Southern Gastroenterology Associates has been involved in clinical research for the past 6 years. Collectively the research staff has over 31 years of clinical research experience. We focus in Phase II, III, and IV clinical trials. Subjects for research studies are generated from our large GI practice population and database, our referring physicians within Coastal Carolina Healthcare and central advertising campaigns throughout Eastern North Carolina.

Therapeutic Research Specialties include:
We have conducted or are conducting studies for the following conditions:

• Barretts Esophagus
• Celiac Disease
• Chronic Constipation
• Colon Cancer Screening
• Crohns Disease
• GERD, erosive esophagitis
• GERD
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Constipation
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Diarrhea
• Opiod-induced Constipation
• Pancreatitis
• Proctitis
• Proctosigmoiditis
• Ulcerative Colitis

Led by W. Stewart Futch, Jr., MD, our Principal Investigator, and our SGA Investigators have an established record of performance and excellence conducting clinical trials. David E. Byrd, MD, Joseph S. Healy, MD, Patricia G.Lewis, FNP-C, Frances W. Bailey, FNP-C, and Jennifer Scott, PA, collectively have over 24 years of Gastrointestinal clinical research experience.

W. Stewart Futch, Jr., MD is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Dr. Futch graduated from the University of Richmond in Richmond, VA in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He later received his masters degree in Microbiology and Immunology from Virginia Commonwealth University and the Medical College of Virginia, in Richmond, VA. He received a medical degree from the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA, where he also trained as an intern and resident. He completed his fellowship in Gastroenterology at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Medical College of Virginia. He served as Chief Fellow and Clinical Instructor of Medicine at MCV following his fellowship. Dr. Futch also served as an instructor at the Wake Forest University Bowman Gray School of Medicine. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and has advanced certification in hepatobiliary disease, ERCP and advanced therapeutic endoscopy. He is a Fellow in the American Gastroenterological Association. Dr. Futch is a frequent honorary speaker for gastrointestinal continuing education programs.

Our experienced clinical research team includes 2 experienced study coordinators who recruit and manage patients, prepare and submit regulatory documents to sponsors, IRB's and CRO's, assist in budget and contract negotiations and provide on going communication to the investigator team and between the study site and the sponsors and CRO's. We take great effort in adhering to strict protocol compliance, regulatory compliance and professionalism within every aspect of our clinical research program.

Donna Bashford, RN, BSN
Donna received her BSN in nursing from Emory University in Atlanta, GA in 1984. She went immediately into the pediatric open heart unit at Henrietta Egleston Hospital in Atlanta. Donna began her 12 year experience in medical industry and device in 1987 with SpaceLabs, Inc. She branched into the Cardiac Cath Lab that lead to her research experience beginning in 1993 with Guidant Corporation with investigational cardiovascular medical devices. Donna has over 20 years experience in Cardiology, with over 6 years of that time in Cardiovascular research of devices and pharmaceuticals. She has also had the opportunity to work at George Washington University Medical Center as a Study Coordinator and as a staff member at this Core lab for Acute MI studies. She has had experience as a monitor both for sponsors and CRO's, and currently is a Clinical Research Coordinator for SGA. She has 2 years of Gastroenterology research experience and over 8 years total research experience.

Lisa Ortega, LPN, BS
Lisa received her Bachelors Degree in Nutritional Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA. She has experience as a personal trainer certified by NFPT. Lisa joined the Army and became and currently is a Combat Medic and Practical Nurse. She has been an LPN for over 4 years. She also keeps current her EMT-B license. Lisa has 2 years as an endoscopy procedure nurse, and joined our research team after intensive research training in 2009.

New Bern is located in Craven County, which has a population of over 90,000 people. The physicians of Southern Gastroenterology Associates have a patient base of over 40,000.

Our physicians also care for patients in the following surrounding counties:

• Craven County
• Carteret County
• Jones county
• Pitt County
• Lenoir County
• Onslow County

Gastroenterology
Immunology/Infectious Diseases