About Summit Research

Our goal at Summit Research is to expand scientific knowledge while maintaining the highest quality patient care.

Summit Research is a medical research organization located in the greater Portland, Oregon area. Since 1976, we remain dedicated to improving medical treatment by conducting high quality scientific research and patient care. We work in cooperation with pharmaceutical companies to develop better future treatments and better health for individuals with medical and mental health conditions. Our expanded services include the Memory Health Center within Summit Research to focus on dementia and other age related memory conditions.

In 2021, Summit Research joined Headlands Research integrated network of clinical trials sites.

Our staff includes physicians; psychologists, nurse practitioners, certified clinical research coordinators, medical assistants, and support personnel.

What kind of research is done at Summit?

We perform research studies, also known as clinical trials, of approved and investigational medications. Some of these studies are undertaken to enhance our understanding of currently available medications (for example; determining optimal dose schedules). We also conduct research on medications that are not available to the general public except in research studies, and look at questions of expanded usage (for example; determining whether an established medical treatment for depression is also effective in treating anxiety).

All medications available by prescription in the U.S. must go through this highly regulated, scientific process to evaluate whether an investigational medication can be approved and made available to all.

Many of our studies involve comparisons between an investigational study medication, a commonly prescribed medication, and a placebo (inactive substance). Placebo groups are included in some of our studies because the status of patients in the placebo group provides a comparison base for evaluating the effectiveness of active medications. In addition, a surprising number of people improve when treated with placebos.

Our patients receive research-related care, evaluations, and supervision by our professional and experienced staff. A post-study treatment program may also be available to patients once their study participation has been completed. All of these services are provided at no cost to the patient and health insurance is not required for any study required visits or procedures. In addition, many of our clinical trials provide study participants with a stipend or compensation for time and travel.

Our Staff

LEADERSHIP

James R. Hockley, M.B.A

President-Owner
With Summit Since 1984

Jim started with Summit Research (previously Pacific Northwest Clinical Research Center) in December, 1984. He helped navigate Summit’s growth over the years and helped open sites in multiple locations. He has primary responsibility for business development and the overall management of the business. In his spare time, Jim plays tennis, lifts weights and spends time with his family.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Scott Losk, PHD

Principal Investigator / Clinical Director
With Summit Since 1990

Dr. Losk is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who has maintained a clinical and research practice with Summit Research in Portland, OR since 1990. He has been a principal investigator on over 60 clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and has done research on all of the current FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. He has been a sub-investigator in over 125 clinical trials evaluating treatments of other central nervous system disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, migraine, fibromyalgia, etc.). Dr. Losk is active in the Alzheimer’s community providing talks and presentations to caregivers and other professionals.

Dr. Losk has extensive clinical and research experience in all aspects of cognitive disorders and because of his background, experience and contacts in the pharmaceutical industry he has access to all of the latest research studies in Alzheimer’s disease.

When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, running, home and yard projects, the guitar, and his dogs.

Jim Bergthold, MD

Principal Investigator
With Summit Since 2001

James Bergthold, MD has been with Summit Research since 2001. He received a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1986 from Biola University and a medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1992. Following his residency in Internal Medicine from Oregon Health Sciences University in 1995, he was a partner at HealthFirst Medical Group and later at Providence Medical Group. Dr. Bergthold’s special interests include geriatric medicine, cardiology and diabetes. He has been an investigator in well over 100 clinical trials. He has been a Principal Investigator in studies involving hypertension, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, obesity, Alzheimer’s dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, insomnia, and migraine headaches.

MaryAnn Conrad, MD

Principal Investigator
With Summit Since 2002

MaryAnn Conrad, MD, graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1987, and a medical degree in 1991. She is board certified in internal medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Hawaii in 1995. Before joining Summit Research in 2002, Dr. Conrad practiced as a primary care physician for Providence Medical Group and Kaiser Permanente. At Summit she enjoys focusing on clinical research, mental health and women’s health. When not taking care of patients at Summit, Dr. Conrad enjoys hanging out with her husband and cat, watching Blazer games, hiking, going to the Oregon coast, and photography.

Beal Essink, MD

Principal Investigator
With Summit since 2021

Beal Essink, MD, is the newest member of our Summit Research Investigator team. He hails from the Midwest, where he graduated with Distinction from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1996. He has been an Alpha Omega Alpha member since 1996 and completed the Psychiatry Residency Training Program at Oregon Health Sciences University in 2000. In residency, he served as a Chief Resident and was elected Psychiatry Resident of the Year in 2000. Since 2002, he has been a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and he won the Distinguished Services Award at OHSU in 2003.

