Segal Institute for Clinical Research is a site
management organization specializing in psychiatric, neurological,
medical and women’s health conditions. A 90 member, full-time staff
of principal investigators, sub-investigators, coordinators,
research assistants and doctorate-level raters conducts studies in
outpatient, inpatient, and residential care facilities.
Segal Institute is currently conducting research
trials in 9 different sites in South Florida and Charleston, South
Carolina. Integral to Segal Institute's
success is its centralized operations consisting of regulatory
coordinators, quality assurance and improvement managers, rater
calibration specialists, recruiters, advertising coordinators,
contract managers and call-center.
Founded in 1998, Segal Institute for Clinical
Research was created as a division of Compass Health
Systems, a multi-specialty group practice. Compass Health Systems
is the largest provider of mental health services in South Florida,
currently operating in clinics, residential care facilities,
hospitals and partial hospitalization programs. Compass Health
Systems’ database has grown to over 140,000 patients and Compass’
staff conducts approximately 200,000 visits a year. Compass Health
Systems currently employs a full-time staff of psychiatrists and
other clinicians, including advanced registered nurse practitioners
(ARNPs), psychologists, social workers, specialized counselors and
family practice physicians.
Dr. Scott Segal, co-founder of Segal Institute
and sole founder of Compass Health Systems, is Principal
Investigator for several of Segal Institute’s
trials. Board-Certified in Psychiatry, Neurology and Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Segal has conducted over 200
multi-centered, Phase I-IV clinical studies in outpatient,
inpatient, and residential care facilities settings. Dr. David
Flaherty, Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology, is Principal
Investigator on several Phase I-IV outpatient and inpatient
clinical trials. Dr. Sohail Punjwani, Board-Certified in
Psychiatry, Neurology and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, serves
as Principal Investigator for outpatient and inpatient studies,
Phases I-IV, in Fort Lauderdale and has conducted more than 100
clinical trials. Newer principal investigators include Dr Eduardo
Cifuentes, a Board-Eligible psychiatrist in Psychiatry and
Neurology, and Dr. Steven Lopez, a Board-Certified psychiatrist in
Psychiatry and Neurology and Board-Eligible in Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry. Both Drs. Cifuentes and Lopez are based out of the
Segal Institute Charleston, South Carolina
research site.
In 2007, Segal Institute for Clinical Research established
clinical research offices at Miami Beach Community Health Center
(MBCHC), a multi-centered, fully integrated primary health care
facility founded in 1977. Currently, MBCHC conducts approximately
70,000 outpatient visits annually to a population that is mostly of
Hispanic origin, either at or below the poverty level and
uninsured, underinsured or indigent. Operating out of two of
MBCHC’s locations, Segal Institute conducts women’s health, general
medicine and CNS studies. Dr. Scott Segal and Dr. Samuel Mowerman
serve as Principal Investigator for the CNS studies at the
site.
Segal Institute for Clinical Research’s recruitment team is
capable of enrolling subjects quickly and efficiently.
Adjunctively, through a recent alliance with The Patient Recruiting
Agency (TPRA), Segal Institute’s sophisticated television and radio
advertising strategies are employed throughout the year. Other
advertising efforts include utilizing local mass transit systems,
billboards and newspapers. Each referral is tracked and entered in
Segal Institute for Clinical Research’s extensive HIPAA-compliant
patient database that has grown to over 10,000 patients.
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Scott Segal, M.D., MBA
- President
- Chief Medical Officer
- Co-founder
Dr. Segal, co-founder of Segal Institute and founder of Compass
Health systems, has conducted over 200 studies. Dr. Segal attended
an accelerated biomedical program at Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute before entering the Albany Medical College and receiving
his Medical Doctor degree. He went on to complete his residency and
internship in Psychiatry at the University of Miami School of
Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital. He then entered a two-year
fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry also at the
University of Miami, School of Medicine. He later received his MBA
from the University of Miami. Dr. Segal is a Diplomate of the
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a Diplomate of the
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is a member
in good standing of the Young President’s Organization.
Dr. Segal has extensive background in Psychodynamic
Psychotherapy, Pain Management, Psychopharmacology, Addiction
Treatment including substance abuse and eating disorders, as well
as the evaluation and treatment of Child and Adolescent Disorders.
