Our Team

  • Roel Querubin, MD - Principal Investigator

    Dr. Querubin is a Board Certified Rheumatologist educated through the Emory University School of Medicine, Rheumatology Fellowship program. He is an honors graduate from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he recieved his Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Biology. He then attended Medical School at the Medical College of Georgia and completed a three year Internal Medicine Residency at the Atlanta Medical Center prior to his Fellowship at Emory. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, American Medical Association, Metro Atlanta Rheumatology Society and the Philippine American Medical Association of Georgia.

    Dr. Querubin has been practicing Rheumatology in the Atlanta area since completing his Fellowship and is dedicated to the diagnosis and management of Musculoskeletal Disease. His special interests are the Inflammatory Arthropathies, which include the Connective Tissue Diseases and Spondyloarthropathies. He remains active in Rheumatology Research and is one of the Principal Investigators in the Division of Research at Marietta Rheumatology. Clinical Research Trial experience includes the study of therapies for Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic Lupus, Psoriatic arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis. He has written articles and research publications for National Rheumatology Journals and has presented for National Medical Meetings.

  • Ritesh Kohli, MD - Sub-Investigator

    Dr. Ritesh Kohli is a Board Certified Rheumatologist, who completed his Rheumatology fellowship at the University of Missouri, Columbia. He attended the Yale University program in Bridgeport, Connecticut for his Internal Medicine residency and Geriatrics fellowship training. He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Geriatrics.

    Dr. Kohli has published and presented papers in state and national conferences. He has received numerous awards and has also been given Certificates of Appreciation including the “Honor your Caregiver Award for Exceptional Patient Care in 2012”.

  • Karen Querubin, RN

    Director of Operations

    With over two decades of clinical research experience, Karen brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to our research team. Her career has spanned a wide range of therapeutic areas, including Pediatric Trauma and Community Health, Endocrinology, Vascular Surgery and Enterostomal Research, Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Therapy, Vaccine Center Research, Pediatric and Mother-Baby Transmission HIV/AIDS Research, Cardiology and Interventional Studies, as well as Autoimmune and Inflammation research.

    Karen has played pivotal roles in both academic and clinical settings, including Emory University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Marietta Rheumatology Associates. Her deep understanding of clinical protocols, patient care, and regulatory compliance makes her a trusted leader in guiding complex trials from inception to completion.

    A dedicated and compassionate nurse, Karen not only supports the coordination and execution of our studies but also contributes significantly to training, quality control, and interdisciplinary collaboration—ensuring that every study is conducted with the highest level of integrity and care.

  • Ragen Kiernan BSN

    Clinical Research Coordinator

    Ragen Kiernan BSN is a nurse with a strong foundation in direct patient care and extensive experience in clinical research. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and began her career in bedside and home health nursing, where she spent five years delivering compassionate, hands-on care to patients across diverse settings.

    Her commitment to quality and evidence-based practice led her into clinical research, where she has dedicated the past decade to supporting the safe and effective conduct of clinical trials. Ragen has served in roles including Senior Clinical Research Associate (CRA) and Clinical Project Specialist, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure regulatory compliance, patient safety, and study integrity throughout the research lifecycle.

    Ragen’s approach to healthcare is rooted in compassion, accountability, and a deep respect for patients and families. Outside of her professional work, she is devoted to her family and actively engaged in her community, reflecting her belief that strong, healthy communities are essential to overall well-being.

  • Laura Montes, CCRC, FMD

    Clinical Research Coordinator, Lead

    Laura Montes, originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, is a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) and Foreign-trained Medical Doctor (FMD) with years of experience in autoimmune clinical research. Her expertise spans a broad range of therapeutic areas, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Dermatomyositis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and GLP-based therapies.

    Laura plays a key leadership role in guiding our research team through every phase of the clinical trial process—from site initiation to study completion. She oversees all aspects of prescreening, coordinates and leads study visits, and ensures the highest standards of data quality and protocol adherence throughout.

    Her deep knowledge of autoimmune conditions, combined with her commitment to patient care and data integrity, makes her an invaluable asset to our clinical research efforts.