Investigators

Seth J. Baum, MD, FACC, FAHA, FNLA, FASPC

Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Seth J. Baum, Chief Scientific Officer of Flourish Research, is a graduate of Columbia College and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, completed training in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, and Electrophysiology.  

Dr. Baum is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the American College of Preventive Medicine, the National Lipid Association, and the American Society for Preventive Cardiology. He is a past President of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC). He currently sits on The Family Heart Foundation LP(a) Advisory Board. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and abstracts – many in top-tier journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Lancet, JACC, and Nature – as well as two books.

In 2013, he was awarded Cleveland Heart Lab’s “Heart Award” for lifelong dedication to Preventive Medicine. In 2019, Mended Hearts honored him with its biennial Dwight Emary Harken Award. Dr. Baum is the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Flourish Boca Raton, FL which began as Excel Medical Clinical Trials. As Principal Investigator in novel drug development he has contributed significantly to the advancement of therapeutics in disease states ranging from ultra-rare to common.

Dr. Baum is clinical affiliate professor of Cardiology at FAU Medical School, runs the only lipoprotein apheresis center in southeast Florida, and consults in Clinical Lipidology and Preventive Cardiology.

Learn more about Flourish Boca Raton, FL

Douglas Denham, DO, CPI

Chief Medical Director, Flourish San Antonio

Douglas Scott Denham, DO, CPI, is Chief Medical Director of Flourish San Antonio, previously Clinical Trials of Texas, and is board-certified in family medicine, with more than 25 years of experience. He has served as Principal Investigator on more than 700 studies in the areas of diabetes, fatty liver, healthy volunteers, hyperlipidemia, seasonal allergies, vaccines, growth hormone, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, implantable devices, insulin pumps, clamp studies, renal studies, and more. His experience includes Phase I-IV protocols, including first-in-human studies.

At the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Denham earned his Doctoral degree in Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Parke Hedges, MD

Principal Investigator, Flourish San Antonio

Dr. Parke Hedges was born in Arkansas and spent his childhood years in Indiana. His family moved to Texas in 1969 and settled in the Houston area. After graduation from La Porte High School, Dr. Hedges attended Texas A&M University in College Station.

Dr. Hedges completed his internship at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Hedges is affiliated with Methodist Hospital. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology in 1986. He established his first private practice in Corpus Christi, but eventually returned to San Antonio. He is one of the founding members of Seven Oak’s Women’s Center. He has been honored by induction into the AOA Medical Honor Society. Dr. Hedges has also served as Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology or Methodist Hospital.

Dr. Hedges maintains an active private life spending time with his wife Donna and 3 Australian Shepherds. He is an avid orchid grower and active singer songwriter.

Dr Hedges has been honored by his selection to:

• Consumer Research Council of America – 2012
• America’s Top Obstetrician and Gynecologists 2002-2003, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2011-2012
• Best Doctors in America 1996-2011
• Texas Monthly – Texas Super Doctors 2008, 2009, and 2010
• Patient Choice Award 2009 and 2010

Pendleton Wickersham, MD

Principal Investigator, Flourish San Antonio

Pendleton B. Wickersham was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1975. After graduating magna cum laude from Rice University in 1996, he attended Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and earned his medical degree with honors in 2000. Dr. Wickersham then moved to Denver to complete his post-graduate studies. He completed his internship, residency, and fellowship at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. He is board-certified in both internal medicine and rheumatology. Dr. Wickersham moved to San Antonio in early 2006 to pursue his dream of a thriving clinical practice. He is a partner in the San Antonio-based Arthritis Associates, PA. He is a frequent speaker and consultant and he has invented several medical devices. He enjoys exercising outdoors, reading, and fishing.