He has served as the Medical Director of several hospitals,
treatment facilities, and has developed innovative delivery systems
that improve quality and lower costs. Dr. Segal serves as a
consultant to many hospitals, group practices and behavioral health
organizations. Furthermore, he currently serves as the Medical
Director of Atlantic Shores Hospital and sits on advisory boards of
several area hospitals and insurance companies.
Recognized as one of the leading
psychiatrists in South Florida, Dr. Segal resides in
Miami Beach.
Dawn Steinberg, JD
- Chief Operating Officer
- Co-founder
- Secretary/Director of Administrative Operations
As chief operating officer and co-founder of Segal Institute,
Ms. Steinberg is responsible for the daily operations of the site.
She is a Florida-licensed attorney since 1986, and has over 10
years of management experience in the psychiatric service industry.
Ms. Steinberg has helped to manage over 100 clinical and
administrative staff members to ensure the smooth performance of
clinical research studies in inpatient, outpatient, and nursing
home settings. She is currently responsible for managing operations
and staff in over 10 South Florida and South Carolina settings.
Bonnie Segal, B.S
- Vice President
- Director of New Business Development
- Co-founder
Bonnie Segal, Vice President and co-founder of Segal Institute,
has 14 years of experience starting and managing healthcare
practices. Since founding Segal Institute in 1998, Mrs. Segal is
routinely asked to consult nationally on a variety of topics
related to recruitment and implementation of clinical research
studies. Mrs. Segal is responsible for identifying and fostering
new study opportunities for SICR. She also is responsible for the
marketing and advertising of Segal Institute's studies.
Renee L. Bell, B.A.
- Quality Control Coordinator
- Inpatient Site Director
Ms. Bell began her research at Albany Veterans Administration
Medical Center in 1986. Since that time, she has been responsible
for quality assurance, coordinating, rating, recruiting, and
training staff in the clinical research industry. In the past 20
years, Ms. Bell has been involved in over 500 CNS clinical trials.
Ms. Bell joined Segal Institute for Clinical Research in 2001,
shortly after the company was founded. In the 6 years Ms. Bell has
been with Segal Institute for Clinical Research, she has been
promoted from Coordinator to Lead Inpatient Coordinator, to her
current role of Quality Control Manager. As QC Manager, she is
responsible for meeting all of Segal Institute for Clinical
Research QA/QC goals and managing all SICR QC staff. Her role
includes continuous communication with sponsors, investigators, and
clinical staff. All monitoring reports and Internal QC reports are
submitted to her so that she can make decisions on any necessary
training that may be required and can follow up on any
inconsistencies that may have been noted. Ms. Bell has worked
diligently to create and maintain a constant dialogue with both
project managers and monitors so that the sponsor or CRO has
automatic access to our QA team and we are able to suggest new
procedures (SOP’s) and identify any training needs as they arise.
She is currently completing a video training library to offer a
more efficient and consistent manner of training new employees.
Nicole M. Nicastro-Maggio, LMHC
- Quality Assurance Coordinator
Mrs. Nicole M. Nicastro-Maggio, a Florida-licensed Mental Health
Counselor, has 14 years of Quality Assurance experience. She was
Director of Utilization Review and Triage at a local South Florida
psychiatric and substance abuse facility for 10 years. During that
time, she also managed the Clinical Services Department. She was
the Director of a local Partial Hospitalization program for 3
years, with the primary focus of maintaining quality assurance
established by Medicare. Her primary responsibility is to complete
special projects that are chosen by the Director of Clinical
Operations, Director of Administrative Operations and the Quality
Control Manager.
Ivy Leslie-Blease, B.A.
- Director of Regulatory Affairs
Ms. Leslie-Blease started her clinical research career in 1986
at the University of Miami, Department of Medicine as an IRB
Coordinator. After over 12 years at the University of Miami, Ms.
Leslie-Blease joined Segal Institute shortly after its founding in
1998. As part of her responsibilities, she submits all regulatory
documents for IRB approval, completes IRB required reviews, and
reports SAE’s to IRB. Ms. Leslie-Blease was appointed Director of
Regulatory Affairs in 2006, and is responsible for the preparations
and filings of research materials for submissions to Local and
Central IRBs that comply with current applicable federal, state,
and local standards.
