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

Clinical Operations

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.

Emily Harper

Lead Clinical Research Coordinator

Joining us after working in the MUSC Department of Oncology, where she worked on the head and neck cancer clinical research team as it conducted trials and studies, Emily is highly skilled in recruiting, screening and enrolling patient participants and reporting results of clinical investigations. She was previously a Patient Engagement Representative for Proove Biosciences, Inc., responsible for daily completion of clinical study questionnaires, specimen and document collection, and compliance with all HIPAA, federal, state and study protocols, regulations and policies. Emily places strong emphasis on patient care and relationship building with staff, physicians and study participants.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Southern Wesleyan University, is a certified phlebotomist and also holds certifications in BLS, Stop the Bleed, IATA and GCP. She will receive her B.S. in Nursing and R.N. from The Citadel in 2019.

Georgina (Gina) Gregory RN

Clinical Research Coordinator

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Gina became a specialist in interventional cardiac nursing. Serving first in Duke University Medical Center’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab and ICU, she moved on to another three-year CCL nursing tour at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, CA. Her expertise in cardiac catheterizations led to appointment as a Clinical Specialist to educate and support current and potential hospital customers of USCI Division of Bard in Northern California. That experience also heightened Gina’s interest in clinical research and medical product development. Accordingly, she accepted a position with Mecklenburg Medical Group in Charlotte, returning to her native state as a Clinical Research Coordinator.

Gina then moved to Mt. Pleasant to become Business Manager for The Santangelo Clinic. She joined The Clinical Research Center of the Carolinas in 2018. Gina is certified in BLS, IATA and GCP.

Danielle Pagan

Clinical Research Coordinator

Born in the Bronx, raised in Delaware, Danielle holds an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Delaware and a Medical Assistant certificate from Harris School of Business.  She needed to serve 180 hours of externship to complete the Medical Assistant program and decided to move to Charleston. Danielle explains: “I found Dermatology & Laser Center of Charleston. They brought me on as a student, greeted me with open arms and showed me the ins and outs of a medical practice. I fell in love with the staff and completed my externship.” Subsequently, Danielle was hired as a clinical medical assistant, where over 2 years gained clinical skills in general, cosmetic dermatology as well as MOHS Surgery.

Recently, Danielle transferred her patient care skills to research as a coordinator for screening, enrolling and conducting patient visits. She is certified in BLS, IATA and GCP.

Becky Empric

Clinical Research Coordinator

Becky was born and raised in Marietta, GA. She graduated from Ultrasound Diagnostics School with a Medical Assisting certificate and worked for Carman Research in Smyrna, GA, as a Clinical Research Coordinator for 13 years, doing psychiatric clinical research trials. She then worked for G.I Specialists of Georgia and Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, in their research departments, as a Clinical Research Coordinator, before moving to Charleston in September 2017.

Becky has a 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, who keeps her on her toes! In addition, she also has three dogs and one dwarf bunny. When not at work, Becky enjoys going to the movies, reading books and hanging out at the beach.

Daniel Kuraska

Clinical Research Coordinator

Dan joined us from the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, where he was a Clinical Research Coordinator of Malignant Hematology patient studies and trials. Prior to that he was Patient Coordinator at the Whittingham Cancer Center/Memorial Sloan Kettering, Norwalk, CT. He holds a B.S. in Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University. He is also CITI certified in Biomedical Investigations and NIH certified in Protecting Human Research Participants.

Dan is BLS Certified (CPR/AED) by the American Heart Association, IATA and BCP and is also is a Certified Fitness Trainer. When not reading books and medical journal publications, you’ll find him at the gym, hiking, kayaking or cooking with friends and family.

Administrative Operations

Shannon Sarine

Administrative Operations Manager & Executive Assistant to Todd Schlesinger, MD

Joining our administrative support team at Dermatology & Laser Center in 2013 as Cosmetic Patient Coordinator, Shannon helped implement new protocols that have increased efficiency in both administrative and clinical areas. So we promoted and transferred her.

Now she oversees daily operations at Clinical Research Center of the Carolinas, including Human Resources administration (hiring and retention). She also assists CRCC staff with scheduling and monitoring research patient visits. As Executive Assistant to founder and director Todd Schlesinger, Shannon manages his schedule for events, travel to conferences and dermatological or research meetings.

A Carolina girl of many generations, Shannon was born and raised in Charleston and her daughter is now a Clinical Medical Assistant at DLCC. During time away from the practice, you can often find her with close friends poolside or on Edisto Beach, but always wearing sunscreen!

Christina Dickinson

Clinical Research Assistant

Christina joined CRCC in 2018 as a tremendous asset to assisting our Clinical Research Coordinators. She brings eight years’ experience of corporate data entry and can often be found in the offices working side by side with the Clinical Research Coordinators. After graduating a year early from high school with a 4.0 GPA, she obtained a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certification from Trident Technical College.  In addition to working full-time, she also attends ECPI University where she is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She is certified in BLS, IATA and GCP.

Christine will receive her Associates in Nursing next year and hopes to continue her career serving our patients. She loves to be outdoors enjoying nature or strolling Edisto Beach, along with her young son Adrian.