Terri Nutt, MD

Principal Investigator, Flourish San Antonio

Dr. Terri Nutt is a graduate of the prestigious and highly competitive B.S./M.D. program of Northeast Ohio College of Medicine, earning her Medical Degree in 1995. Upon graduation from medical school, she served 12 years with the US Air Force. She has served as a Flight Surgeon with Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida and as Chief of Dermatology, Travis AFB, California. Her military honors include the Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. She completed her residency in Dermatology at San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium in San Antonio, TX. After leaving the military in 2007, Dr Nutt has called San Antonio home and has been practicing at her current location since 2009. Dr. Terri Nutt is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. She is a member of the Texas Medical Association and the Bexar County Medical Society.

Barbara Corral, DNP, MSN, MA, FNP-BC

Principal Investigator, Flourish San Antonio

Barbara Corral started her career in research in 2007 working at The Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at Rutgers University in academic research, where she had multiple publications. This experience sparked her interest in the medical profession and she decided to go to nursing school for her BSN. Barbara started her career at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, FL, a level I trauma center, as a trauma nurse in 2011 and obtained her Family Nurse Practitioner license in 2015. As a Nurse and a Nurse Practitioner, she had the opportunity to work in multiple specialties.  She is a well-rounded Family Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience in emergency, adult, pediatric and psychiatric medicine.  She has been working in clinical trials since 2019 in both early and late-phase trials in leadership positions and as an investigator.

Faisal A. Fakih, MD

Chief Medical Director, Flourish Leesburg, Miami, Orlando

Dr. Faisal A. Fakih is the President, Co-Founder, and Medical Director of Flourish Miami/Orlando/Leesburg, formerly Clinical Site Partners, LLC (CSP) He is triple Board-Certified in Pulmonary, Sleep, and Internal Medicine. Because he’s been practicing in the Winter Park area for over 40 years, Dr. Fakih is well known and respected by his patients, staff members, and colleagues. 

Dr. Fakih has been conducting Phase I-IV research for the past 19 years and has expertise in areas such as Asthma, COPD, Diabetes, Rheumatology, Insomnia, Neurology, CNS, Nephrology, Internal Medicine, COVID-19, and vaccines. He is a sought-out key opinion leader who CROs and Sponsors often consult for input on protocol creation and trial design. The sites, under Dr. Fakih’s direction, have been the go-to site network for respiratory, COVID, and vaccine trials, as they are known to meet and exceed enrollment goals.  

In addition to his role at the sites, Dr. Fakih also donates his time as a Physician at non-profit organizations to ensure that patients lacking the means to obtain medical care are not ignored. He graduated from the School of Medicine of Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain. 

Jose Louis Diaz, MD

Medical Director and Principal Investigator, Flourish Leesburg

Mark Rosenthal, MD

Principal Investigator, Flourish Miami

Dr. Rosenthal is board certified in family medicine and sleep medicine. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in Family Medicine through Nova Southeastern University in 1990 and has been practicing medicine in South Florida ever since.

Dr. Rosenthal has extensive research experience. He has served as an investigator with Clinical Site Partners and Flourish Research for over 10 years. He has served as a principal investigator in numerous studies in areas including COPD, asthma, hypertension, sleep medicine, and vaccinations. He was also the principal investigator in multiple studies involved in the development of medications for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Dr. Rosenthal developed the hospitalist program at Jackson South Community Hospital and concentrated on treating uninsured patients. He has held numerous positions of leadership in both the Jackson Health System and Baptist Health South Florida.

Jeffrey Ross, MD

Medical Director, Flourish Chicago Area and Gurnee, IL

Dr. Jeff Ross is a board-certified psychiatrist who has conducted over 130 clinical trials across multiple disease areas including mood, anxiety, psychotic, cognitive (Alzheimer’s, MCI), sleep, and substance abuse disorders. As an instructor of medical students and psychiatry residents at Chicago-area institutions (Northwestern University Medical School, Rush Medical College, Evanston Hospital, Illinois College of Optometry) over the past 20 years, Dr. Ross has provided ongoing medical education in both psychopharmacology and psychotherapy, equipping new physicians with important insights into the interviewing, care, & long-term management of patients with psychiatric illness.

