Delivering unparalleled reach and expertise for cardiovascular trials worldwide
Velocity has conducted trials that have led to 20+ product approvals for heart- and cardiometabolic-related conditions
Velocity’s Cardiometabolic Council to Accelerate Research Excellence (CARE) provides high-impact operational, recruitment, and trial execution strategies for Velocity sites conducting cardiology, diabetes, obesity, and related trials. Led by physicians with impressive track records in medical practice and research, the Cardiometabolic CARE Council combines a wealth of real-world, multidisciplinary disease knowledge with Velocity’s reach and innovative capabilities.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Meanwhile, obesity affects over 40% of U.S. adults, and diabetes impacts more than 11% — with prevalence rising among children. While the afflicted populations are large, the diversity of concurrent therapies and lifestyle considerations can quickly complicate clinical trial design, screening, and enrollment.
Before your study begins, CARE Council leaders can assess protocol viability and provide real-world insights to guide trial design. Council members also assist with recruitment planning and site team training across all Velocity sites.
Reach and capabilities
- 70+ sites that support cardiology, obesity, and/or metabolic trials with CARE oversight
- Sites with extensive specialty experience
- 7,000+ participants enrolled
in cardiovascular studies - 10,000+ participants with diabetes, 3,000+ participants with obesity enrolled
- 1,700+ cardiometabolic trials conducted
- Access to 1.5 million patient lives
- World-class diversity and community engagement initiatives
- Expertise in diagnostics and device research
Cardiometabolic CARE Council Leaders
Velocity's Cardiometabolic CARE Council is led by distinguished physicians, William Cromwell, MD, FAHA, FNLA, Sarah Smiley, DO, FACP, and Shishir Khetan, MD. The council leverages their vast experience in medical practice and research, alongside Velocity sites and staff that have supported thousands of trials.
William Cromwell, MD, FAHA, FNLA
A thought leader in lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease for over 30 years, Dr. Cromwell is Medical Director and Principal Investigator at Velocity’s Durham, NC site. He has held executive positions for various lipid programs in cardiology institutes and practices nationwide while conducting clinical trials and teaching at universities.
Dr. Cromwell has served on scientific and consultant advisory boards for Amarin, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Esperion, Ionis, The Medicines Company, and Merck. He was also a member of the Familial Hypercholesterolemia guideline writing committee. Currently, he serves on multiple journal editorial boards focusing on cardiology and lipidology and has been published in dozens of peer-reviewed publications, books, and abstracts.
Sarah Smiley, DO, FACP
Sarah Smiley, DO, FACP, directs physician operations at and continues to serve as a Principal Investigator at the company’s dedicated research centers in Medford, OR, and Spokane, WA. She leads Velocity’s medical affairs. This includes clinical oversight and support of the company’s network of regional medical directors and clinical trials investigators.
A highly respected physician in both medical practice and research, Dr. Smiley has been involved in clinical research since 2007, with extensive experience in cardiometabolic, respiratory, obesity, endocrine, immune disorders, and vaccine indications. Dr. Smiley is board certified in internal medicine and hospice and palliative medicine, including training in pain management. Her experience extends into not only clinical care, but also medical group leadership and regulatory oversight, making her a key driver of operational excellence in clinical research. She is known for fostering collaboration across teams and elevating the role of physicians in shaping research strategy.
Dr. Smiley earned her medical degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center and completed her residency at the current University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School.
Shishir Khetan, MD
Dr. Khetan specializes in diabetes, exercise stress testing, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and preventative health. In 2022, Dr. Khetan was named President of Rockville Internal Medicine Group, and was also a Regional Medical Director and Virtual Medical Director for Privia Medical Group, and serves on the Privia Health and Privia Quality Network Board of Governors.
He is listed as a Consumer Checkbook Top Doctor. Board certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Khetan graduated from University of Maryland in College Park, MD, with a Bachelor of Science Degree and from the University of West Indies Faculty of Medicine in Kingston, Jamaica with a Doctor of Medicine degree. He completed an internal medicine internship at Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York, NY, and an internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York, NY where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Khetan is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association.
Additional leaders:
Ruth Espinoza Kavcioglu, MD
Melinda Auxier, DO
Mary Hughes, PA-C
Andrea BethAuser, DMSc, PA-C, ACRP-CP
A transformative model to confront the inefficiencies that plague clinical trials
1: Drug Development Technology. (2012). Clinical trial delays: America’s patient recruitment dilemma. | 2: Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. (2013). Impact report: 89% of trials meet enrollment, but timelines slip, half of sites under-enroll. Vol. 15, No. 1. | 3: Kaitin, K. I. (2006). Fastest drug developers consistently best peers on key performance metrics. Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development Impact Report, 8(5). | 4: Hess, J. (n.d.). Web-based patient recruitment: best opportunity to accelerate clinical trials.
Cardiometabolic reach
Therapeutic capabilities
Cardiology
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Angina
- Aortic Stenosis
- Atherosclerosis / Atherosclerotic
- Cardiovascular Disease (ASVCD)
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Claudication
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Diagnostic & Device Studies (includes
- Wearables, Mobile Apps, Medical Devices)
- Dyslipidemia / Elevated Lipoprotein (a) /
- Familial Hypercholesterolemia
- Heart Failure (includes Preserved Ejection Fraction)
- Hypertension
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Peripheral Artery / Vascular Disease
- Post Myocardial Infarction
- Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
- Statin Intolerance
- Stroke
- Venous Thromboembolism
Diabetes
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Diabetic Foot Ulcer
- Diabetic Kidney Disease
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Glucose Monitoring
- Prediabetes
Metabolic / Obesity
- Cardiovascular Outcomes
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatic Impairment
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hypertension
- Hypertriglyceridemia
- Insulin Resistance
- MASH/MASLD
- Medical Devices
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Obesity
- Pancreatic Insufficiency
- Renal Impairment
- Weight Management