Maryan Negron
- Director of Marketing and Advertising
Ms. Negron embarked on her clinical research career at Segal
Institute in 2002 where she began as a Regulatory Coordinator.
Since she joined Segal Institute 7 years ago, Ms. Negron has been
promoted to Director of Marketing and Advertising. Her
responsibilities include identifying and fostering new study
opportunities for SICR, and contracting with Contract Research
organizations (CROs) and pharmaceutical sponsors for such
opportunities.
Wilson Burke, B.A.
Mr. Burke began his research career at Segal Institute for
Clinical Research in 2003. Since that time he has either lead or
assisted on over 80 clinical trials. Because of his extensive
administrative experience in clinical settings, Mr. Burke was
promoted to Site Director in 2005. His duties include monitoring
staff performance, develop positive relationships with sponsors,
insuring sound logistical and enforce quality control processes. In
his 4 years at Segal Institute for Clinical Research, Mr. Burke is
also responsible for coordinating, new site development, and
quality assurance training.
Olia Nayor, B.S.
Mrs. Nayor began her research career in 2001 as a research
assistant at Segal Institute for Clinical Research. Since 2002, she
has been a lead coordinator for over 100 trials. In 2006 her roles
expanded to include both quality assurance associate and inpatient
site director for several of the SICR inpatient facilities. Her
responsibilities include coordinating ongoing communication with
Sponsors, Investigators and clinical staff, as well as chart review
on a company wide scope, and patient recruitment/retention.
Gustavo Rodriguez, B.A.
Mr. Rodriguez began his research career at the University of
Florida with the Department of Neurology in 1996. Since that time,
he has been the lead coordinator for over 70 clinical trials, has
served as a rater training consultant, and recruitment and
retention speaker. Mr. Rodriguez joined Segal Institute for
Clinical Research in 2000, and in the past 7 years, has been
responsible for coordinating, new site development, and quality
assurance training.
Complementing the management team, is a research team
consisting of 6 principal investigators, 9 clinical research
coordinators, 7 research assistants, 3 licensed and certified
raters, recruiters and administrative staff.
RESEARCH STAFF
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Central Nervous System
Scott Segal, M.D., MBA
- President
- Chief Medical Officer
- Co-founder
Dr. Segal, co-founder of Segal Institute and founder of Compass
Health systems, has conducted over 200 studies. Dr. Segal attended
an accelerated biomedical program at Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute before entering the Albany Medical College and receiving
his Medical Doctor degree. He went on to complete his residency and
internship in Psychiatry at the University of Miami School of
Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital. He then entered a two-year
fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry also at the
University of Miami, School of Medicine. He later received his MBA
from the University of Miami. Dr. Segal is a Diplomate of the
American Board of Psychiatry and
Neurology and a Diplomate of the American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is a
member in good standing of the Young President’s Organization.
Dr. Segal has extensive background in Psychodynamic
Psychotherapy, Pain Management, Psychopharmacology, Addiction
Treatment including substance abuse and eating disorders, as well
as the evaluation and treatment of Child and Adolescent Disorders.
He has served as the Medical Director of several hospitals,
treatment facilities, and has developed innovative delivery systems
that improve quality and
lower costs. Dr. Segal serves as a
consultant to many hospitals, group practices and behavioral health
organizations. Furthermore, he currently serves as the Medical
Director of Atlantic Shores Hospital and sits on advisory boards of
several area hospitals and insurance companies. Furthermore, along
with Dr. Flaherty, Dr. Segal has been granted the appropriate
waiver by the DEA to provide opiate addiction treatment. As a
result of having access to these sorts of patients, Segal Institute
is now capable of conducting a variety of addiction studies.
Recognized as one of the leading
psychiatrists in South Florida, Dr. Segal resides in
Miami Beach.
