Spring 2008 - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

An Investment
Memorial Medical Group’s
in Our Future Clinical Research Institute
Memorial’s highly successful and
growing Clinical Research
Institute (CRI) continues to
make great strides in the
advancement of medicine.
“We’re no longer the new kids on
the block,” says Kim Emmons,
R.N., nurse manager of Memorial’s
Clinical Research Institute. “We’ve
established ourselves as a highquality,
nationally recognized
research department.”
Just three years since its inception,
the CRI has developed a national
reputation, with pharmaceutical
and research companies courting
Memorial’s physicians—instead
of the other way around.
“Clinical research is not only good
for Memorial as an organization, it’s
very positive for patients and the
greater community as well,” says
G. Larsen Kneller, M.D., medical
director at LaPorte Medical Group.
Those who attempt to qualify for
a trial receive a complete physical,
follow-up exams, lab work,
procedures and medicine, free
of charge. Even those who don’t
qualify for the trial walk away
with valuable health information.
“A national company recently
came to us because they wanted
to work with Memorial
Interventional Radiologist
Gerard Duprat, M.D., to test an
investigational stent device for
aortic aneurysms,” says Emmons.
“Nicholas Straniero, M.D., has also
made a name for himself nationally
as the lead enrolling investigator on
a rheumatoid arthritis study.
Research companies are seeking us
out as a research center now.”
“It’s a continued growth situation
for us as health care providers,”
says Emmons. “Not only are
physicians and nurses increasing
their knowledge, they’re also giving
their patients the opportunity to
receive cutting-edge medicine.”
“I appreciate the quality nursing
time spent with patients during
the course of their participation,”
says Clinical Research Nurse
LuAnn Tracey, R.N., when speaking
about her own experiences with
clinical research.
Memorial Health System is also
establishing itself as a high quality
HIV/AIDS study center with
Brandon Zabukovic, M.D.
“We were involved in a study
looking at patches to treat HIVassociated
peripheral neuropathy,”
says Dr. Zabukovic. “HIV is
interesting because it is intellectually
stimulating from a complexity issue.
HIV patients have unique and
rare complications.”
Brandon Zabukovic, M.D., sees patients at Memorial
Neighborhood Health Center – Central Clinic.
“These wide-ranging clinical trials
bring new knowledge and expertise
to our physicians and into the
community, providing people with
more advanced care,” says Michael
Gordon, executive director of
Memorial Medical Group. “We
want to provide for our diverse
community by doing whatever we
can to make them healthier, now
and into the future.”
Think you might be interested in
participating in a clinical trial
See the latest ongoing trials by visiting
www.qualityoflife.org/clinicalresearch or
by calling 574-647-7883.
SPRING / SUMMER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
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