The Research Department at Bone and Joint Hospital at St. Anthony has a collective 40 years of experience in conducting a variety of clinical trials. Studies in past years have included component and pharmaceutical trials for a variety of diagnoses, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis; hip, knee and shoulder replacement; osteoporosis, ankylosing spondylitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. We have completed studies in Phases I-IV. The Research Director, Helen Kelley, RN, PhD, CCRP, holds a doctorate in epidemiology and has 22 years of clinical trial experience. Our staff includes 2 full time study coordinators: Reda Mewhorter, MLT (ASCP), CCRP, and Lori Patton, MT (ASCP), CCRP, and Linda Weber, RN, who coordinates studies part-time and is responsible for study drug infusions. All staff is certified in IATA shipment of laboratory specimens; Dr. Kelley, Ms. Mewhorter, and Ms. Patton have all completed national certification with the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA).

R. Eugene Arthur, MD
Internal Medicine/Rheumatology. Principal Investigator: Studies of numerous investigational biologic intravenous and subcutaneous pharmaceuticals for RA, including early-phase studies. Studies of NSAIDs in OA patients; treatment of hypertension.
Subinvestigator: Study of NSAID pharmaceuticals in RA and OA patients; Study of TNF inhibitors for RA; compliance study of osteoporosis patients.

James L. Bond, MD
Orthopedic Surgery. Principal Investigator: Various studies in the areas of spinal cord injury (basic science) and arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Investigational device study of injectable treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee.

Robert F. Hynd, MD
Internal Medicine/Rheumatology. Principal Investigator: Studies of NSAID pharmaceuticals in OA and RA patients; Studies of TNF inhibitors in RA.
Subinvestigator: Compliance study of osteoporosis patients; NSAID treatment of OA. Studies of biologics in RA.

Robert L McArthur, MD
Internal Medicine/Rheumatology. Principal Investigator: Studies of biologics in RA and SLE, including early-phase studies; NSAID treatment of OA.
Subinvestigator: Studies of Anti-TNF treatments for RA; pharmaceutical treatment of osteoporosis; compliance study of osteoporosis patients; NSAID treatment of OA. Studies of biologics in RA and SLE.

Thomas Janssen, MD
Orthopedic Surgery. Principal Investigator: Investigational narcotic study for OA pain.
Subinvestigator: NSAID treatment of OA.

Corey Ponder, MD
Orthopedic Surgery. Subinvestigator: Investigational device study of injectable treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee.

Thomas K. Tkach, MD
Orthopedic Surgery. Principal Investigator: Component study of tibial insert design in total knee arthroplasty; follow-up study of total hip revision patients; studies of investigational IV NSAID use immediately after total knee or hip arthroplasty.

W. Scott Waugh III, MD
Primary Care Sports Medicine. Subinvestigator: Investigational device study of injectable treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee.

Larry G. Willis, MD
Internal Medicine/Rheumatology. Principal Investigator: Numerous studies of investigational biologics for RA and SLE, including early phase studies; compliance study of osteoporosis patients; use of investigational treatment for steroid-induced osteoporosis; study of oral drug for osteoporosis.
Subinvestigator: Study of NSAID pharmaceuticals in OA patients; study of investigational TNFs in RA; study of NSAIDs in RA; treatment of hypertension.

Helen Kelley, RN, PhD, CCRP
Doctorate in Epidemiology/Biostatistics. Twenty-two years' experience conducting studies in internal medicine, orthopedics, and general surgery; nine years' nursing experience in medical/surgical care of adults. Serves as subinvestigator on Department studies. Areas of particular interest include total knee arthroplasty, medical writing, survey research, and investigational biologic treatment of various diagnoses.

Reda Mewhorter, MLT (ACSP), CCRP
American Society of Clinical Pathologist/Certified Medical Laboratory Technician. Twenty-five plus years experience in medical laboratories, including the oversight of the quality control laboratory for a large blood institute as well as the coordination of both industry and government sponsored research programs.

Lori A. Patton, MT, (ASCP), CCRP
American Society of Clinical Pathologist/Registered Medical Technologist. Seventeen-plus years experience in a variety of clinical laboratory areas including laboratory information systems, quality control and routine blood testing.

Linda J. Weber, RN
Infusion Nurse / Study Coordinator. One year as infusion nurse; 10 years medical-surgical nursing experience.

The Oklahoma City metropolitan area is home to over one million people; in addition, our clinic patients originate from parts of Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas. We have a large population of elderly patients, but also draw a number of younger patients with chronic joint problems, connective tissue disease, trauma, and sports injuries. Additionally, we treat a moderate number of patients who are Native American, African American, or Asian.

Musculoskeletal
Rheumatology