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, our research mission 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 for collaborative, innovative research — connecting UHS experts 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, 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 is led by a multidisciplinary team committed to supporting high-quality, patient-centered research across the health system. 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
Manager of Research
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 Assistant
Supports participant screening, enrollment, data collection, and study coordination across various research protocols.
- David Blakney
Research Assistant
Assists in the implementation and monitoring of clinical studies, including patient follow-up and data integrity.
Additional Roles & Collaborators
- Clinical departments across UHS 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.