Following his post-graduate fellowship in clinical psychopharmacology at Rush-Presbyterian-St.Luke’s Medical Center, Dr. Ross served as Medical Associate at Rush’s Treatment Research Center and Attending Psychiatrist at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, as well as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Rush Medical College. As a board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Ross maintains licensure in Illinois and continues to maintain his affiliation with the aforementioned academic centers. In addition, Dr. Ross’ private practice enables him to remain connected to the real-world management of psychiatric illness.

From his extensive research experience, Dr. Ross has gained expertise in investigations across development phases (Phase I-IV), treatment settings (inpatient and outpatient), duration (short and long-term), trial design (open, blinded, acute therapy, relapse prevention), and intervention (psychotherapy and psychopharmacology). Aside from numerous peer-reviewed publications and lectures, Dr. Ross has also developed a particular niche providing psychiatric educational book reviews (Doody’s Health Sciences) for over a decade.

Manish Jain, MD

Principal Investigator, Flourish Chicago Area

Dr. Manish Jain is a board-certified rheumatologist in practice for over 9 years. He is one of three doctors on staff at Presence St. Francis Hospital and one of four at Swedish Covenant Hospital who specialize in Rheumatology. He also serves as medical chair for the Chicago chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, partnering with patients and rheumatologists across the country to raise funds and awareness about rheumatic diseases.

He received his medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed his Rheumatology Fellowship at New York University. His research experience includes Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

His passion for becoming a rheumatologist was twofold – first, the science of inflammation was fascinating to him as a student, and second, his father, also a practicing rheumatologist factored heavily into his decision to join the field. He uses his inner drive for furthering the rheumatology field by staying committed to bringing innovative clinical trials to his patients and has done so by serving as Principal investigator on over twenty studies.

Rupal Trivedi, MD

Principal Investigator, Flourish Chicago Area

Dr. Rupal Trivedi, MD is Principal Investigator at Great Lakes Clinical Trials Chicago. Dr. Trivedi is board-certified in Family Medicine with more than 15 years of experience. She has served as Principal Investigator on more than 100 trials, with a primary focus on nutritional and metabolic studies. She has also led multi-center USONA Psilocybin Study for Treatment-Resistant Depression at our Andersonville Site. Her experience ranges from Nutrition, Obesity, Cardiometabolic Disease, Chronic Pain, Rheumatology, Alzheimer’s, Psychiatry, Dermatology, COVID-related studies, and Vaccines.

Dr. Trivedi did her residency at Wheeling Hospital and continued clinical practice at WVU Student Health Center and later at SLU’s Faculty Practice. She joined Great Lakes Clinical Trials after moving back to Chicago and is deeply committed to bringing health awareness and new therapies to the forefront of medicine. She is Board Certified in Family Medicine and dedicates her time exclusively to Clinical Research. She enjoys giving back to the community through service projects, especially at FMSC.

Yevgeniy “Eugene” Bukhman, DO

Principal Investigator, Flourish Chicago Area

Dr.Eugene Bukhman is a board-certified and practicing internal medicine doctor with 4 years of clinical research experience as a Principal Investigator in over forty studies with a focus in dementia, obesity, and vaccinations.

He earned a medical degree at A. T. Still University in Missouri followed by an internal medicine residency training at University Hospitals in Cleveland. He oversees the execution of clinical trials in accordance with study-specific protocols while monitoring participants for adverse effects and clinical data abnormalities.

He is a curious individual who is always expanding his extensive working knowledge of medical and philosophical theories and practices. He takes an empathic approach in his oversight and is always willing to take the extra time to ensure subjects are safe and informed. He believes that clinical research epitomizes the human project for therapeutic truth discovery going back to the Enlightenment and participating in this endeavor has been a profound privilege.