Sohail Punjwani, MD
- Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology
- Board-Certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Conducted over 100 Phase I-IV clinical trials in outpatient and
inpatient facilities
Dr. Punjwani, Medical Director of Compass Health Systems, has
conducted over 100 studies as an investigator. Dr. Punjwani
completed his internship, residency, and fellowship at Jackson
Memorial and University of Miami. He started his practice in
psychiatry in 1991. Dr. Punjwani has directorial experience at
various rehabilitation centers in South Florida, and is currently
the acting Medical Director of Research at Ft. Lauderdale
Hospital’s adult and adolescent units.
David H. Flaherty, DO
- Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology
- Conducted over 110 Phase I-IV clinical trials in outpatient and
inpatient facilities
With over five years of experience as a Clinical Research
Investigator for Segal Institute, Dr. Flaherty has conducted over
110 studies within that period. Dr. Flaherty completed his training
at University of Iowa Hospital. In addition to his work in clinical
research, Dr. Flaherty maintains an extremely active inpatient and
outpatient practice; he is currently the Medical Director of
FirstLantic Healthcare. Furthermore, along with Dr. Segal, Dr.
Flaherty has been granted the appropriate waiver by the DEA to
provide opiate addiction treatment. As a result of having access to
these sorts of patients, Segal Institute is now capable of
conducting a variety of studies.
Steven G. Lopez, MD
- Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology
- Specialty in Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry
- Conducted over 17 inpatient CNS clinical drug trials
Dr. Lopez has over 15 years clinical practice experience in
inpatient and outpatient psychiatry. In addition to his research
activities, Dr. Lopez is Chief Medical Officer of Palmetto
Lowcountry Behavioral Health, Charleston, South Carolina. Dr.
Lopez’s research experience includes National Institute of Mental
Health funded research of Multisystemic Therapy. He has conducted
17 inpatient CNS clinical drug trials.
Eduardo Cifuentes, MD
- Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology
- Conducted approximately 20 CNS clinical trials
Since completing his residency and internship in psychiatry at
the University of Kentucky in 2004, Dr. Cifuentes has practiced
mainly in inpatient psychiatric settings. He is currently a staff
psychiatrist at Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health in
Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Cifuentes’ previous research
experience includes safety and pharmacokinetic research with
children, adolescents and adults. In his capacity as investigator
for Segal Institute, Dr. Cifuentes conducts inpatient adult CNS
clinical trials.
Women’s Health / General Medicine
Steven E. Chavoustie, M.D.,
FACOG
Board-Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Principal Investigators for 10 clinical trials, 6 for which he has
written the protocol and submitted for IRB approval
Dr. Chavoustie is a native of Miami, Florida and graduated from
the University of Miami with a BS degree in chemistry. He attended
the University of Miami Medical School and completed his internship
and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology as the Administrative
Chief Resident at Jackson Memorial Hospital. In 1987, he was
appointed Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and
Gynecology.
Dr. Chavoustie holds a dual appointment at the University of
Miami Miller School of Medicine both as voluntary assistant
professor of obstetrics and gynecology and in medical education. He
teaches clinical skills, provides didactic lectures in obstetrics
and gynecology and directs the clinical pelvic and breast exam
module for all second year medical students. He has been voted one
of the “ best teachers” by the medical students for three
consecutive years.
Dr. Chavoustie is the medical director of a non-profit
organization, called “Medical Students in Action” that offers
medical care and education to the underserved communities in the
rural areas of the Dominican Republic. He travels yearly with his
medical students where he evaluates and treats over 900 patients
during the week.
He now joins the Segal Institute for Clinical Research as a
principal investigator and is currently PI on 10 clinical trials, 6
for which he has written the protocols and submitted for IRB
approval.
Sub-Investigators
Judith Montero, PsyD
Dr. Judith Montero has over eight years of experience conducting
psychological testing, neuropsychological assessments and
counseling. She obtained her Doctorate degree in Clinical
Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology from the Miami
Institute of Psychology, and received two Masters degrees in
Counseling and Clinical Psychology from the same institution. She
designed and presented a program for ADD college students and
completed her post-doctoral training conducting neuropsychological
assessments on patients with head injuries and other neurological
disorders. At Segal Institute, Dr. Montero concentrates her
practice on both in-patient out and out-patient drug trials,
specializing on mental health disorders including substance abuse
and dependency. She is responsible for assessing the psychological
history and diagnosis of patients, while conducting efficacy rating
scales. Being fully bilingual, Dr. Montero is able to assess
Spanish-speaking patients. Dr. Montero also works in conjunction
with the principal investigator to ensure the effectiveness of
protocols.
