CLINICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY

The Department of Surgery in the College of Medicine at the Universtity of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center has an active Clinical Research Program designed to facilitate Industry sponored Phase II, III, and IV pharmaceutical trials.

The Divisions of General Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Trauma & Critical Care, supported by the Research Division, are actively pursuing new clinical research protocols. 

Support Resources

• Two Study Coordinators,  each with R.N. degrees and six years of pharmaceutical trial experience.
• Dedicated IRB / Regulatory Document Coordinator with twelve years of experience.
• Dedicated Research Pharmacists at both the OU Medical Center and the VA Medical Center.
• IRB System consisting of 4 separate Boards,  two specifically accessable to the Department of Surgery that meet every two weeks with an average 4 week protocol turn-around time
• Designated work environment for pharmaceutical company representatives including
  
  • Immediate proximity to clinical research staff
  • Abundant desk top space
  • Dedicated phone lines
  • Copy machine
  • Fax Machine
  • Internet outlets

• Newly rennovated research facilities with adjoining covered parking.

• Easy accessibility from the airport.

• Geographic center of the state.

Patient Resources

• OU Medical Center (consisting of three hospitals) and the VA Medical Center.

• Referral centers for the entire state of Oklahoma

• Only Level One Trauma Center in Oklahoma and the surrounding area.

• 804 beds for primary, secondary, and tertiary adult health care.

• Eighty-five ICU beds dedicated to adult patient care.

• Approximately 2,033 admissions each year to the General Surgery Service.

• Approximately 3,436 operations performed each year

• Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma have similar demographics as follows:

Caucasian  75.7%

African-American 10.6%

Native American 4.2%

Asian 2.5%

Hispanic 6.7%

Clinical Research Experience

Areas of Patient Care that have been the focus of Phase II, III, & IV Pharmaceutical Clinical Trials accomplished by the Department of Surgery since 1990:

• Sepsis

• Post-Operative pain

• Pre-Operative antibiotics

• Nosocomial pneumonia

• Intra-Abdominal Infections

• Complicated Skin Infections

• DVT / Vascular

• General Surgery Studies

Sponsor Companies and CROs that faculty and staff have worked with over the last 14 years

Investigator Experience

Russell G. Postier, MD:

Professor and Chairman of Surgery

Involved in research for 14 years and has participated in over 40 clinical trials.  Therapeutic areas: GI, biliary, and pancreatic surgery.

Roxie M. Albrecht, MD:

Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care

Involved in research for 13 years.  Therapeutic areas: Trauma and Critical Care.

Larry R. Pennington, MD:

Professor of Surgery, Vice Chairman and Chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery

Involved in research for 12 years.  Therapeutic areas: Transplantation and liver ablation.

Marvin D. Peyton, MD:

Professor of Surgery, Chief of the Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Board certified in Surgery and Thoracic Surgery and has been a Thoracic Surgeon for 23 years.  Therapeutic areas: Myocardial preservation, failing heart, cardiopulmonary bypass and inflammatory response.

Ronald A. Squires, MD:

Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, VA Medical Center

Participated in research for 10 years with over 25 clinical trials.  Therapeutic areas: Outpatient surgeries and kidney / pancreas transplantation.

Ciaran M. O’Hare, MD:

Assistant Professor and Chief of Surgery VA Medical Center

Involved in research for 8 years with over 25 clinical trials.  Therapeutic areas: General Surgery.

M. Alex Jacocks, MD:

Professor of Surgery

Involved in research for 32 years.  Therapeutic area: vascular surgery.

Jeffrey S. Bender, MD:

Professor of Surgery, Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Therapeutic areas: laparoscopic surgery, colorectal surgery, GI surgery and complex hernias.

Experience of Research Support

Daniel J. Brackett

Professor and Director of Research

Over 25 years experience in clinical research. 

Stephanie Mitchell, RN

Clinical Research Coordinator

Over 5 years experience in clinical research. 

Theresa Lander

Institutional Review Board / Regulatory Affairs Coordinator

Over 12 years experience in clinical research.

Deborah Kumm, Pharm. D.

Clinical Coordinator Investigational Drug Services

Dedicated pharmacist with 5 years experience in clinical research.

OU Medical Center Pharmacy

Gaylene Lookebill, RPh.

Investigational Drug Studies Pharmacist

Dedicated pharmacist with 10 years experience in clinical research.

VA Medical Center Pharmacy

Contact Information:

Stephanie Mitchell, R.N.

Telephone: (405) 271-2128

e-mail: Stephanie-Mitchell@ouhsc.edu