Cherian Verghese, MD

Principal Investigator, Philadelphia Area

Dr. Cherian Verghese is a physician-investigator, who has dedicated his career to developing new medications to treat neuropsychiatric disorders. After earning his medical degree in Bombay, India, he completed training in Psychiatry and Neurology, and received Board Certification in India, UK, and USA. He spent the early part of his career at the Medical College of Pennsylvania in academic psychiatry. He completed a Fellowship in Psychopharmacology Research, on the neuroendocrinology of polydipsiahyponatremia in persons with schizophrenia. He served as Inpatient Director and Associate Chair of psychiatry at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Verghese is a proud family man, enjoys travel and outdoor activities, as well as random facts and humor. In 2003, he founded Keystone Clinical Studies (KCS), now known as Flourish Philadelphia Area, as an independent clinical trial site with his brother, Tom Verghese as co-founder, and continued to grow the site after Tom passed away in 2019. He has been the Principal Investigator on over 130 clinical trials to date and has been instrumental in the FDA approval of medications in over 10 different indications.

Stephen Litman, MD, HMDC

Sub-Investigator, Flourish Philadelphia Area

Dr. Litman joined the KCS team, now known as Flourish Philadelphia area, in June 2019 as a sub-investigator with 30+ years of clinical experience as an internist and geriatrician. He has extensive experience with the geriatric population through his roles as a primary care physician, hospitalist, medical director of an inpatient dementia unit, and hospice medical director. His sense of humor and dedication to patient care and safety, helps put new patients at ease.

Kerry de Jesus, Psy.D

Principal Investigator/Rater, Flourish San Antonio

Dr. Kerry de Jesus is a psychologist licensed in both Texas and Hawaii. She has over 19 years experience providing psychological services to adults and children. She has worked in the specialty areas of neuropsychology and forensic psychology. Before joining Clinical Trials of Texas, Inc., which is now known as Flourish San Antonio,  Dr. de Jesus worked with a forensic psychiatric population at the Kerrville State Hospital. Dr. de Jesus received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from St. Mary’s University, and a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Our Lady of the Lake University. She completed her doctoral internship at the San Antonio State Hospital and her post-doctoral training at the Kerrville State Hospital. Member of:

 

• American Psychological Association
• Texas Psychological Association
• Hawaii Psychological Association

Corri Fancher, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner/Sub-Investigator, Flourish San Antonio

Corri Fancher graduated from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi with her BSN. She worked at Methodist Hospital as a circulating nurse for two years prior to joining PRMA Plastic Surgery as an RN in their office. She also worked at Urology San Antonio during her graduate studies, receiving her MSN Family Nurse Practitioner from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. Since graduating and becoming an APRN, she has worked in clinical research as an investigator in studies across multiple phases and indications.

Lisa Marten, MD

Principal Investigator, Flourish San Antonio

Lisa Martén, M.D. is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology with advanced fellowship training in Cornea and Refractive Surgery. Dr Martén performs the latest techniques involving bladeless iLasik and PRK procedures, Intacs for Keratoconus, Collagen Crosslinking, Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL) and laser cataract surgery with multifocal lens implants. She trained at a referral center for Lasik, and treated many complications, helping her have a more careful approach when choosing candidates for surgery. She also has a background in nutrition and worked at a center for nutrition research in her home country of Costa Rica. She has extra insight into diseases that affect the eye such as Diabetes and Macular Degeneration.

