WHO WE ARE
Founded in 2023, Diverse Research Now Inc. is a nonprofit organization started due to the lack of diversity in clinical trials. We are working to ensure that underrepresented and underserved communities get access to highly qualified medical professionals and frequent medical care through clinical trial participation. ​
Staff
Executive Director
Renarda Jones, MS, PhD
Renarda is a Doctorate in Health Science and clinical research professional with over 20 years' experience working with clinical research. She was born and raised in Chicago, IL but currently lives in San Diego, CA with her family. Renarda started her career at Rush University in Chicago, IL working in Alzheimer’s disease research. It was at Rush University that Renarda gained knowledge about the health disparities in the black community. She became passionate about educating communities of color about clinical research opportunities because this was one way to decrease health disparities.
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Multimedia and Social Media Specialist
Diana T. Garcia
Web designer & Digital Marketer. Passionate for creativity.
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Leverages a wealth of experience to craft engaging content. Adept at capturing and conveying brand stories through various platforms.
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Passionate about making a positive impact in the digital realm.
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 Board of DirectorsÂ
Board President
Renarda Jones, MS
Renarda is concurrently fulfilling the roles of Board President, Executive Director, and Founder of Diverse Research Now Inc.
Board Secretary
Shavon Moore, MD
Dr. Shavon Moore is a board-certified general and child adolescent psychiatrist. She's the Medical Director at La Jolla Child and Teen program and a staff psychiatrist at the Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Program. Also, an Assistant Professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine, actively involved in mentorship, training, and education. Her training includes psychiatry residency at UC San Diego and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Rady Children's Hospital. Active member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Board Treasurer
Linda Verin, DMD
Dr. Linda Verin grew up in San Bernardino, California. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley majoring in Integrative Biology and minoring in African-American Studies. She graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and has been working as a General Dentist in North County San Diego the past 12 years.
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Board Director
Semise Daley MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
Semise is a Family Nurse Practitioner with over 35 years’ experience in hospital, community, and primary care environments. She has experience in developing faith-based health related educational programs, health screenings, health fairs, and life crisis coaching. She has been a presenter and speaker at several health related national and local conferences.
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Board Director
Dr. Dung Trinh
Chief Medical Officer - Healthy Brain Clinic
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Board of Directors for Alzheimer’s Orange County
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Founder of TongueOut Medical Missions
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Podcast host “Health Talks with Dr Trinh”
Board Director
Nicole Kittelson, M. Ed
Director at National Partnerships at the Arthritis Foundation and was previously with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation for 8 years. Patient advocacy is at the heart of everything she does. Being the mother of 5 racially diverse children, one of whom is a Crohn's patient, and being a Lupus patient herself, she is passionate about ensuring all patients, regardless of race, age, or gender have access to highly qualified medical professionals and the treatments that are right for them.
Nicole and her daughter have both participated in clinical trials for the treatment of their diseases.
Board Director
Kenneth Lawrence, BS, PharmD
Dr. Lawrence is currently Executive Director, Medical Affairs at Seres Therapeutics. Is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island for both his Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy Degree’s. Dr. Lawrence began his 2-decade clinical pharmacy practice career as a critical care pharmacist later transitioning to Infectious Disease/Antimicrobial Stewardship.
More recently, he has held roles in Clinical Development and most recently Medical Affairs.
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Board Director
Dr. Meana Rasheed
Dedicated, and compassionate foreign physician with over 10 years of Clinical and Research experience.
She has an MBChB and MHA degree.
Currently is a Clinical Research Program Administrator at the University of Southern California.
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Her dedication to making a positive impact on the community plays a vital role in supporting Diverse Research Now’s mission to reach out to underrepresentation and underserved populations.
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Board Director
Tamiko MaGee-Rodgers, PhD, CCRP
Dr. Tamiko MaGee-Rodgers is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in Alzheimer’s research trials and has worked in the field of aging for more than 15 years. As the Associate Director for the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP) Recruitment and Strategic Initiatives, she oversees staff and programs who work to include people from traditionally underrepresented communities in clinical research for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Board Director
Karen Lowe Graham, M.A., Ph.D.
The Manager of Community Relations at Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, overseeing recruitment and education activities, managing relationships with stakeholders. She acts as a liaison between communities of color and the RADC, contributing to planning for translating research findings into practical applications. Karen holds leadership positions in aging organizations and has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a master's degree in psychology from Roosevelt University, and a PhD in Nursing Research from Rush's College of Nursing.
Advisory Board
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Advisory Board Member
Vanessa Di Felice, MD, MPH
Medical Science Liaison at Genentech, collaborates on Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder treatment. A Howard University graduate with an MD and MPH, she conducted pediatric research at Children’s National Health System.
Transitioning to medical affairs at Tetraphase, she chaired the Scientific Research Committee.
Now pursuing a PhD at Walden University, Vanessa explores the experiences of Black youths with Type 1 diabetes.
Advisory Board Member
Denise Alston, DNP, RN, ANP-BC
Denise is a certified Adult Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience working with adult/geriatric patients in various settings.
She presently works as a sub-investigator at a private clinical research site, supporting studies in cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, COPD, and infectious diseases/vaccines.
She prides herself with establishing excellent rapport and educating patients.
Advisory Board Member
Mary Futrell
She started her career in 1972 at the University of Illinois where she promoted research studies. In 1997, she was a leader as Assistant Manager in the Mile Square Health Center in Chicago, IL.
She retired from the Health center in 2000 after 30 years of community service. She was sought out by Rush University Alzheimer disease Center in Chicago, IL to work in the Multicultural Outreach Dept planning research studies events and to be an advocate and ambassador for clinical studies.
Advisory Board Member
Stephanie Thompson, CRA
Stephanie is a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) with over 20 years of experience in higher education research administration; managing grants and contracts.
She currently serves as director of the research office at the University of Memphis. She has held leadership positions at the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as Rush University Medical Center.
Stephanie has managed a multitude of externally sponsored grants and contracts from varying funding agencies.