Our Staff
We are dedicated to advancing research and improving healthcare.
Every Triad Clinical Trials staff member has a passion for healthcare and is dedicated to advancing clinical research that can someday improve patient care. We perform clinical studies with a solid commitment to the purpose, values, and principles of exceptional medical research, along with a 100% focus on patient safety.
While we are well-known in the Triad area medical community, we are also your friends and neighbors. We live here. Our children go to school here. We participate in local events at local community centers and care clinics. And we enjoy getting to know area residents who participate in our clinical trials. Who knows, you might see us at your favorite coffee shop, restaurant, store, or walking down the street.
Richard L. Montgomery, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Richard Montgomery is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and practicing internist. Serving as Medical Director at Triad Clinical Trials since 2013, he has conducted over 200 research studies as a Principal Investigator. Rich plays an active role in the local medical community, serving as Director of the Community Care Center of Forsyth County and mentoring third-year medical students from the Wake Forest School of Medicine. Rich frequently directs medical mission trips to Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic and is also on the Christian Medical and Dental Association council. He enjoys hiking, swimming, and other outdoor activities when not working.
William “Hopp” Hopper, MD, FACS, FCCP
Principal Investigator
Dr. William “Hopp” Hopper is a board-certified pulmonologist and internist. He is widely known in the Greensboro area for his medical expertise, thoughtful patient care, and commitment to teaching. Dr. Hopper joined Triad Clinical Trials as a Principal Investigator in 2018 and appreciates taking his time with patients during research visits. You can often find him at the lake on summer weekends, spending time with his family and his dog, Izzy.
Julia Kordsmeier, DNP, FNP-C, RN
Investigator
Julie Kordsmeier joined Triad Clinical Trials in 2020, bringing extensive nursing experience to our patient care team. As a family nurse practitioner, she promotes wellness and healthy lifestyle choices across her patients’ lifespans. Julie takes great joy and pride in mentoring advanced-practice graduate students in her role as a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Nursing. When not in the clinic or teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family and her adorable dog.
Shavonna Haamid, CRC
Senior Study Coordinator
With over 15 years of experience as a Clinical Research Coordinator, Shavonna Haamid joined Triad Clinical Trials in 2018, where she expertly manages very complex study protocols. She finds it rewarding to work on new (and hopefully less expensive) treatments for medical conditions. Shavonna is always excited to see TV commercials for drugs whose clinical trials she worked on. She takes the lead in training and developing new staff, passing on her love of research and high standards. Shavonna likes to garden in her spare time, and her gardening skills are the reason why our clinic's plants flourish.
Courtney Sherron, RN
Registered Nurse
Courtney Sherron, a registered nurse, joined the Triad Clinical Trials team in the spring of 2021, bringing 13 years of nursing experience to the team. Working with TCT has allowed her to explore an entirely different side of nursing and embrace a new, refreshing outlook. When she’s not working, you can find Courtney relaxing and taking beach trips with her family.
Dominique Smith
Study Coordinator
Recently promoted to Study Coordinator, Dominique Smith joined Triad Clinical Trials in 2020. She has a background in multiple fields, including gastroenterology, internal medicine, weight loss management, and pediatric care. Dominique is a dedicated dance mom who enjoys hanging out at the lake in the summer.
Penny Mehling
Administrative Assistant
Penny Mehling has been keeping the voluminous paperwork that accompanies clinical trials well organized at Triad Clinical Trials since 2016. When not tracking down medical records, filing, or managing office supplies, she enjoys spending time by the pool or beach with her family.
Laura Murray, MSN, FNP-BC
Investigator
Laura joined Triad Clinical Trials in November, 2022. As a family nurse practitioner for the last 23 years, she relishes her relationships with patients and the opportunity to get to know them. Laura appreciates the intellectual challenge of research and the chance to apply her medical expertise in new ways beyond primary care. She particularly enjoys collaborating with the TCT team and devoting ample time to each patient without feeling rushed. When not practicing medicine, Laura is busy running a mom taxi service and taking care of her family.
Airelle Newkirk
Laboratory Assistant
Airelle started at TCT in June, 2021 as a high school student intern, assisting the Triad Clinical Trials staff with data entry and special projects. She was quickly promoted to laboratory assistant in recognition of her excellent performance, ability and attention to detail. Currently, Airelle is a biology major at UNC-Greensboro, and the TCT team is always happy to see her on school breaks and summer vacation. When not studying or working, Airelle enjoys crocheting, tutoring students in math, and hanging out with her friends.
