Meet the investigators powering Precefi’s U.S. dermatology network:
Our investigator network consists of the most experienced in clinical research, with combined credentials spanning thousands of completed studies across medical and aesthetic indications. Each site brings deep clinical trial expertise, strong enrollment track records, and broad therapeutic coverage, backed by Precefi’s one-contract model for seamless sponsor engagement.
US Dermatology Network
Steven Kempers, MD
Board-certified dermatologist and Principal Investigator at the Minnesota Clinical Study Center in New Brighton, Minnesota, Steven E. Kempers, M.D. brings over 35 years of dermatology clinical trial experience to the Precefi network. Dr. Kempers earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed his dermatology residency at the University of Minnesota. He has served as Principal Investigator on more than 400 clinical studies across Phase II–IV trials, including topical, systemic, biologic, and device studies spanning acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, rosacea, and skin cancer. The Minnesota Clinical Study Center is one of the largest private-practice dermatology research centers in the United States, with a deep patient database and highly experienced research staff. Dr. Kempers has contributed to pivotal FDA registration trials for many of the leading dermatologic therapies in use today and has published widely in peer-reviewed dermatology journals. He is an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Tery Jones, MD
Board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director of J&S Studies in College Station, Texas, Terry M. Jones, M.D. has more than 30 years of clinical and research experience in dermatology. Dr. Jones earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed his residency in Dermatology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He founded J&S Studies in 1995, which has since conducted more than 400 clinical trials spanning Phase I–IV studies in dermatology, allergy/immunology, infectious disease, and other therapeutic areas. J&S Studies conducts all phases of dermatology clinical trials with an emphasis on Phase I & Pharmacokinetic studies. Strategically located near Texas A&M University in College Station, the site benefits from a large and diverse patient population with rapid enrollment capability. Dr. Jones has served as Medical Monitor for multiple sponsor trials and as a speaker at investigator meetings and has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, including studies published in JAMA and the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. He is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and a former President of the Brazos County Medical Society.
Jeremy Green, MD
Sunil Dhawan, MD
Board-certified in both dermatology and internal medicine, Sunil S. Dhawan, M.D. is a co-founder and Principal Investigator at the Center for Dermatology Clinical Research in Fremont, California — the largest dermatology clinical research center in Northern California. Dr. Dhawan completed his medical training at the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). With over 190 clinical trials as Principal Investigator, he has broad Phase I–IV experience across topical agents, systemic therapies, biologics, and medical devices in indications including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, alopecia, onychomycosis, seborrheic dermatitis, cosmetic indications, rosacea, and rare diseases like neurofibromatosis, etc. His research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) and JAMA Dermatology, with over 35 publications. Dr. Dhawan is a recognized KOL in medical dermatology and an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology. He regularly consults with pharmaceutical companies and CRO’s on product and protocol issues.
Elyse Rafal, MD
As an Ivy League trained dermatologist, Dr. Rafal earned her Bachelor of Arts degree Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania and completed her internship at Montefiore Hospital Medical Center. She attended Harvard Medical School, before transferring with advanced standing to the State University of New York Health Services Center at Brooklyn (Downstate Medical Center), where she earned her Doctor of Medicine degree with Honors and Distinction in Research. Dr. Rafal completed a three-year dermatology residency at the renowned University of Michigan Medical Center. After her residency, Dr. Rafal was appointed Director of Dermatopharmacology, Director of Outpatient Dermatology, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Stony Brook Medical Center. Since 2000, she has been an Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the New York Presbyterian Hospital of the Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Dr. Elyse Rafal has outstanding credentials. She is board certified in dermatology by the prestigious American Board of Dermatology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
As an internationally known dermatologist, she is founder of the DermResearchCenter of New York, Inc. She performs clinical research projects with pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies as well as industry. Dr. Rafal was the lead author of an article on photoaging that was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. She is also an author of many publications in other peer-reviewed journals, including the prestigious Lancet. She is also an invited lecturer at numerous meetings. Dr. Rafal also serves as a frequent consultant to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. She has also appeared on CNN, CBS, ABC and NBC as well as countless local television and talk shows. Dr. Rafal also hosted a Saturday morning broadcast live on LI News Radio. National print coverage has included the New York Times as well as numerous other newspapers and magazines.
David Rodriguez, MD
Sachin Shridharani, MD
Gregory A. Buford, MD, FACS
He is the founder of the Core Aesthetics Training Institute, a premier platform dedicated to elevating standards in aesthetic medicine through hands-on training and business education. He also leads the CORE Mastery Summit, which brings together top aesthetic providers and entrepreneurs to focus on MedSpa growth, operational excellence, and strategic scaling.
Dr. Buford is a highly sought-after advisor and consultant within the aesthetics industry, serving on advisory boards for numerous leading and emerging companies, including Allergan, Galderma, Evolus, Apyx Medical, and others. His consulting work spans product development, clinical strategy, and MedSpa business optimization.
He has also held multiple Medical Director roles for medspas and currently serves as National Medical Director for a multi-state private equity-backed MedSpa expansion, where he provides oversight on clinical protocols, training systems, and scalable operational frameworks.
Dr. Buford received his medical degree from Georgetown University and completed his surgical training at the Cleveland Clinic, followed by advanced fellowships in cosmetic surgery and anti-aging medicine, as well as executive training at Kellogg School of Management.
