DaVita Clinical Research Welcomes New Medical Director to Minneapolis Center

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DaVita Clinical Research® (DCR®), a specialty contract research organization with services spanning the full spectrum of drug and device development, announced today that Dr. Jolene K. Berg, M.D., has been appointed medical director of the DaVita Clinical Research Phase I center in Minneapolis.

“Her experience augments DCR’s capabilities to manage co-morbid conditions in early clinical trials. She will be responsible for overseeing all clinical aspects of Phase I trials and providing medical monitoring services across study sites.”

“Dr. Berg brings a depth of experience in clinical trial design and execution in a wide range of early clinical studies,” said Amy Young, vice president and general manager of DCR. “Her experience augments DCR’s capabilities to manage co-morbid conditions in early clinical trials. She will be responsible for overseeing all clinical aspects of Phase I trials and providing medical monitoring services across study sites.”

Dr. Berg will serve as principal investigator for Phase I-IIa studies being conducted in DCR’s inpatient site. Previously Dr. Berg was director of medical affairs at PRACS Institute, where she was responsible for the planning and development of clinical studies in Phase I through Phase IV with an emphasis on endocrinology and innovator drugs.

“I am excited to join the early clinical research unit at DCR,” said Dr. Berg. “I look forward to contributing to their long-standing history of providing operational and scientific excellence.”

Dr. Berg completed her medical degree at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis; she fulfilled a family medicine residency training at St. John’s Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., and at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Berg is also a Certified Physician Investigator through the Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Investigators.

To learn more about DCR and upcoming clinical research trials, visit participateDaVita.com or DCR on Facebook.

DaVita, DaVita Clinical Research and DCR are registered trademarks of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About DaVita

DaVita is the dialysis division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., a Fortune 500® company that, through its operating divisions, provides a variety of health care services to patient populations throughout the United States and abroad. A leading provider of kidney care in the United States, DaVita delivers dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita strives to improve patients’ quality of life by innovating clinical care, and by offering integrated treatment plans, personalized care teams and convenient health-management services. As of December 31, 2012, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,954 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 153,000 patients. The company also operated 36 outpatient dialysis centers located in eight countries outside the United States. DaVita supports numerous programs dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change in communities around the world. The company’s leadership development initiatives and social responsibility efforts have been recognized by Fortune, Modern Healthcare, Newsweek and WorldBlu. For more information, please visit DaVita.com.

About DaVita Clinical Research (DCR)

DaVita Clinical Research (DCR), a wholly owned subsidiary of DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc.,uses its extensive, applied database and real-world healthcare experience to assist pharmaceutical and medical device companies in the design, recruitment and completion of retrospective, prospective pragmatic and clinical trials. DCR’s scientific and clinical expertise spans the lifecycle of product development with more than 150 client companies. DCR’s Biorepository, Early Clinical Research unit (Phase I-IIa) and Clinical Development (Phase IIb through post-marketing) network of physicians and investigative sites, data research, Health Economics & Outcomes Research, Central Laboratory, and Medical Communications are focused on providing world-class research in both complex/specialty populations and therapeutic areas, and especially in CKD and ESRD populations. To learn more about DCR, visit www.davitaclinicalresearch.com.