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

Kathy Kavlick, RN

Clinical Research Manager

Kathy brings her 22 years of clinical dermatology experience to overseeing the Center’s staff and its daily trials and investigations. Prior to joining CRCC, she was IQVIA District Manager for Abbvie Immunology’s Humira, for which she hired, trained and managed a team of ten RNs. Previously, at Case Western University Medical Center’s Department of Dermatology, she was an Advanced Clinic Nurse and Study Coordinator for Melanoma and Pigmented Lesions.

She also coordinated clinical trials at the department’s Murdough Family Center for Psoriasis.

Earlier in her career, Kathy served in private practice as Clinical Supervisor for North Coast Dermatology in Independence, OH and the Metro Health Medical Center’s Department of Dermatology in Cleveland as Clinical Coordinator/Staff Nurse.

Her areas of expertise include adult and pediatric dermatology, melanoma, MOHS Surgery, clinical trials, compliance, patient and physician education, motivational interviewing and community outreach. She is an alumnus of Cleveland State University College of Business and the M.B. Johnson School of Nursing in Elyria, Ohio.

Kathy and her husband Dave have been married for 22 years and have two sons, Sean a Hilton Head firefighter and Kevin a CPA.

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

Certified 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 will receive her B.S. in Nursing and R.N. from The Citadel in 2019.

Shaneka Douglas

Clinical Research Coordinator

With depth of experience in coordinating all aspects of clinical research, Shaneka is highly knowledgeable of FDA regulations and ICH/GCP guidelines. A graduate in Biology from
Columbia College, Columbia SC, she was Clinical Research Coordinator for National Allergy and Asthma Centers of Charleston where she managed adult and pediatric studies from startup to close out, conducting Phase II, III, IV trials and observational research.

At Medical University of South Carolina Shaneka served four years in Pulmonary medicine, assisting five physicians with daily clinical tasks and Alpha-1 clinical research trials and studies. Moving to Emory University, Atlanta, she advanced to Clinical Research Coordinator III and Lead Coordinator of Pulmonary, Allergy/Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis and Sleep studies. She supervised and provided leadership to other research and clinical staff.

Prior to joining CRCC, Shaneka was Oncology & Cardiology Clinical Research Coordinator at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, GA where she conducted Phase II, III and IV therapeutic and registry studies. She pre-screened, recruited and enrolled eligible patients in open clinical trials, performed follow-up patient visits.

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.