Dr. Essink has psychiatric experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings, but his true passion has always been research. He has been conducting clinical research studies since 2003 and has been an Investigator for over 250 trials.

When Dr. Essink is not working, he enjoys rock climbing at the gym, hiking in the forest, watching football, and playing card and board games.

CLINICIAN RATERS

Mary Horton, RN, ANP

Sub-Investigator / Rater
With Summit Since 1998

Mary Horton graduated from Walla Walla School of Nursing and the Nurse Practitioner program at Kaiser Permanente. She is Board Certified by the ANCC, the certifying organization for Nurse Practitioners. She joined Summit Research in 1998 and has participated in over 100 clinical trials involving mental health, dementia, migraine & fibromyalgia and other medical issues. Prior to coming to SRN, she worked at Kaiser Permanente in primary care. In her free time she enjoys gardening, travel and playing with her grandchildren.

Carrie Crider, BS

Research Clinician / Rater
With Summit Since 2005

Carrie Crider, BS, received her bachelor's in Psychology at Portland State University. She has been a Research Clinician at Summit since 2005. Carrie has clinical trial experience in studies focusing on depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. At Summit, Carrie has been a sub-investigator on over 60 studies. Prior to working at Summit, Carrie attended school at Queens College in New York and worked in a research and publishing capacity studying the effects of dementia on emotion under Dr. Joan Borod. Before this, Carrie worked at OHSU on a cognitive remediation program for children who were cancer survivors.

MANAGERS

Lisa Calmettes

Accounting Manager
With Summit Since 1994

Lisa began working with Summit Research Management, Inc (SRN) as a contractor in 1994, she owned a bookkeeping service for small business and SRN was a client. She became a fulltime employee with SRN in 1999. She manages the financial aspects of the business, as well as payroll and tracking our Human Resource services. In her free time, she loves traveling to warm destinations and spending time with her family, especially her grandkids.

Annika Truitt

Manager - Research Operations
With Summit Since 1994

Annika received her bachelor's degrees in biology and statistics from Washington State University in 1994. She was the senior recipient of the Herbert J. Eastlick Young Sciences award that year and completed an internship at Pacific Northwest Asthma and Allergy that got her “hooked” on research. Following graduation, Annika started working at Summit Research and has had the opportunity to provide oversight on over 150 trials in pediatric ADHD, Alzheimer’s and many other central nervous system and medical studies. In her free time, Annika enjoys running, spending time with family and cuddling with her Shiba Inu pups.

Kim Plank, BS, CCRC

Clinical Research Manager
With Summit Since 1996

Kim graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She started working with Summit Research in 1996. Her work started as a clinical research coordinator and evolved over the years to include various roles including regulatory compliance specialist, auditor, research coordinator manager and clinical research manager. Kim has had the opportunity to be the primary coordinator on over 125 clinical trials in central nervous system and medical studies. In 1999 she successfully passed the certification exam through the Association of Clinical Research Professionals making her a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC). In her free time, Kim enjoys spending time with her family, going to Duck football games and traveling.

STUDY COORDINATORS

Tiffany Burch

Clinical Research Coordinator
With Summit Since 2021

Tiffany received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences with an option in Animal Behavior and Bioethics from Oregon State University in 2007. Shortly after graduating, Tiffany began a career dedicated to research with Oregon Health & Science University. Over the next 12 years Tiffany worked as a Research Assistant managing a multitude of preclinical trials with Nonhuman Primates. As a natural progression, Tiffany later joined the Knight Cancer Institute within OHSU as a Clinical Research Coordinator conducting Clinical Trials for Genitourinary Cancer. Since joining the Summit team in 2021, Tiffany has quickly adapted to balancing a variety of study types including weight loss and Alzheimer’s Disease. When not at work she enjoys spending time with her black lab and loved ones, cooking from scratch, travel adventures, gardening, and wandering the farmers market.

Kate Walker-Schneider

Clinical Research Coordinator
With Summit Since 2021

Kate Walker-Schneider, PhD, received a Bachelor of Art degree in from the University of Oregon in 2000, and her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from Walden University in 2021. At Summit she is currently working as both a Clinical Research Coordinator and a Rater in a hybrid position. Kate’s background is in Medical Administration where she spent close to 20 years working in a variety of different roles in both the hospital and clinical setting. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her sweet and active little boy.