Our Team
Providers
Shivkumar Hatti, MD
MBA - CEO & Principal Investigator
Dr. Hatti, a board-certified General Adult Psychiatrist, has been practicing in Media and West Chester, Philadelphia, for over four decades. As the CEO of Suburban Research Associates since 1999, he has led more than 250 pharmaceutical research trials. A graduate of Seth G.S. Medical College in Mumbai and an Assistant Clinical Professor at Thomas Jefferson University, Dr. Hatti is a recognized leader in psychiatric research. He has held prominent positions such as President of the National Indo-American Psychiatric Association (IAPA) and the American Association of Psychiatric Administrators (AAPA). In 2010, he received the NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Award. Dr. Hatti’s extensive expertise and leadership make him a valuable collaborator for Sponsors and CROs in clinical research.
Omer Abdullah, MD
Physician
Dr. Omer Abdullah is an Internal Medicine physician with close to 30 years of experience in clinical practice and clinical research. He is a graduate of Khyber Medical College in Pakistan. After finishing his Internal Medicine Residency at North Shore University Hospital in New York, he has practiced General Internal Medicine in small rural county clinic setting, large VA medical center in urban setting and private practice in suburban location. He has held teaching faculty appointments at Southern Illinois University and Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Abdullah has spent over 16 years in various leadership roles in pharmaceutical industry where he was involved in designing and conducting clinical trials across a wide range of indications and therapeutic areas. He is passionate about patient care and strongly believes that clinical trials provide an excellent opportunity for innovation leading to transformative care to improve our patient’s life.
Kristen Dopf, MHS
PA-C - Principal & Sub-Investigator
Kristen is a nationally board-certified Physician Assistant licensed in Pennsylvania and Delaware. She has over nine years of clinical experience and has spent more than 20 years in the healthcare field. Kristen graduated from Drexel Hahnemann University where she also earned a master’s degree in health science. She joined Suburban Research Associates as an Investigator in 2022 and is certified in good clinical practice. Her responsibilities include conducting scale assessments and overall study oversight.
Krystal Gamez, PsyD
Clinical Rater
Krystal is a licensed psychologist and a Clinical Rater for Suburban Research Associates. She received her Doctorate in Psychology from Immaculata University and completed her postdoctoral residency at Elwyn, where she is currently the clinical director of Outpatient and Recovery Services. Krystal has a background in clinical research with individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and autism and completed a clinical efficacy trial for her dissertation. At Suburban Research, Krystal is responsible for conducting assessments with patients to determine study eligibility and to measure study outcomes.
Deeanna Welling, PsyD
Clinical Research Coordinator + Rater
Deeanna Welling is a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology with extensive experience in psychological assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention. She has worked across outpatient and educational settings, providing evidence-based care to children, adolescents, and families. Her clinical interests include trauma-informed care, developmental disabilities, and parent-focused interventions. Deeanna is known for her warm, thoughtful approach and her ability to build strong, trusting relationships with clients and families. She is committed to delivering compassionate, culturally responsive services while supporting meaningful, lasting change. In her free time, she enjoys baking with sourdough and exploring creative outlets that bring balance to her work.
Administration Team
Tom joined Rochester Clinical Research in 2021 as a Clinical Research Coordinator, leading multiple clinical trials across various therapeutic areas and device studies. An internationally trained physician, he earned his Master’s in Clinical Research Management with a focus on Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance from Rutgers University and holds an ACRP-CP certification. In 2025, Tom moved within the network to become the Site Head at Suburban Research Associates.
Tom is passionate about advancing medicine through innovation in clinical research and is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through high-quality clinical studies. Outside of work, Tom enjoys traveling with his family, driving, playing basketball, and cooking.
Clinical Research Nurses and Study Coordinators
Melissa Skahan
Clinical Research Coordinator
Melissa is a Registered Nurse and a Clinical Research Coordinator at Suburban Research Associates. She is a dedicated nursing professional with a background in both clinical care and research. A graduate of LaSalle University, she began her career on a cardiac unit and transitioned into the field of clinical research. With over four years of clinical research experience, she has been involved in Phase 1 to 4 Clinical Drug Trials across a wide range of therapeutic areas. Certified in Good Clinical Practice and IATA, Melissa is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and ethical conduct in clinical research.
Robert Kilpatrick
Clinical Research Coordinator
Robert joined Suburban Research Associates as a Clinical Research Coordinator in October 2024. He is a dedicated clinical researcher with a passion for advancing medical knowledge to improve patient lives. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology Pre-Medical Sciences and a Bachelors in Biochemistry. After graduation, Robert worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Penn Medicine, focusing on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis), where he gained valuable experience managing clinical trials.
Currently, at Suburban Research Associates, Robert continues to expand his expertise across all phases of clinical trials. Driven by the opportunity to explore innovative treatments and contribute to advancements in healthcare, he is certified in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), IATA, and Phlebotomy. Robert is committed to growing and furthering his knowledge in the field of clinical research.
Naya Square
Clinical Research Coordinator
Naya is a Clinical Research Coordinator with over 10 years of healthcare experience, bringing a strong clinical foundation to regulated research. She advanced from Clinical Research Assistant to Coordinator and independently supports clinical trial operations across multiple therapeutic areas.
At Suburban Research Associates, she manages participant visits from screening through follow-up and performs protocol-specific procedures including phlebotomy, ECGs, vital signs, and specimen processing. With a background as a Certified Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy Technician, she is known for her hands-on clinical expertise, efficiency, and ability to maintain accuracy in fast-paced research environments.
She is committed to high-quality research execution and improving patient outcomes while fostering a supportive and respectful experience for every participant.
Olufemi John‑Fatinikun
Clinical Research Coordinator
Olufemi John‑Fatinikun is a Clinical Research Coordinator with experience supporting translational and early‑phase studies across oncology, hematologic malignancies, gastrointestinal cancers, and infectious disease. His work includes coordination of investigational therapeutics, support of epigenetic biomarker research, regulatory compliance activities, and multi‑site data management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the City College of New York (CUNY) and is certified in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and HIPAA compliance