FLORIDA

Principal Investigator Biographies

Central Nervous System (CNS) and Addiction

Dr. Segal attended an accelerated biomedical program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before entering the Albany Medical College and receiving his medical doctor degree. He completed his residency and internship in psychiatry at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. His post-residency training included a two-year fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry, also at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, and has since received his Master's in Business Administration from the University of Miami. Dr. Segal is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is a member in good standing of the Young Presidents' Organization.

Dr. Segal has an extensive background in psychodynamic psychotherapy, pain management, psychopharmacology, addiction medicine (including substance abuse), and eating disorders, as well as the evaluation and treatment of child and adolescent disorders. He has served as the medical director of several hospitals and treatment facilities and has developed innovative delivery systems that improve health care quality and lower costs. He serves as a consultant to many hospitals, group practices, and behavioral health organizations. He currently serves as the medical director of Atlantic Shores Hospital and sits on advisory boards of several area hospitals and insurance companies. Dr. Segal's research is conducted throughout South Florida in Segal Institute's North Miami, Hollywood, and East Ft. Lauderdale site locations.

Dr. Segal specializes in most areas of Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric CNS and Addiction research.

Dr. Flaherty has been with Segal Institute for Clinical Research since 2002. He has a great deal of experience as a clinical research Investigator for Segal Institute, and has conducted over 150 clinical trials. Dr. Flaherty completed his training at the University of Iowa Hospital. In addition to his work in clinical research, Dr. Flaherty maintains an extremely active outpatient and inpatient practice.

Dr. Flaherty specializes in most areas of Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric CNS and Addiction research.

Dr. Lapeyra serves as an Investigator for a number of inpatient and outpatient trials for Segal Institute, in addition to providing her services to a growing inpatient practice with Compass Health Systems. Dr. Lapeyra earned her medical degree at Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic and completed her International Post Graduate Mini Residency and Internship at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Lapeyra participated in Miami Veterans Administration PTSD Program "Adjunctive Risperidone Treatment in Combat Veterans with Chronic PTSD." Dr. Lapeyra is fully bilingual and successfully conducts her studies in both Spanish and English.

Dr. Sobhan has conducted over 15 Phase I-III clinical trials in inpatient and outpatient facilities. Dr. Sobhan began his medical training in Dhoka, Bangladesh, and completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dr. Sobhan has served as Chief of Staff at the University of Alabama, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Director at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk, NE. He has received many accolades, including an Excellence in Research Award for developing the clinical research protocol on oxcarbazepine for the treatment of bipolar disorders. Currently, Dr. Sobhan keeps a full schedule as an active Investigator; he rounds numerous inpatient facilities, as well as a growing roster of patients at Compass Health Systems' Boynton Beach outpatient office.

Dr. Pushka began his medical training at Ivan-Frankovsky Medical Institute in the Ukraine, and completed his training there in 1980. He served as an attending physician at the Kiev Center Psychiatric Hospital and Kiev City Hospital.

Dr. Pushka came to the United States in 2004, and completed his psychiatry residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program at Drexel University College of Medicine, in Philadelphia. He joined Segal Institute in 2005, where he has served as an Investigator on outpatient and inpatient clinical trials. Dr. Pushka has an extensive inpatient practice at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. Dr. Pushka has also been recognized as the "Most Valuable Physician" as voted by his peers and patients at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. Dr. Pushka is fully trilingual in Russian, Ukrainian, and English.

Rishi Kakar, MD
Board-Certified in Adult Psychiatry

Dr. Kakar received his medical degree from Albany Medical College. There, he was elected to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honors Medical Society. Dr. Kakar also received Harold D Wiggers Award by the office of Dean based on his potential to become a scholarly physician. He was awarded "American Academy of Neurology award for Excellence in Neurosciences." His post graduate residency training included medical internship at Drexel University-St. Peters University Hospital, where he was given the "Most Outstanding Resident of the Year Award." He pursued his psychiatry training at Georgetown University School of Medicine where he received accolades from medical students for his teaching and was nominated for a teaching award. In the final year of training, he was selected for a Clinical Fellowship at National Institutes of Mental Health, concentrating in psychosomatic medicine. There he has completed courses in ethics and regulatory aspects of clinical research. He has completed requirements to receive certificate in Clinical Research from National Institutes of Health.

Prior to pursuing his medical degree, Dr. Kakar worked at NJ Neuroscience Institute as a Clinical Trial Coordinator, where he assisted with coordination of several trials in the areas of dementia, secondary stroke prevention and neuropathic pain. He also has extensive pharmaceutical experience working for Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, and Merck & Co. as a professional representative. Dr. Kakar has successfully published in reputable scientific journals and presented at scientific meetings.

Dr. Kakar will be joining Segal Institute as a Subinvestigator at the North Miami Outpatient Clinic and as Subinvestigator at the Segal Institute South Florida inpatient sites. He will maintain an active outpatient clinical practice with Compass Health Systems.

Dr. Erin Tireman has over seven years experience conducting psychological assessments and a clinical background in the treatment of various psychological disorders, including, but not limited to, major depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder in children/adolescents and adults. She obtained her Doctorate and Masters Degrees in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University with a specialization in Neuropsychology from the same institution. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Loyola University of New Orleans. Dr. Tireman has an extensive history in research and was a research coordinator for the Neuropsychology Assessment Center at Nova Southeastern University and has provided treatment and assessment of both adults and children in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Dr. Tireman is also currently pursuing her post-doctoral Master's degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology at Nova Southeastern University, which will enhance her knowledge in the area of central nervous system research. At Segal Institute for Clinical Research, Dr. Tireman has been certified on almost every CNS rating scale by every major rating company. Dr. Tireman is responsible for conducting biopsychosocial/diagnostic interviews to obtain necessary psychiatric history, recruitment of appropriate patient population, cognitive and neuropsychological assessments, behavioral measures, and efficacy rating scales for a variety of children, adolescents and adults in inpatient and outpatient clinical research trials. In addition, Dr. Tireman is the rater supervisor and oversees rater responsibilities and ensures inter-rater reliability for all sites within Segal Institute for Clinical Research.