Kimberly Shuttleworth, BS
Psychometric Rater
Kim Shuttleworth joined Triad Clinical Trials in 2022. She has over 10 years of experience working in cognitive testing and patient care, specializing in dementia. She strives to provide a great experience for each and every trial participant and most enjoys working with Alzheimers patients and their families. In her free time, Kim enjoys reading and spending as much time as she can with her husband, children and grandchildren.
Tisha McMillon, LPN, CCRC
Study Coordinator
Tisha McMillon joined Triad Clinical Trials in April 2024, bringing with her 14 years of dedicated clinical research nurse experience. Tisha’s love for clinical research comes from her passion for directly contributing to the advancement of medical knowledge and improving patient care. She enjoys using her nursing skills in a unique way by working with patients in clinical trials, testing new treatments and developing better healthcare practices. She loves the family feel of TCT and values her team. On her down time, Tisha enjoys time with her loved ones fishing at the beach, or cheering on the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Shanta Williams, CCRP
Study Coordinator
Shanta moved to North Carolina from Tennessee in 2023, and began work at Triad Clinical Trials that same year. She has been a study coordinator for over 19 years, primarily in oncology and women’s health. Shanta’s favorite aspect of research is that it can help people who don’t have other options for health care. She is known in the clinic for always contributing to office snacks and is the consummate team player – as she often says, “Teamwork makes the dream work!” When not at work, Shanta spends time with her new grandbaby and travels with her husband.
Shirley Tobler
Site Coordinator
In October 2023, Shirley Tobler became a member of the TCT team. She has 17 years of experience in clinical research, having held positions as a study coordinator, regulatory affairs specialist, and clinical trials administrator. As a site coordinator, Shirley manages regulatory compliance from the beginning to the end of the study, sees patients, and supports her lab colleagues. She enjoys being a team player and helping trial participants feel comfortable during study visits. Outside the office, Shirley enjoys spending time with her family, going to the park, and people-watching.
Angela Yamba, RMA
Research Assistant
In the summer of 2024, Angela joined Triad Clinical Trials as an experienced Registered Medical Assistant. Her colleagues praise her excellent, precise phlebotomy skills and meticulous attention to detail. Angela's favorite aspect of the job is interacting with patients, and she is often the first person patients encounter at the clinic. Described by coworkers as "very demure, very mindful," Angela is passionate about health, beauty, and fitness outside of the office.
Cathy Whitt
Operating Manager
Cathy Whitt has co-owned Triad Clinical Trials since 2016 and has served as the clinic’s Operating Manager since 2018. In addition to overall site management, she brings her prior experience working as a foreign service officer in the U.S. State Department to the highly complex regulatory and compliance functions of clinical research. When not ensuring the smooth running of the clinic and expertly managing the dedicated TCT team, Cathy enjoys playing tennis and hiking with her dogs, Hadrian and Whisky.
Scott Whitt
General Manager
As a co-owner of Triad Clinical Trials since 2016, Scott Whitt is responsible for marketing, sponsor/CRO relations, and clinic planning. He brings 30+ years of healthcare experience, including leadership roles at Deloitte Consulting, United Healthcare, and IQVIA, to medical research at TCT. Scott has also served as adjunct faculty at UNC-Greensboro, George Washington University, and most recently, the UNC Keenan-Flagler School of Business in the Healthcare MBA program. When not in the clinic, Scott enjoys cooking, playing tennis, and looking after his family’s house cat, Gracie.
Whisky
Office Mascot
Whisky was adopted as a puppy in April 2020 from Peak Lab Rescue in Apex, NC, and quickly secured the position as the designated Triad Clinic mascot. As he grew, his breed—scruffy mutt—became more and more apparent. He is an old soul who comes to work with Cathy several times a week and can usually be found napping in team workrooms, searching for treats among the staff, or checking in on patients during study visits. If you hear a bark, he’s surely found a tasty treat to enjoy!
A recognized leader in clinical research studies.
Established in 2007
Triad Clinical Trials opened in Greensboro in 2007, and we moved to our current location in 2015.
175+ Research Studies
We have completed clinical research studies in over 20 different medical categories.
5,000+ Patients
Since opening our doors, over 5,000 patients have participated in our clinical research studies.
