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The Villages, FL
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Meet The Team

Investigators

Craig Curtis, MD

Chief Medical Officer & Principal Investigator

Cheryl Klenow, MD

Principal Investigator

Ruth Paiano, APRN, CPI

Principal Investigator

Clinical Team

Cori Ackerman

Psychometric Rater

Graham Alrutz

Clinical Research Assistant

Christian Beierschmitt

Director of Clinical Operations

Miranda Calaverne

Project Manager III

Mea Escobedo

Project Manager

Elma Fallejo

Project Manager

Christopher Curtis

Recruitment Specialist

Jenna Meador

Psychometric Rater

Kylie Webster

Clinical Research Assistant

Nandini Sharma

Clinical Research Assistant

Donald Berisford

PRN

Mike Sadler

PRN

Administrative Team

Sandra Torres, BSN

Executive Director of Patient Engagement, Marketing, & Diversity

Carlos Baez, MD

Director of Laboratory Services

Candace Baird

Director of Regulatory

Kristen Grube

Director of Quality and Compliance

Michelle Montone

Director of Marketing

Stephanie Cassidy

Director of Clinical Initiatives & Community Affairs

Lyle Brosey

Director of Accounting

Gina Cedano

Recruitment Manager

Bradley Alexander MBA

Clinical Operations Coordinator & Analyst

Linda Colon

Administrator of Global Data Management

Christina Banks

Administrator of Global Data Management

Alyssa Peter

Administrator of Global Data Management

Shalily Ramos

Regulatory and QA Associate

Brittney Crapps

Human Recourses Generalist

Ame Cordero

K2 Experience Ambassador

Gisel Kautz

Mobile Clinic Manager

Diadette Gonzalez

Account Manager

Bridget Monroe

Community Connector

Yakira Colon

Marketing Specialist

Keith Barsky

Recruitment Specialist

Daniel Naumko

Recruitment Specialist

Dennis Neumann

Recruitment Specialist

Mike Starr

Recruitment Specialist

Anthony mamone

Recruitment Specialist

Ted Mayberry

Recruitment Specialist

Paula Bui

Recruitment Specialist

Elizabeth Duque-Buckham

Mobile Clinic Coordinator

Cathryn Pendleton

Mobile Clinic Coordinator

Sandi Sundstrom, RN

Feasibility Specialist

Emily Alavarez

Quality Control Associate

Rebecca Barros

Quality Control Associate

Cedric Herrmann

Regulatory and Quality Affairs Associate

Denise Hopkins

Regulatory Specialist

Eren Brosey

Data Entry Specialist

Tomorrow’s treatment today.

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Dr. Craig Curtis, MD

Chief Medical Officer & Principal Investigator

Dr. Craig Curtis, MD, serves as Chief Medical Officer and founder of K2 Medical Research, The Villages and was co-founder of Compass Research, one of the country’s largest and foremost memory loss, Dementia and  Alzheimer’s Disease research centers.  Dr. Curtis’ research focuses on prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease and as a collaborator, has been published in leading national and international journals including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Neurology. He has been both a local and national lecturer on the topics of Alzheimer’s Disease and clinical research site management. Dr. Curtis is particularly interested in the underlying biology and prevention of memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease – and pursuing the science that one day will lead to an effective treatment. 

Dr. Curtis began his medical career while proudly serving in the United States Navy. His tour of duty lasted 6 years primarily at the Washington D.C. Naval Yard Medical Clinic, a detachment of Bethesda Naval Hospital. He attended the Univ. of Maryland but obtained his undergraduate degree from Regents College of the State of New York (due to military service) and earned his medical degree from Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine. 

Dr. Curtis trained at Florida Hospital (now Advent Health – one of the largest hospitals in the United States); at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he participated in multiple oncology clinical trials; and St. Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. He has maintained his Florida Medical license in good standing since 1997. 

Dr. Curtis lives in central Florida with his wife, 2 children and their Golden Retriever. His interests outside of medical research include cycling, tennis, WWII history and watching Cleveland sports teams.

Sandra Torres, RN

DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL PARTNERSHIPS AND DIVERSITY

Sandra Torres joins the K2 team as a Director of Clinical Partnership and Diversity and Registered Nurse with over a decade of clinical experience. An expert in her field, she began her journey in research administering infusions and now holds the prestigious title of CRNI (Certified Registered Nurse Infusion.)  After graduating with a B.S. in nursing from the University of South Florida, Sandra worked as a pediatric emergency room nurse and graduate nurse preceptor.  She went on to hold various leadership positions in clinical research such as Associate Manager of Site, Clinical Delivery Manager and served as Interim Site Director, focusing on all clinical deliverables, patient safety, community outreach and quality.

In 2015 Sandra was voted nurse of the year by her peers and joined her clinical team in a mission trip to Ethiopia to provide primary care for a village where more than 300 people received care and supplies.  With a passion for the underserved and minority population and as an immigrant herself, she understands the struggles and barriers that this population experiences. Her goal is to educate her local community and provide access to clinical research opportunities. In her previous role, she initiated and led the diversity outreach program and significantly increased the Latino participation in clinical trials.

Sandra moved with her family from Mexico at the age of 11 years old and has lived in Orlando ever since. She enjoys attending cultural events and learn about the diversity and beauty of each culture. She now resides in the City Beautiful with her husband, three children and dog, Frida.

Carlos Baez, MD

DIRECTOR OF LABORATORY SERVICES

Bio Coming Soon.

Candace Baird

DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
Bio Coming Soon.

