Our Team

Our Team at the Clinical Research Center of the Carolinas

Todd E. Schlesinger, MD, FAAD, FASMS

Founder & Director

Dr. Schlesinger, a Board-Certified Dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, founded the Dermatology & Laser Center of Charleston in 2005 and, subsequently, the Clinical Research Center of the Carolinas – an affiliated research institution, as an evolution and outgrowth of his quest to help advance the science and art of medical and dermatological technologies and treatments.

A magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate who also earned his doctorate in medicine from State University of New York at Buffalo, he performed residency and internship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He further trained in dermasurgery at Scripps Clinic and was awarded a National Cancer Institute Fellowship at Rowell Park Cancer Center with globally-esteemed dermasurgeons. In private practice since 1998, Dr. Schlesinger is president of the Charleston County Medical Society, Chairman of the SC Medical Association Board of Trustees, past-president of the SC Dermatological Association, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina and Clinical Instructor in the Dermatology Department at the University of Buffalo.

He is a national trainer, speaker, consultant and adviser to numerous pharmaceutical, cosmetic and technology companies and lectures nationally and internationally on various dermatology, practice management and clinical research topics. Click to view Dr. Schlesinger’s CV

Diane Pitman

Certified Clinical Research Coordinator

Born and schooled in New England, Diane is a Certified Clinical Research Professional, a Certified Pharmacy Technician and for 18 years organized and conducted oncology research, clinical trials and their data management activities. Her project management skills derive from experience in coordinating enrollments for clinical trials, verification of protocol eligibility, ensuring regulatory and protocol compliance, obtaining prior insurance and physician authorizations for patients receiving drug infusions, monitoring protocol activation, closure and amendment, supervising patient data collection and reporting of test results.

Prior to joining CRCC in 2017 Diane was a Pharmacy Technician at Northpark Community Hospital in El Paso, Texas and an Oncology Research Supervisor & Coordinator of Special Procedures at Elliott Hospital in Manchester, New Hampshire.

She is a member of the Society of Clinical Research Associates.

Linda Wozniak

Lead Clinical Research Coordinator

A Biology graduate of the College of Charleston, since joining CRCC Linda has spearheaded dermaceutical trials for acne, acne scarring, psoriasis, hyperhidrosis, rosacea and chin augmentation. Quickly progressing from Research Assistant to Lead Clinical Research Coordinator, Linda now oversees a myriad of clinical trials and studies including those for treating squamous and basal cell carcinomas.

Linda works closely with our Director of Research in bringing new investigations of medical advances to our Center and plays a fundamental role in recruitment of study patients. She attends trial sponsor investigator meetings to verify protocols and goals, and conducts site qualification visits. Over the course of each trial, Linda is responsible for subject recruitment, enrollment and monitoring the subject’s progress throughout the study. Her job in clinical research blends her enjoyment of working with people with devotion to skincare and dermatology. She delights in enabling patients to learn and benefit from the latest medical treatments while also ensuring the many protocols of our clinical trials and observations are met.

Kimberly Milligan

Certified Clinical Research Coordinator

Following studies in Business Administration at Trident Technical College, Kimberly graduated from the Beta Tech Medical Assistant Certificate Program and was then certified for her present career and responsibilities as a Clinical Research Coordinator by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.

In medical assistance, she received further training and experience with Joseph Ewens, M.D., Family Medicine, and Thomas Funcik, M.D. at Coastal Facial Plastic Surgery. Prior to joining the Clinical Research Center of the Carolinas, she coordinated or managed projects and trials at Medical Research South, eCast Corporation and the practice of James Martin, Jr., MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Kimberly’s certificates and course work also include: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research training courses “Protecting Human Research Participants,” and “Human Participants Protection Education for Research Teams Online,” as well as “Onsite Standardization of Blood Pressure Measurement for Clinical Trials Certification” from Shared Care Research and Education Consulting, Inc.

She is a member of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals and National Allied Health Professionals.

Away from work, she loves time with her amazing 4 year-old daughter, Mayson, and exploring the outdoors –‘with sunscreen.’

Nikita Patel

Clinical Research Assistant

An Honors graduate with a BS in Biology and minor in Neuroscience, Nikita was a Senior Diversity Associate and Programming Assistant at the College of Charleston before joining CRCC. Her research experience as a Data Analyst for the Neurological Department at MUSC includes using FSL software to review patient brain scans and extraction of sections relevant to research findings. She later conducted independent research and developed experimental designs at the College of Charleston to test hypotheses on the Effects of Neuroplasticity on Behavior and, using NOLDUS programming, collected and analyzed data retrieved from experimental trials.

Nikita is a native of India, speaks English, Hindi and Gujarati, co-founded the Student Diversity and Inclusion Council at C of C, and has interests that have ranged from working with autistic children to mathematics tutoring to sports reporting and managing the Women’s Basketball Team.

Rhiannon Henderson

Clinical Research Assistant

A Charleston native and Biology graduate from Columbia College in our capitol city, Rhiannon played collegiate tennis, a sport she continues in leisure time. Now she coordinates clinical trials and observations at CRCC, helping patients and advancing the science and practice of dermatological medicine.