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Investigators

Investigators at Amavita Research.

Our investigator team combines pioneer-level interventional cardiology with deep clinical trial execution experience — supported by a Research Operations team of three Senior CRCs.

Practicing physicians, not investigators-on-paper

Every PI sees trial-eligible patients in clinic every day

All Principal and Co-Investigators at Amavita Research are practicing cardiologists at amavita Heart and Vascular Health® — the largest independent cardiovascular practice in South Florida. They carry active patient panels, see trial-eligible patients during routine cardiology care, and screen them in real time.

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Showing 11 of 11 team members

Professional headshot of Dr. William W. O'Neill, MD, FACC — interventional cardiologist, TAVR pioneer in the United States, and Chief Medical Officer at Amavita Research

William W. O'Neill, MD, FACC

Chief Medical Officer & Senior Principal Investigator

Pioneer of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the United States. National Principal Investigator on Edwards PARTNER, Protect II, and Protect IV. Founder of the National Cardiogenic Shock Initiative. 45+ years of cardiovascular medicine experience.

Specialties

  • Structural heart disease
  • TAVR & transcatheter valve therapy
  • High-risk PCI & cardiogenic shock
  • Pivotal device trial leadership
Professional headshot of Dr. Pedro Martinez-Clark, MD, FACC — Harvard-trained interventional cardiologist, Founder & CEO of amavita Heart and Vascular Health®, and Principal Investigator at Amavita Research

Pedro Martinez-Clark, MD, FACC

Founder and Lead Investigator

Harvard-trained interventional cardiologist with 25+ years of practice and 25+ successfully completed clinical research trials. Worldwide Principal Investigator on the Percutaneous Mitral Valve Annuloplasty trial. ABIM Board Certified and IAOCR-Qualified Investigator (QM-IAOCR, Reg. 9851511). Voluntary Assistant Professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Founder of amavita Heart and Vascular Health®, the largest independent cardiovascular practice in South Florida, and Site Director for SOP SITE-107 site-performance reviews.

Specialties

  • Interventional cardiology & cath lab
  • Coronary revascularization
  • Heart valve repair & replacement (Trans-Caval TAVR)
  • Peripheral artery disease & atherectomy
  • Venous ablation
Professional headshot of Dr. Hans Rutzen-Lopez, MD — cardiac electrophysiology specialist and Sub-Investigator on arrhythmia and device trials at Amavita Research

Hans C. Rutzen-Lopez, MD

Sub-Investigator, Cardiac Electrophysiology

Board-certified electrophysiologist with 9+ years of practice. MD from New York University School of Medicine; internal medicine residency at Beth Israel Deaconess / Harvard Medical School; cardiovascular and clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowships at Boston Medical Center / Boston University School of Medicine. Triple board-certified by the American Boards of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, with the National Board of Echocardiography. Clinical Assistant Professor at Nova Southeastern University since 2020 and electrophysiologist at Heart Rhythm Specialists of South Florida since 2016. Joined Amavita Research Services in February 2026 as Principal/Sub-Investigator on AnaCardio AC01-02 and other arrhythmia and device trials.

Specialties

  • Cardiac electrophysiology
  • Atrial fibrillation & ablation
  • Pacemakers, ICDs & leadless cardiac devices
  • Arrhythmia & conduction-system pacing trials
Professional headshot of Julio G. Martinez-Clark — Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Amavita Research and CEO of bioaccess®

Julio G. Martinez-Clark

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Drives growth strategy, sponsor relationships, and cross-border trial operations at Amavita Research. CEO of bioaccess® with 20+ years scaling clinical research operations across Latin America and the United States. Former Ambassador of IAOCR / GCSA Americas. Accountable owner for Amavita Research's IAOCR GCSA workforce-quality and patient-engagement commitments through 2026.

Specialties

  • Sponsor & CRO partnerships
  • Site growth strategy
  • First-in-human cardiovascular programs
  • Cross-border trial operations (US & LATAM)
Professional headshot of Nereisy Alonso, Sr CRC — Chief Operating Officer at Amavita Research

Nereisy Alonso, Sr CRC

Chief Operating Officer & Senior Clinical Research Coordinator

Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Senior Clinical Research Coordinator at Amavita Research. Works closely with Lead Investigator Dr. Pedro Martinez-Clark across 27 sponsor-initiated and industry-sponsored Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials spanning heart failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, hypertension, and acute coronary syndrome. Bilingual English / Spanish.

