The physicians who are investigators for clinical trials at Western States Clinical Research, Inc. are enthusiastic about the research process. They are all board certified in their field.
In their experience as principal investigators, they have contributed to the launching of many new medications that are now available in the United States.
WSCR, Inc. clinical research investigators are:
Jeffrey Rumbyrt, M.D.
Dr. Rumbyrt is an allergy and asthma specialist with Denver Allergy and Asthma Associates, P.C. He has been a principal investigator on 23 studies with WSCR, Inc. since 1995.
Dr. Rumbyrt attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he received a degree in biology, and then attended Loyola University of Chicago for his medical degree. He did his residency in internal medicine at the Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California, and completed his fellowship in allergy and immunology at the National Jewish Center in Denver, Colorado.
Robert Benkert, M.D.
Dr. Benkert is a pulmonary specialist who has his own private practice. He has been a principal investigator on 25 clinical trials since 1997, all with Western States Clinical Research, Inc.
Dr. Benkert completed studies for his medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and then fulfilled his internal medicine residency requirements at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, followed by a pulmonary medicine fellowship at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., a critical care medicine fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a sleep disorder medicine fellowship a the Stanford University Medical Center.
William L. Elzi, M.D.
Dr. Elzi is an internal medicine practitioner who works with other physicians and physician assistants in a large practice, Wheat Ridge Internal Medicine. He has been P.I. on 7 studies since 2006.
Dr. Elzi received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado and his medical degree from the University of Colorado in Denver, Colorado. Both his internship and residency in internal medicine took place at the University of Texas, Southwestern in Dallas, Texas. He has been board certified in internal medicine since 1995.
Kathleen Sawada, M.D. And Theresa Scholz, M.D.
Dr. Sawada and Dr. Scholz are dermatologists with Accent Dermatology and Laser Institute, P.L.L.C.
Dr. Sawada has been board certified in dermatology since 1990. She received her medical degree from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, and studied internal medicine at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. Her residency in dermatology took place at the Medical College of Virginia. She has been the principal investigator on 6 studies with WSCR, Inc. since 1999.
Dr. Scholz received a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, followed by an MBA from the Xavier university School of Business in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, Colorado. She has been a principal investigator on 6 studies with WSCR, Inc. since 2003.
Melinda O’Rourke, M.D.
Dr. O’Rourke is an ophthalmologist with Northwest Eye Center, P.C. She has been a principal investigator on 3 studies with WSCR, Inc. since 1999, and a sub-investigator on 3 studies.
Dr. O’Rourke’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in Sciences, Biochemistry and Environmental Biology from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. She received her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, Colorado, followed by an internship in obstetrics and gynecology and a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado. She has been board certified in ophthalmology since 1991.
Lawrence Repsher, M.D.
Dr. Repsher is a pulmonary specialist in private practice with the Pulmonary Research Consultants/Occupational and Environmental Lung Disease Program. He has been a principal investigator on pulmonary-related studies since the late 1970‘s.
Two of WSCR, Inc.s' study coordinators, Cheri Casey and Dara Stillman, started their clinical research careers under Dr. Repsher's direction at the Pulmonary Drug Evaluation Program in the late 1980's. In 2005, he joined WSCR, Inc. as a principal investigator, and will act as a sub-investigator whenever Dr. Benkert is the PI on a pulmonary-related clinical trial.
Dr. Repsher completed his undergraduate work at Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, then received his medical degree at the Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, New York. He came to the University of Colorado Medical Center for his internship and residency, where he also completed fellowships in pulmonary and critical care medicine.
Michael Ament, M.D.
Dr. Ament is a neurologist new to pharmaceutical research but enthusiastic about taking part in clinical trials in his field of expertise. He has been principal investigator on one study since 2010. He and his sub-investigators at Neurospecialty Associates understand that they will need to be vigorous enrollers producing high quality data in their first clinical trials in order to establish themselves as credible and successful clinical investigators. All are currently undergoing training for clinical investigators through an NIH clinical research training course.
Dr. Ament’s background includes a BA in English literature from Princeton University, an MBA in finance from Duke University, and his medical degree from the University of Buffalo in New York. His internship in internal medicine and residency in neurology took place at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado. He has been with Neurospecialty Associates since February, 2007.
Thomas Sweeney, M.D.
Dr. Sweeney is a gynecologist with a group practice called Westside Women's Care, with offices in Wheat Ridge and Arvada. He has been P.I. on one study since 2007.
Western States Clinical Research, Inc.
“Seeking Better Medicine” since 1991