Kristen Grube

DIRECTOR OF QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE
Bio Coming Soon.

Michelle Montone

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND OUTREACH

Michelle Montone joins K2 Medical Research as Director of Marketing with nearly a decade of experience in clinical trials. Specializing in forming community partnerships, educational programs, and promoting clinical research, Michelle is a Certified Meeting Planner with a primary focus on marketing and event planning for neurodegenerative diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Prior to joining K2, she provided operational support for various industries, such as Ripley Entertainment and the Judicial Circuit Court system. A scholar and an athlete, she obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in 2007 and won the All-SEC Freshman of the Year Award for the University’s softball team in 2004.

Originally hailing from South Florida, Michelle is bilingual: fluent in both Spanish and English. As a first-generation Cuban-American, she is well-versed in integrating cultures while still honoring their individual nuances; she hopes to use these skills to bring the benefits of medical research to traditionally underserved populations and end the stigma of clinical research in the Latin community once and for all.

In her free time, you can find her traveling, watching sports, and enjoying quality time with her friends and family.

Stephanie Cassidy

DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Bio Coming Soon !

Gina Cedano

LEAD RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST

Bio Coming Soon.

Bradley Alexander MBA

CLINICAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR AND ANALYST
Bio Coming Soon.

Linda Colon

ADMINISTRATOR OF GLOBAL DATA MANAGEMENT
Bio Coming Soon.

Christina Banks

ADMINISTRATOR OF GLOBAL DATA MANAGEMENT
Bio Coming Soon.

Alyssa Peter

ADMINISTRATOR OF GLOBAL DATA MANAGEMENT
Bio Coming Soon.

Shalily Ramos

REGULATORY AND QA ASSOCIATE
Bio Coming Soon.

Brittney Crapps

HR GENERALIST
Bio Coming Soon.

Gisel Kautz

SITE DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH SPECIALIST
Bio Coming Soon.

Yakira Colon

COMMUNITY OUTREACH NAVIGATOR
Bio Coming Soon.

Keith Barsky

RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST
Bio Coming Soon.

Daniel Naumko

RECRUITING SPECIALIST
Bio Coming Soon.

Dennis Neuman

RECRUITING SPECIALIST

Dennis Neumann joins K2 Medical Research as a clinical research coordinator after a long and successful career in broadcasting. A local celebrity in Orlando and its surrounding areas, he served as the radio voice of the NBA’s Orlando Magic for the last 23 years, providing entertainment to basketball fans of all ages. With this much-welcomed career transition, Dennis hopes to positively impact our Central Florida community in a different way: by assisting in medical research.

A graduate of the University of Oregon, Dennis was awarded the prestigious Evans Golf Scholarship in 1977. He began his forty-year broadcast career in Dallas, Texas in 1983 at KXVI/KTNS, then moved on to the Florida Radio Network and the USA Radio Network before joining the Orlando Magic in 1991. In 1998, he was named the radio play by play voice of the Magic and over the next 23 years went on to call 1900+ consecutive games without missing an assignment. He is detail-oriented, a people-person and possesses excellent observational skills, all of which are abilities that make a highly effective coordinator for patients enrolled in clinical trials. Dennis hopes to contribute to creating solutions for our country’s many health challenges and give back to the community he has enjoyed being part of for so many years.

He resides in Belle Isle with his wife Debbie and their two dogs, Murphy and Maggie. He and Debbie have three children: Bradley, Lisa, and Stephanie, as well as ten grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys reading, running, and enjoying beautiful Lake Conway.

Mike Starr

Recruitment Specialist

Mike Starr joins K2 Medical Research as a Recruitment Specialist, after a decade in Orlando and New York City recruiting volunteers to help develop the next wave of important medications, devices, and vaccines.

He has a long history in sports. Most importantly his time as an elite road cyclist.  Racing 1000 days, and winning 60 races, his career as a sportsman took him all over the world, opening his eyes to varied cultures, and the realization of how many commonalities seven billion people hold.

Mike also served in the US Navy for four years, earning honors, and gained respect for the difficult job of training the world’s peacekeepers.

Currently Mike is living in NYC amongst the constant hustle and bustle, but has a quiet fondness for a few hushed days along Maine’s rugged coast. His passion for the urban advocation of walking, public transport and the use of micromobility is well known, and a source of many conversations. 

Sandi Sundstrom RN

FEASIBILITY SPECIALIST
Bio Coming Soon.

Join a Study

If you are interested in learning more or participating in any of our studies, please fill out the form below and our office will get back to you within 1-2 business days. 

*By signing up you agree to be contacted about clinical research studies by our company, its affiliates or partners. Typical methods of contact include phone calls, text messages, pre-recorded messages, emails, automated technology or postal mail. This includes if the number is currently on any Do Not Call Lists. As we contact you, your electronic record will be updated accordingly with current relevant health information. This consent is not required to participate in a clinical research study.

Melissa Belardo, APRN

Clinical Investigator

Melissa Belardo, is a certified family nurse practitioner (FNP-BC), joins K2 Medical Research with more than a decade of clinical experience. She has served as an investigator in over 20 trials. Prior to clinical research, she held roles in gastroenterology, hepatology, and nurse education.

Melissa’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Adventist University, followed by a master’s degree in Family Nurse Practitioner from Georgetown University.

Melissa is a native of the US Virgin Islands’ and is fluent in both English and Spanish; Melissa has lived in central Florida for the past twenty years. When she’s not at work, you can find her volunteering at her local church and spending time with family.