Christine Bougard, PhD
Dr. Bougard received both her Masters and Doctorate of Health
Psychology from Yeshiva University in New York. She interned at The
Institute of Neurology at North Broward Medical Center in Pompano
Beach, Florida, and her post-doctoral work was in the assessment,
cognitive rehabilitation and community re-entry of various
neuropsychiatric populations. With more than 12 years of clinical
experience and more than 5 years in clinical research trials in
adult and child psychiatric and addiction populations, she plays an
integral role in maintaining and promoting the consistently high
caliber ratings for which Segal Institute is known.
Julie L.. Marsh, PhD
Dr. Julie Marsh is a licensed psychologist specializing in
psychological evaluations and behavioral ratings in psychiatric and
neurologic populations. Dr. Marsh has published research abstracts
in psychological evaluation, pediatric behavioral medicine, and
clinical neuropsychology, and has presented her research at the
annual meetings of the American Psychological Association and the
National Academy of Neuropsychology. As a sub-investigator and
rater at Segal Institute Dr. Marsh evaluates subjects in clinical
research trials involving psychiatric, neurologic, and substance
use disorders.
Briana Webber-Lind, Psy.D
Dr. Briana Webber-Lind has ten years of clinical experience; six
of those years include formal psychological assessment experience
in both the psychiatric and neuropsychological arenas. She earned a
Master's degree in Clinical/Community Mental Health Psychology
from Western Illinois University and a Master’s and a Doctoral
degree in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of
Professional Psychology. She completed her internship with the
Veteran’s Administration in Dallas, TX, working with working with
individuals with disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,
Schizophrenia, and major medical illnesses. Since joining the Segal
Institute in 2005, Dr. Webber-Lind has rated subjects for clinical
research trials involving several DSM-IV diagnoses, including
substance use disorders. Recently, she has been named as Principal
Investigator for an ongoing trial for Schizoaffective Disorder.
Wendy Cisneros, Psy.D
Dr. Wendy Cisneros is a Florida-Licensed psychologist with over
11 years clinical experience in working with various populations,
including children, adolescents , adults, and geriatrics. She
obtained her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Carlos Albizu
University in the field of clinical psychology with a concentration
in neuropsychology. Dr. Cisneros completed her internship at the
Neurological Institute at North Broward Medical Center where she
gained valuable knowledge in performing psychological assessments
with geriatrics and those suffering from traumatic brain injuries.
She presently performs the role of clinical rater and
sub-investigator for Segal Institute for Clinical Research as part
of ongoing drug trials in the areas of psychiatric disorders as
well as substance abuse/dependence.
Antonio M. Hernandez, Psy.D
Dr. Antonio M. Hernandez is has over 7 years clinical experience
in working with various populations, including children,
adolescents, adults, and geriatrics. He obtained his Master’s and
Doctoral degrees from Carlos Albizu University in the field of
clinical psychology with a concentration in neuropsychology. Dr.
Hernandez completed his internship at the Neurological Institute at
North Broward Medical Center where he gained valuable knowledge in
performing psychological assessments with geriatrics and those
suffering from traumatic brain injuries. He presently performs the
role of clinical rater and sub-investigator for Segal Institute for
Clinical Research as part of ongoing drug trials in the areas of
psychiatric disorders as well as substance abuse/dependence.
Karen Slawson, Ph.D. (ABD), MA,
LPC
Karen Slawson is a licensed professional counselor with more
than 13 years clinical experience in the treatment of various
psychological disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,
major depression, and post traumatic stress disorder. She spent
nine years providing psychological diagnosis and treatment for
active duty military members, four of those years included
providing psychological fitness for duty evaluations for Marine
Corps recruits. Karen earned a Master’s degree in clinical
psychology from Webster University and has currently completed all
coursework for her Ph.D. She has worked as a clinical research
coordinator for the Department of Veterans Affairs, administering
various psychological assessments. Since joining Segal Institute,
she has performed assessments for children and adults in clinical
research trials.