..one of the Top 12 Lasik Surgeons in the United States…

Dr. Martén received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University, as well as attending their School of Public Health Tropical Medicine for her Master’s Degree in Nutrition. She also earned her Medical Degree from their medical school in 2001. During her studies, she won the AMA Foundation Leadership Award for her work as the president of the Latin American Medical Student Association. She also participated in research and received a grant from the American Heart Association. After completing her internship, Dr. Martén came to San Antonio for her Ophthalmology residency at the UT Health Sciences Center where she is now an assistant clinical professor. She moved to Tennessee where she attended the Wang Vision Institute for her fellowship. Dr. Lisa Martén is currently the medical director and owner of the South Texas Eye Institute, the first clinic in San Antonio to perform Lasik. She has performed thousands of refractive procedures and was recently honored from among her peers as one of the Top 12 Lasik Surgeons in the United States. South Texas Eye Institute also partners with research organizations where Dr. Martén is an investigator for several clinical trials. Dr. Martén has been selected as America’s Top Ophthalmologist with special mention in Cornea and Refractive Surgery, and one of San Antonio’s Top Doctors. She is also proud to have been the official Eye Care Provider and Lasik Surgeon for the San Antonio Rampage AHL Hockey Team.
Born in New Orleans, LA and raised in San José, Costa Rica, Dr. Martén’s unique combination of cultures allows her to bring her patients quality care and the best service in their native language. Her patients value her dedication and the time she takes to explain eye conditions and their treatments. They also appreciate her donating her time for medical trips to Mexico and Costa Rica.

Monica Aggarwal, MD

Principal Investigator, Flourish Orlando

Monica Aggarwal, MD, is an adjunct Associate Professor in the University of Florida’s Division of Cardiovascular Medicine where she conducts research on the impact of nutrition in chronic illness. She also serves as the Chief Medical officer of the not-for-profit, 4Roots Farm which is looking at how to improve food quality to improve human health. She received her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and subsequently went on to complete a residency in internal medicine at Tufts University Hospital in Boston, MA. She then completed a cardiology fellowship at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD.

 

Dr. Aggarwal’s own path to understanding the impact of nutrition in illness started soon after the birth of her third child, when she developed an advanced form of rheumatoid arthritis. She was placed on medications that gave her severe side effects. It was only through learning about the microbiome (gut), its impact on the immune system and the role of nutrition in affecting the gut, was she able to truly heal. Determined to change the face of medicine, Monica left private practice and returned to academics in order to pursue research on the role of diet and to create an integrative cardiology practice focused on nutrition and lifestyle.

 

Dr. Aggarwal served as the Director of Integrative Cardiology and Prevention at the University of Florida for 5 years during which time she was promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine. At University of Florida, she focused on promoting food as the foundation of healing and for its medicinal value. In her clinic, she emphasizes plant-based nutrition and often performs multiple mind-body techniques with her patients, including yoga and meditation. At University of Florida, she was also the Director of Medical Education for Cardiology, where she directed education for medical residents and cardiology fellows, with a focus on prevention, nutrition, and lifestyle. In the hospital, she has multiple initiatives including developing a 100% plant-based menu for cardiac and vascular patients.

 

Dr. Aggarwal gives talks around the community, country and internationally. She was named a “Next Generation Innovator” by Cardiology Today. She is often featured in Veg News, Naked Magazine and forksoverknives.com. She conducts research on nutrition education in medical institutions and on how a plant-based diet impacts cardiovascular disease. She has published in major medical journals such as Journal of American College of Cardiology and American Journal of Medicine.

 

Board certified in cardiology and three specialties of cardiology: echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and advanced lipid management, she is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), where she is a member of the nutrition council working on nutrition policies

for the nation. Dr. Aggarwal specializes in preventive management of heart disease with lifestyle techniques in conjunction with medications. She is the author of the book “Body on Fire: How Inflammation Triggers Chronic Illness and the Tools We Have to Fight It,” which outlines prescriptions to help guide people to better health and the recently released Body on Fire Cookbook which provides whole food, healthy recipes to help implement change.

 

She has instituted a new plant-based menu at the University of Florida/Shands Hospital which is receiving national attention along with new discharge education that empowers patients to heal their bodies with their lifestyles. She was recently named Florida’s Cardiovascular Researcher of the year which provided her with a grant to conduct the important research needed on nutrition in 2019 and Exemplary Teacher of the Year in 2020.

 

She currently conducts research at University of Florida and sees patients in Orlando, Florida at AdventHealth and via telemedicine as part of Wholistic Cardiology and details can be found on her website.