As CEO, Carlos Orantes provides leadership and strategic direction for the site network. With over 32 years of experience within the life sciences industry, his career has included executive leadership, operational management, LEAN Six Sigma process improvement, as well as systems and technology deployment.

Most recently, Carlos served as Executive Director, Site Operations at Accelerated Enrollment Solutions, now Trial Med, a business of PPD later acquired by ThermoFisher Scientific. There, he led the site operations for the Americas site operations in support of the company’s vast global clinical trial network.

Prior to joining PPD, Carlos served as Chief Executive Officer of Amplify Clinical and Accel Research Sites, where he developed the business strategy to effectively compete in Phase II-III clinical research involving multi-therapeutic trials and specialty vaccines. He also led activities related to both companies’ asset purchase by private equity.

Earlier career positions included COO for Frontage Laboratories and close to 20 years of operational, quality assurance, process improvement, and laboratory management roles of increasing responsibility at organizations including Covance, later becoming part of LabCorp and now Fortrea.

Carlos earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Old Dominion University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from George Washington University. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Six Sigma Academy.

As President and Chief Operating Officer of Alcanza, Karim leads site operations with a focus on building high-performance teams, optimizing study delivery, and enhancing the patient experience. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare, he has successfully led multi-site clinical operations, corporate development, and technology innovation—expanding access to care and driving sustainable growth both organically and through strategic acquisitions.

Before joining Alcanza, Karim served as Chief Operating Officer at Caravel Autism Health, where he spearheaded operational improvements and leveraged cutting-edge technology to enhance care delivery and accelerate growth. Under his leadership, Caravel solidified its position as a market leader in autism services through mission-critical initiatives, differentiating technology, and operational best practices. Prior to Caravel, Karim was an operating partner at Frazier Healthcare Partners, a leading healthcare and biotech investment firm. In this role, he led complex organizational transformations and enterprise technology implementations, enabling companies to scale efficiently and improve patient outcomes. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership positions spanning clinical operations, corporate development, and data-driven technology consulting.

Karim holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Concordia University and an MBA from Christian Brothers University. Passionate about leveraging innovation to improve healthcare accessibility and efficiency, he remains committed to advancing patient care through strategic growth and operational excellence.

Jeff Irving is a results-driven Chief Financial Officer with over 25 years of experience leading financial strategies and operations within dynamic, fast-paced environments. Renowned for his expertise in financial planning, risk management, and corporate governance, Jeff has a proven track record of driving profitability and organizational growth.

In his current role at Alcanza, Jeff oversees all aspects of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial compliance. Jeff Irving is also adept at partnering with executive teams to align financial goals with long-term business objectives, fostering sustainable success.

Previously, Jeff held key financial leadership roles at OMS360 and Banfield Pet Hospital, where he led a cross-functional teams to execute acquisition and de novo growth. With a strong foundation in Healthcare, Jeff brings invaluable insights and analytical acumen to every decision.

Jeff has a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University and is passionate about leveraging data-driven strategies and innovative financial solutions to create value. Beyond the numbers, Jeff believes in mentoring the next generation of financial leaders and fostering a collaborative workplace culture with a customer service mindset.

With nearly 25 years of experience in the research site space, Casey has a long and exemplary career history in pharmaceutical research site services including serving as past President of the Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS), a global organization representing nearly 10,000 clinical research sites in 47 countries within the pharmaceutical industry.

Casey began his career leading a large pharmaceutical research site network, Research Solutions. In 2007, he was recruited to join Clinical Research Advantage/Radiant as EVP of BD and successfully led a network of over 75 research sites conducting clinical trials for pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical devices. Under Casey’s leadership, several crucial partnerships were formed with major pharmaceutical companies which fueled the company’s rapid growth both geographically and therapeutically. He facilitated the acquisition of two competitors securing the company’s spot as what was at the time the largest clinical research site network in the US.

