaz, MPAS, PA-C
Sub-Investigator
San Antonio, TX
Education: BBA Finance at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
MPAS at the University of Texas Health San Antonio
Background: Ana comes from a family medicine and research background. She has previously worked for the Alliance for Health Policy in Washington, DC, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, and UT Health San Antonio Community Pediatrics. She is NCCPA certified and a bilingual spanish speaker.
Provider Quote: Striving to empower patients to live a healthier life and acquire knowledge to better manage their health conditions.
Travis Kenney, FNP-C
Sub-Investigator
Austin, TX
Education: Texas Woman’s University, Dallas, Texas
Background: From the hometown of Arlington, Texas, Travis previously worked as an ED RN and as a NP in outpatient neurology.
Provider Quote: To educate patients and to help patients achieve their health goals.
Graciela Marje,
MSN, FNP-BC
Sub-Investigator
Edinburg, TX
San Juanita Salinas-Avila
MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CPON
Sub-Investigator
Edinburg, TX
Education: Bachelors of Science in Nursing – University of Texas Brownsville
Masters of Science in Nursing – Chamberlin University
Background: San Juanita (Janie) Salinas-Avila is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She is born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley and is Bilingual (English and Spanish). She joins Pinnacle with 23 years experience (Registered Nurse since 2001 and Nurse Practitioner since 2017). Janie started her work in Hepatology and Sub-Investigator role in 2019. She is a Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse, Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider Instructor and is involved in various Global Outreach projects for Latin American countries. Janie has practiced at MD Anderson Cancer Center/Children’s Cancer Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital and DHR Health. Besides Pediatric Oncology, Janie has also practiced in Adult Oncology, Gynecology Oncology, Home Health and Hospice, Regulatory Quality and Compliance, Nursing Education, Women’s Health Services and served in Administration Roles as Departmental Director.
Provider Quote: “Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live” – Jim Rohn
Alyssa Gutierrez
MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Sub-Investigator
Brownsville, TX
Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing – University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley
Master of Science in Nursing – Angelo State University
Background: Alyssa Gutierrez was born and raised in Brownsville, TX. She is a board-certified nurse practitioner with a background in medical surgical care, stroke care, kidney transplant, quality management, and education. She joins Pinnacle with 8 years of combined nursing and NP experience. Alyssa is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Provider Quote: I make every effort to meet patients where they are and provide education in a way that is easy to understand. I want every patient to feel empowered to take control of their health!
Karina Rubio
MPAS, PA-C
Sub-Investigator
San Antonio, TX
Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology at St. Mary’s University
Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Background: Karina comes from a clinical background in community health and family medicine. She believes in providing compassionate care through health promotion and counseling. Karina is NCCPA board certified and a bilingual Spanish speaker.
Provider Quote: I value the importance of providing culturally competent, patient-centered care to help patients achieve their health goals.
Hobbies: In her free time, Karina enjoys spending time with family and traveling.
Anthony Derencius
MPAS, PA-C
Sub-Investigator
San Antonio, TX
Education: Bachelor of Science: University of Nebraska – Medical Center
Master of Physician Assistant Studies: University of Nebraska – Medical Center
Background: Anthony is a former U.S. Army medic and a 2010 honor graduate of the military’s Interservice Physician Assistant Program. During his 11 years in the Army, he provided care to patients and soldiers around the world, including deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.
After leaving the Army, PA-C Derencius focused his clinical career in the gastroenterology and hepatology field. He has worked in private practice GI in Hawaii and in both general and transplant hepatology in San Antonio, gaining extensive outpatient and inpatient experience. In 2024, he joined Pinnacle Clinical Research, bringing a wealth of clinical expertise.
In 2018, he completed a one-year American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) Foundation NP/PA Clinical Hepatology Fellowship. He is also an active member of several medical societies, including the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and AASLD.
Provider Quote: “Do what is right by the patient. Treat everyone like they are a member of my family, and keep their health as the most important focus”.
Hobbies: Spending time with family, traveling to new places, enjoying nature, exercising, playing recreational hockey.
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