Specialties

  • Study start-up & site activation
  • Sponsor monitor coordination
  • Regulatory & IRB submissions
  • Site administration & QA
  • KPI tracking & dashboards
Professional headshot of Yasnaya Cruz-Santiago, APRN — Sub-Investigator at Amavita Research supporting cardiovascular trial conduct, screening, consent, and monitor visits

Yasnaya Cruz-Santiago, APRN

Sub-Investigator

Florida-licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN #9443547), Family Nurse Practitioner from the Universidad de Turabo (Puerto Rico, 2018), AANP-certified, and Florida-licensed RN since 2016. Bilingual (English / Spanish). Sub-Investigator on Amavita's active cardiovascular protocols, working closely with Dr. Pedro Martinez-Clark. Owns patient screening and informed consent, source data verification, sponsor monitor visit support, and visit-window adherence on the active portfolio.

Specialties

  • Patient screening & informed consent
  • Source data verification
  • Sponsor monitor visit support
  • Cardiovascular trial conduct
  • Bilingual subject & family interviews
Professional headshot of Orlando Ortega-Izquierdo, APRN — Sub-Investigator at Amavita Research focused on interventional cardiovascular trial coordination, cath-lab study support, and post-procedure follow-up

Orlando Ortega-Izquierdo, APRN

Sub-Investigator

Florida-licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN #9442363), Family Nurse Practitioner from the Universidad de Turabo (Puerto Rico, 2018, 3.92 GPA), and Florida-licensed RN since 2016. Bilingual (English / Spanish). Sub-Investigator on Amavita's interventional cardiovascular protocols, working closely with Dr. Pedro Martinez-Clark. Supports cath-lab study conduct, procedural-visit coordination, post-procedure follow-up, and informed consent.

Specialties

  • Interventional & cath-lab study support
  • Procedural visit coordination
  • Post-procedure follow-up
  • Patient screening & informed consent
  • Bilingual subject & family interviews
Professional headshot of Angela Paez, PA-C, Sub-Investigator and Cardiovascular Physician Assistant at Amavita Research

Angela Paez, PA-C

Sub-Investigator, Cardiovascular Physician Assistant

Board-certified Cardiovascular Physician Assistant with a Colombian medical degree (Universidad San Martin, Bogota, 2007) and 14+ years of research and clinical experience across the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Amavita Health. Trilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Co-author on peer-reviewed cardiovascular research (American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2019).

Specialties

  • Cardiovascular acute and chronic care
  • Clinical research support (sub-investigator)
  • Patient screening and consent
  • Source documentation and EDC entry
  • Bilingual clinical communication (EN/ES/PT)
  • Structural heart program coordination
Vanessa Jimenez, MMS, PA-C, Sub-Investigator and Cardiovascular Physician Assistant at Amavita Research Services (Miami, FL).

Vanessa Jimenez, PA-C

Sub-Investigator, Cardiovascular Physician Assistant

NCCPA-Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) and Florida-licensed Cardiovascular Physician Assistant at amavita Heart and Vascular Health® since 2023. MMS with Honors from Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA (2022); Bachelor in Physician Assistant Studies with Honors from Miami Dade College (2020); also a Foreign Medical Doctor (Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia, 2004). Bilingual in English and Spanish. Interprets 2D echocardiograms, stress tests, cardiac monitors, and vascular studies, and coordinates patient evaluations and care plans. Joins Amavita Research as Sub-Investigator on cardiovascular protocols.

Specialties

  • PA-C · NCCPA Certified
  • Cardiovascular PA (since 2023)
  • Bilingual EN/ES
  • MMS — Saint Francis University
Adidley Garcia, Site Coordinator and Research Nurse at Amavita Research Services LLC (Miami, FL).

Adidley Garcia

Site Coordinator / Research Nurse

Adidley Garcia coordinates clinical study operations at Amavita Research as Site Coordinator and Research Nurse, supporting trial conduct, participant care, and ICH-GCP E6 (R3) compliance at our Miami site.

Specialties

  • GCSA Certified
  • ICH-GCP E6 (R3)
Oscar Quintero, MD, Director of Clinical Education and Quality at Amavita Research Services / amavita Heart & Vascular / CardioElite™ (Miami, FL).

Oscar Quintero, MD

Director of Clinical Education and Quality

International medical graduate (Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia, 2019, GPA 4.23) with focused experience in cardiovascular research coordination, medical education, and clinical quality. Director of Clinical Education and Quality at amavita Heart & Vascular and CardioElite™ since 2024; previously Research Coordinator at amavita Heart & Vascular (2022–2024), where he coordinated cardiovascular research operations including patient identification, data collection, protocol support, and cross-team coordination. Supports Amavita Research with clinical education for advanced-practice providers, documentation standards, workflow standardization, and quality oversight across cardiology trial workflows. Spanish native, English professional fluency.

Specialties

  • MD (International Medical Graduate)
  • Cardiology Education
  • Clinical Quality & Documentation
  • Bilingual EN/ES