In 2015, Casey and the executive team at Radiant merged with Synexus, a division of PPD. With Casey’s guidance, Synexus continued to expand to 215 global clinical sites in 4 continents and over 15 countries. Casey also served as SVP of Pharmaceutical Relationships at StudyKik, a full-service patient recruitment and retention technology company.  Most recently he was the Chief Commercial Officer for CenExel leading the sales and commercial team to become the largest independent wholly-owned site network of 18 sites specializing in both inpatient and outpatient services in the CNS space.

Casey is passionate about representing the site voice within the industry while ensuring every research patient’s journey is a positive one. As a thought leader in the industry, Casey is regularly invited to be a keynote speaker and panelist and is often quoted by the leading publications covering the clinical research landscape. In 2020, he was recognized in PharmaVoice as one of the 100 Most Inspiring People in the industry.

As Vice President, Human Resources, Kara Chase develops and implements the company’s human resource strategies and initiatives across talent management, diversity and inclusion, employee relations, culture and engagement, compensation and benefits, and training and development.

Kara has 25 years of human resources experience, including more than 12 years in clinical research.  With an expansive background in human resources leadership, strategy and management that ranges from small to large organizations, Kara brings specialization in post-acquisition cultural integrations. In 2012, she was the recipient of the Gold Best in Biz Award as Human Resources Executive of the Year, followed by the Silver Best in Biz Award as Human Resources Executive of the Year in 2013.

Kara earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources management and business administration from King’s College She holds both SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Jim Leary serves as Alcanza’s Chief Information Officer.

Jim brings more than 20 years of experience leading enterprise technology strategy, digital transformation, and large-scale healthcare IT initiatives. Throughout his career, he has successfully guided platform modernization efforts, integrated complex healthcare systems, and built innovation pipelines that drove competitive differentiation and supported growth, both organically and through acquisition.

Jim leads the organization’s enterprise technology strategy, helping advance scalability, operational excellence, and innovation across the growing clinical research network, supporting Alcanza’s mission to improve access to clinical research and drive better outcomes for patients and sponsors alike.

James Clark, MD, is Alcanza’s Chief Medical Officer. With over 25 years of clinical research experience including serving as Principal Investigator on over 400 clinical trials, Dr. Clark brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our team, patients, and sponsors.

As the CMO, Dr. Clark oversees the medical team at Alcanza including Investigators and Sub-Investigators. He is responsible for driving medical strategy and providing clinical support and direction across the Alcanza network.  Dr. Clark serves as the Chairman of the Alcanza’s Medical Advisory Board which consists of 20 experienced Investigators as well as members of the Business Development, Quality, and Operation teams.

Prior to joining Alcanza, Dr. Clark owned and operated Charlottesville Medical Research (CMR) which specializes in Phase II-IV clinical research, where he led CMR in its growth from 15 to 60+ indications.

Dr. Clark specializes in Internal Medicine and holds medical licenses in each state Alcanza has research sites.

As Vice President of Business Operations, Rachel Truxall has a broad range of responsibilities that include monitoring business performance and ensuring operations are running efficiently. She coordinates support for site operations across the Alcanza network, leading multiple centralized support teams, including Regulatory, Contracts, Quality Assurance, and Study Delivery.

Rachel Truxall brings over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, including more than a decade in clinical research. She began her career as a research assistant during her college years and later returned to the industry after a decade working as a pediatric RN. Rachel has strategically held various leadership roles in business development, patient acquisition, and clinical operations, equipping her with a comprehensive understanding and expertise in both small and large site networks.

Besides holding licensure for registered nursing, Rachel earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of West Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Florida (Go Gators!).

Hayley serves as Vice President of Clinical Operations, bringing more than 15 years of expertise in clinical research, behavioral health, and multi-site operations. In this capacity, Hayley leads a team of Regional Directors and site leadership, overseeing established site operations across the network. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to driving operational efficiency, productivity, and performance, with a strong reputation for streamlining processes, optimizing site operations, and implementing scalable strategies that foster consistent execution and robust financial and quality outcomes.