Dr. Shaina L. Shepherd has over 6 years experience in clinical research and clinical practice. She has provided both therapeutic and assessment services to patients diagnosed with a wide variety of mental health disorders. Dr. Shepherd earned her Doctorate and Master's degrees in Clinical Psychology at Nova Southeastern University, located in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and her Bachelor of Arts degree at Transylvania University, located in Lexington, KY. Dr. Shepherd has experience with all age groups and a wide range of diverse populations, but her interests lie primarily in the treatment and assessment of individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. Other areas of interest include psychopharmacology, crisis intervention, and patient rights. Dr. Shepherd is currently pursuing her post-doctoral Master's degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology at Nova Southeastern University, which she hopes will enhance her expertise in the area of central nervous system research. Responsibilities at Segal Institute include biopsychosocial/diagnostic interviews, cognitive and neuropsychological assessments, behavioral measures, and efficacy rating scales for a variety of children and adults in clinical research trials. In addition, Dr. Shepherd also serves as adjunct faculty in the Master's program of Mental Health Counseling at Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Mara Bailey has over seven years of clinical experience conducting psychotherapy and psychological testing with adults, adolescents, and children with a multitude of diagnoses, including mood, psychotic, anxiety, eating, developmental, learning and cognitive disorders.  She earned her Doctorate of Psychology and Master of Science degrees in Clinical Psychology at Nova Southeastern University and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at University of Central Florida. Dr. Bailey has provided treatment and assessments in various inpatient and outpatient treatment settings throughout South Florida, including Jackson Memorial Hospital, The Renfrew Center, Henderson Community Mental Health Center, Cleveland Clinic Florida, and Child Provider Specialists (an affiliate of Nova Southeastern University and Miami Children's Hospital, Dan Marino Center). Dr. Bailey has been certified on almost every CNS rating scale by every major rating company. At Segal Institute, Dr. Bailey is responsible for recruitment of patients, conducting biopsychosocial and diagnostic interviews, cognitive and neuropsychological assessments, behavioral measures and efficacy rating scales for a variety of adults in inpatient clinical research trials.

Dr. Neely Waring has over 7 years of clinical experience conducting psychotherapy and psychological testing with adults, adolescents, and children diagnosed with a broad spectrum of psychological disorders. She has over 9 years of experience conducting psychological and clinical research. She earned her Doctorate of Psychology and Master of Science degrees in Clinical Health Psychology at Nova Southeastern University and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Kent State University. Dr. Waring has provided treatment and assessment to adults, adolescents, and children of diverse backgrounds in both inpatient and outpatient settings. At Segal Institute for Clinical Research, Dr. Waring is responsible for conducting biopsychosocial/diagnostic interviews to obtain necessary psychiatric history, recruitment of appropriate patient population, cognitive and neuropsychological assessments, behavioral measures, and efficacy rating scales for a variety of children and adults in inpatient clinical research trials.

Women's Health and General Medicine

Steven E. Chavoustie, MD, FACOG, CCRP
Board-Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology
In 2010 Dr. Chavoustie became a SoCRA-Certified in Clinical Research.
Conducted over 50 Phase I-IV clinical trials in inpatient, outpatient, and nursing home facilities, 7 of which he has composed protocols

Board-Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, he has conducted over 50 Phase I-IV clinical trials in inpatient, outpatient, nursing home facilities, and international global health studies, 7 of which he has composed protocols. He is a Certified Clinical Research Professional granted by the Society of Clinical Research Associates.

Dr. Chavoustie is a native of Miami, Florida and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Miami with a Bachelor's in Science degree in chemistry. He attended the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed his residency and internship in obstetrics and gynecology. He was also the administrative chief resident at Jackson Memorial Hospital. In 1987, he was appointed a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

He served in the military as an active duty Air Force officer in the Medical Corps. He received the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service for his role as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Readiness Officer.

Dr. Chavoustie holds dual faculty appointments at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine both as Voluntary Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Family Medicine and Community Health. He teaches clinical skills, provides didactic lectures in obstetrics and gynecology, biomedical engineering and directs the clinical pelvic and breast exam module for all second year medical students. He has been selected many times as one of the "Best Teachers" by the medical students.

Dr. Chavoustie is the medical director of a non-profit organization called "Medical Students in Action" that offers medical and preventative care and education to the underserved communities in the rural areas of the Dominican Republic. He travels yearly with his medical students where he evaluates and treats over 1500 patients per week for most medical conditions.

Dr. Chavoustie joined Segal Institute as an Investigator in 2007. He has conducted and is currently conducting clinical trials in most women's health conditions and several trials in general medicine. Because of his expertise with implantable drug delivery systems he is the current implant medical monitor for Titan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Dr. Hegedosh is an integral component in Segal Institute's Women's Health and General Medicine division. Dr. Hegedosh has served as an Investigator for over 20 Phase I-IV inpatient, outpatient, and nursing home clinical trials. Additionally, she practices internal medicine with Compass Health Systems.

Dr. Hegedosh began her journey at the MD State University, Uzhorod Medical in Ukraine, Russia. She completed her residency at New York College at St. Joseph's Hospital and at Drexel University College of Medicine at Graduate Hospital. Dr. Hegedosh owned a private practice in Philadelphia, PA for 2 years prior to relocating to Miami, FL. Dr. Hegedosh is multilingual in 6 different languages, including English, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Croatian, and Hungarian.