Phoenix area sites:
Sun City/Peoria (Northwest Phoenix)
Physicians
Sun City/Peoria
- Louise Taber, M.S., R.D., M.D., F.A.C.P., CPI™
- Robert Rankel, MD, FACS
- Christy Brown, FNP
- Suzanne Sisley, MD
- Vernon Barksdale, MD
- Richard Carlson, MD
- V. Tracy Marshall, MD
 Louise
Taber, M.S., R.D., M.D., F.A.C.P., CPI™
Clinical Investigator
Medical Director
Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Louise Taber is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. She matriculated
from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Her internship was
at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina and
her residency at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. She has
a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition (Highest Distinction)
and a Master’s degree in Human Development, both from the University
of Maine, Orono, ME. She is a Certified Physician Investigator and a
Fellow of the American College of Physicians. She maintains her certification
as a Registered Dietitian. She joined Pivotal Research Centers as a
Principal Investigator in September, 2007 and has been Medical Director
since January 1, 2008. She has interest in obesity, metabolism, diabetes,
cardiovascular disease and women’s health. She speaks French and
Spanish.
Robert Rankel, MD, FACS
Sub-Investigator
Board Certified Surgeon
Dr. Robert Rankel earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the University
of Notre Dame before receiving his medical degree from Upstate Medical
College of the State University of New York. He completed his surgical
residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin. After retiring his commission
from the United States Army, he has practiced general surgery in Phoenix
for the past 27 years. Dr. Rankel was a practicing trauma surgeon for
more than 20 years and has chaired Emergency/Disaster Committees, hospital
Surgical Departments and Symposia on Trauma Care. Additionally, he is
currently pursing a master’s degree in Bioethics.
Dr. Rankel joined Pivotal Research Centers as a Sub-Investigator in
2006.
Christy Brown, FNP
Sub-Investigator
Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Melissa “Christy” Brown, FNP is a board certified Family
Nurse Practitioner. She received her Associates in Nursing at Glendale
Community College. Christy continued her education while working as
a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital and Banner Thunderbird.
She received her Bachelor of Nursing, Masters of Nursing and Family
Nurse Practitioner from the University of Phoenix. In addition to Pivotal
Research, Christy works part time as an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner and
is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Christy joined the Pivotal staff in 2006 as a Sub-Investigator.
Suzanne Sisley, MD
Sub-Investigator
Board Certified in Psychiatry
Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Suzanne Sisley, MD entered a thriving private family practice
8 years ago in the inner city of Phoenix. In addition to her duties
at her private office, Dr. Sisley also serves as Clinical Faculty at
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center at the Mercy Care Adult Medicine
Clinic for indigent patients in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Sisley was recently
appointed Director of Interprofessional Education for the Arizona Telemedicine
Program (ATP) after serving as a medical consultant and clinical lecturer
for ATP’s Telepsychiatry clinic since early 2007.
Dr. Sisley graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree
in Chemistry/Pre-Med and a minor in Theater. She proceeded to Tucson
where she completed her medical degree at the University Of Arizona
College Of Medicine. In 2000, Dr. Sisley completed her five-year Residency
Training at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in the fields of
Internal Medicine and Psychiatry.
She is involved in many other aspects of her community with membership
on over a dozen boards ranging from the NAU Alumni Board to the Board
of AZ Town Hall, Phoenix Theatre and the Scottsdale Bond Review Commission.
Dr. Sisley has been featured in many journals ranging from Today's Arizona
Woman to AZ Parenting, and also recently had an article on tobacco-control
published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association). Sue
also volunteers as a Health Reporter for NBC's local affiliate, Channel
12-KPNX, appearing as a medical consultant on various public health
topics.
In 2003, Dr. Sisley received the Arizona Medical Association's highest
honor, the President's Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Sisley joined Pivotal Research Centers as a Sub-Investigator in
2008.
Vernon Barksdale, MD
Board Certified in Psychiatry and in Addiction Medicine
Dr. Vernon Barksdale is Board Certified in Psychiatry and in Addiction
Medicine. He attended Harvard University, majoring in Economics and
Premedical Science. He matriculated from Johns Hopkins University School
of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland with both a Medicine degree and a
Master’s Degree in Public Health. He has completed fellowships
in Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry, Minority Fellowship Programs and Forensic
Psychiatry. He is a Certified Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist.
He is trained in Level II Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR), Acupuncture and Hypnosis. He is a Certified Physician Investigator.
He has interest in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression,
Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder and Addiction. He has been a part time Principal
and Subinvestigator with Pivotal Research Centers since June, 2008,
with many years of research experience prior to that. He speaks some
French and Spanish.
Richard Carlson, MD
Principal Investigator
Richard Carlson, MD has recently joined Pivotal Research Centers as
a Principal Investigator for our Mesa Site. Dr. Carlson is a graduate
from the University of Southern California School of Medicine, where
he also obtained his PhD in Physiology. Dr. Carlson is an Internist
and Critical Care Physician who has been active in academic medicine
and research for many years. He is a past president of the Society of
Critical Care Medicine and former Governor of the American College of
Physicians Arizona Chapter. He is Chairman Emeritus of the Department
of Medicine at Maricopa Medical Center and Director of the Medical Intensive
Care Unit. Additionally, Dr. Carlson serves as a professor at Mayo Graduate
School, University of Arizona and Midwestern University. Prior to moving
to Arizona in 1994, he was Professor and Chairman of the Department
of Medicine University of Illinois College of Medicine (P). He has authored
and edited several medical textbooks, over 300 articles, and other papers.
He has served as a Financial Investigator for over 80 research studies.
He resides in Phoenix with his wife Barbara. They enjoy their Flagstaff
mountain home as well as travel to Mexico and England where their daughter,
Laura is a PhD student at Oxford University.
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