Before joining Alcanza, Hayley began her career in acute behavioral health facilities, where she was responsible for crisis assessment, patient safety, and providing resources for individuals in the community. Her journey in research started as a psychometric rater and evolved through roles as a clinical research coordinator, team lead, and Site Director. Hayley’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to become a co-owner of Vertex Clinical Research (later became a part of Alcanza), where she played a pivotal role in expanding site operations and driving study growth. Her expertise has been crucial in supporting integration efforts, strengthening cross-functional alignment, and enhancing operational performance across the organization.

Hayley holds a master’s degree in Counselor Education and as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is deeply passionate about developing high-performing teams and advancing clinical research operations that reflect Alcanza’s values of being inclusive, compassionate, determined, and impactful.

Hollis serves as Vice President of Strategic Operations, bringing more than 20 years of experience in clinical research, operational strategy, and organizational performance. In this role, she partners across executive leadership and functional teams to drive scalable growth, strengthen operational infrastructure, and ensure consistent execution across the network. Her leadership is defined by a focus on alignment, efficiency, and continuous improvement, with a proven ability to implement strategic solutions that enhance productivity and deliver high-quality clinical and business outcomes.

Hollis built her career in clinical research, beginning as a psychometric rater and advancing through CRC and site leadership roles. She has extensive experience launching and scaling de novo sites, as well as driving operational excellence across diverse research environments. Known for her ability to translate complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies, she is a trusted partner in strengthening performance, advancing cross-functional alignment, and supporting organizational growth.

Hollis holds a Bachelor of Science degree, is a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC), and is SHRM People Manager Qualified (SHRM-PMQ). She is committed to developing high-performing teams and advancing operational strategies that reflect Alcanza’s values of being inclusive, compassionate, determined, and impactful.

Dr. Marieke Cajal-Berman is Alcanza’s Executive Director, Patient Recruitment. With over 12 years of Patient Engagement experience in clinical trials, she oversees patient recruitment, community outreach, and physician relationships, with a focus on patient inclusion and experience.

Before joining Alcanza, Dr. Cajal served as Vice President, Patient Experience and Marketing at K2 Medical Research, where she focused on leveraging cutting-edge technology to support high-performing teams. Prior to K2, Dr. Cajal oversaw Recruitment and Marketing at Flourish Research, a multi-site clinical trial network, where she led the development of a physician referral network and the implementation of a patient relationship management system. She has held senior leadership positions spanning patient engagement, marketing, and business development at US and global site networks, applying her expertise in setting up best-in-class processes and systems.

Dr. Cajal holds a PhD in Neurosciences from the Université Paris Cité in France. She has published peer-reviewed papers and abstracts at international conferences. She is passionate about expending patient access to trials, developing education around research, and improving patients’ experience.

Hera Arham is the Executive Director of Marketing & Patient Experience at Alcanza Clinical Research, based in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience in marketing, communications, and business development, she brings a strategic, data‑driven approach to advancing patient‑centric clinical research marketing.

Through thoughtful strategy, data‑informed engagement initiatives, and cross‑functional collaboration, she has played a key role in elevating how patient voices are represented, measured, and operationalized across the organization. Hera is particularly focused on amplifying the patient voice and translating insights into actionable strategies, leveraging data and metrics to drive sustainable, patient‑first change throughout the research lifecycle. She holds an MBA in Marketing and a Master’s degree in Global Affairs.

James Clark, MD, is Alcanza’s Chief Medical Officer. With over 25 years of clinical research experience including serving as Principal Investigator on over 400 clinical trials, Dr. Clark brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our team, patients, and sponsors.

As the CMO, Dr. Clark oversees the medical team at Alcanza including Investigators and Sub-Investigators. He is responsible for driving medical strategy and providing clinical support and direction across the Alcanza network.  Dr. Clark serves as the Chairman of the Alcanza’s Medical Advisory Board which consists of 20 experienced Investigators as well as members of the Business Development, Quality, and Operation teams.

Prior to joining Alcanza, Dr. Clark owned and operated Charlottesville Medical Research (CMR) which specializes in Phase II-IV clinical research, where he led CMR in its growth from 15 to 60+ indications.

Dr. Clark specializes in Internal Medicine and holds medical licenses in each state Alcanza has research sites.