About Mercy Research

Mercy has a long history of engaging in clinical trials research and outcome-based research. These roots have helped to develop our health care services for the communities we serve. On July 1, 2016, Mercy pioneered a new model for community health-based research when Mercy Research was formed, consolidating all research activities across Mercy into a stand-alone, not-for-profit entity.

Mercy Research fulfills this mission by offering innovative research strategies in the communities we serve.

Our Vision:  Mercy Research is leading the way as a Supersite® organization providing a ministry of compassionate care to those entrusted to us.

Our Purpose:  Mercy Research is committed to advancing the quality of health care for individuals and communities by being a leader in innovative clinical, scientific and health services research. We will achieve this goal through participation in clinic trials and development of new medical products, medical treatments and delivery systems that transform lives and improve overall community health, in keeping with the mission of mercy to bring the healing ministry of Jesus to life, through compassionate care and exceptional service.

Consider making a donation to help Mercy Research continue the innovative work of clinical research at Mercy. Donate online and designate a gift to Mercy Ministry Health Foundation for Research. 

Our Accreditations: Several accreditations and designations that the various Mercy locations maintain have a research requirement that must be fulfilled. Below are just a few examples:

Select Mercy Hospital locations have earned designations as Level I Trauma, Burn, Stroke, and STEMI Centers. These designations are awarded to reflect a range of hospital-based functions within the emergency medical care system and each plays a vital part in the system. In general, Level I centers function as resource center within a region, maintaining specialized resources for the most complex patients. One of the requirements to achieve this designation is participation in research and publication projects.

Mercy Hospital is also accredited with the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC). All cancer programs are required to accrue or refer participants to eligible, cancer-related clinical research studies every calendar year.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) also require Residency Training Programs to maintain an environment of inquiry and scholarship with an active research component. Mercy Hospital St. Louis has several GME Programs that are being supported by Mercy Research.

Areas of Service

Mercy Research is one of the nation’s largest fully integrated, community health system-based research organizations. We are part of Mercy – the seventh largest Catholic health system in the U.S. and an IBM Watson Health Top 5 large U.S. health system for four consecutive years. Mercy has an extensive regional presence over four states:

The Resources of Mercy

Mercy offers a millions-strong, diverse patient population with single touch-point coordination. Mercy Clinic serves as the fourth largest integrated physician clinic organization in the country.

Our History

Mercy has a long history of engaging in clinical trials research and outcome-based research. These roots have helped to develop our health care services for the communities we serve. On July 1, 2016, Mercy pioneered a new model for community health-based research when Mercy Research was formed, consolidating all research activities across Mercy into a stand-alone, not-for-profit entity.

Organizational Structure

Mercy centralized all research activities across our service areas into a stand-alone, not-for-profit entity known as Mercy Research. This type of infrastructure is unusual, especially for community health systems. Consolidating clinical research support across the entire health system allows us to standardize clinical, business and regulatory processes and use shared tools across a broad geography. This leads to increased compliance and improved risk management. It also increases stewardship by consolidating financials and allowing for better informed and more strategic decision-making.

Leadership

Mercy Research Senior Leadership

Mercy Research Physician Council

Mercy Research Board of Directors

Keith Starke, MD – Chair, Mercy Research Board of Directors; Senior Vice President, Chief Quality Officer

Jay Carlson, MD – Vice President, Mercy Research Board of Directors; Mercy Director of Cancer Care Performance Acceleration

Mansoor Khalid, MD – Mercy Hospitalist

Carla Kurkjian, MD – Mercy Oncology & Hematology

Gregory Ledger, MD – Mercy Endocrinology

JoAnne Levy, JD – Vice President, Mercy Research

William Logan, MD – Mercy Neurology

Jill McCart – Vice President, Mercy Accounting

Jacque Richmond – Vice President, Mercy Deputy General Counsel

Will Sistrunk, MD – Mercy Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease

Todd Stewart, MD – Vice President, Mercy Clinical Integrated Solutions

Timothy Yeatman, MD – Executive Medical Director, Oncologic Services at Intermountain Healthcare

Staff Support to Mercy Research Board of Directors

Jared Bryson, M.Div., D.Min. – Vice President, Mercy Mission

Adam Cook – Chief Development Officer, Mercy Health Foundation

Kelley Knickmeyer – Research Compliance Director, Mercy Compliance

Katie Wong, JD – Associate Counsel, Mercy Legal