United Health Services Center for Research
Mission, Vision & Values
At the Center for Research at United Health Services (UHS), we are committed to advancing science in service of patient care — locally and globally. As part of a community-based, patient-centered health system in the Binghamton area, our health science research center in Johnson City has a mission that aligns closely with UHS’s values of Compassion, Trust, Respect, Teamwork, and Innovation.
Our Mission
To improve health outcomes through high-quality scientific research that supports compassionate, evidence-based care for the communities we serve and contributes to medical knowledge worldwide.
Our Vision
To become a leading hub in the Binghamton area for collaborative, innovative research — connecting UHS experts at our health services center in Johnson City with national and global partners to generate discoveries that transform patient care across our region and beyond.
Our Values
- Compassion: We conduct research with empathy and a deep respect for the dignity and well-being of all participants, ensuring that our work serves those most in need.
- Trust: We uphold the highest standards of research integrity, regulatory compliance, and transparency to build and maintain trust with our patients, communities, and collaborators.
- Respect: We honor the voices, contributions, and lived experiences of every research participant, colleague, and partner at our Johnson City health service center for research, fostering an inclusive and equitable research environment.
- Teamwork: We promote interdisciplinary collaboration across UHS and beyond, leveraging collective expertise to solve complex healthcare challenges.
- Innovation: We support cutting-edge research and continuous learning that lead to scientific breakthroughs, improved treatments, and better patient care.
Organizational Structure
The Center for Research at United Health Services in Johnson City is led by a multidisciplinary team committed to supporting high-quality, patient-centered research across the health system. At our health services center in Johnson City, we coordinate clinical trials and collaborative research initiatives while fostering ethical standards and scientific integrity.
Leadership & Team
- Stanley Hunter, MD
Director of Research
Provides strategic direction for the research program, fosters institutional and external collaborations, and oversees the integration of research into clinical care.
- Terri Peters, RN
Research Program Manager
Oversees daily operations of clinical research activities, regulatory compliance, staff training, and protocol execution.
- Liliane El-Kassis, MD
Chair, Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Leads the IRB in overseeing the ethical conduct of human subjects research at UHS, ensuring compliance with regulatory and institutional standards.
- Hisham Kashou, MD
Vice Chair, Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Supports IRB operations and reviews, assisting with oversight of research protocols and participant protections.
- B. Max Kammerman, MD
Initial Reviewer, Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Supports expeditious processing of research protocols. As IRB Initial Reviewer, Dr. Kammerman reviews studies eligible for expedited IRB review. If a proposal requires modification to meet criteria, he collaborates with the Principal Investigator to revise accordingly or guides the proposal through the standard review pathway.
- Kathy Hughes, RN
Research Study Coordinator
Supports participant screening, enrollment, data collection, and study coordination across various research protocols. - David Blakney
Research Study Coordinator
Assists in the implementation and monitoring of clinical studies, including patient follow-up and data integrity.
Additional Roles & Collaborators
- Clinical departments across the United Health Services Center in Johnson City to support investigator-initiated studies and clinical trial participation.
- The Institutional Review Board (IRB) to uphold the ethical and regulatory standards of all research involving human participants.
- External partners, including academic institutions, industry sponsors, and public agencies, to advance collaborative research initiatives.