ROCKY MOUNTAIN CLINICAL RESEARCH - Key Persons
Carl Vance, M.D., specializes in the practice of endocrinology with a focus on diabetes and disease of the thyroid, including thyroid cancer. Dr. Vance was raised in Southwest Washington and began his studies at Brigham Young University where he earned his bachelor's degree in economics. He then attended medical school at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at Legacy Portland (Oregon) Hospitals and completed his board certification in internal medicine. Dr. Vance has taken several specialized training courses and is an active participant in research studies.
Dr. Vance has been the principal or sub investigator on a number of research studies which is a major part of the expertise of Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center. Dr. Vance shares this information with publications and through extensive lecture participation speaking on topics related to diabetes.
David Liljenquist, M.D., is board certified in endocrinology/metabolism. He was raised in Idaho Falls and is a graduate of Skyline High School. Dr. Liljenquist attended Brigham Young University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in human biology. After graduating from George Washington University Medical School with distinction, Dr. Liljenquist completed his residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. He then completed his fellowship training in endocrinology at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Liljenquist continues to develop his expertise through additional specialized training courses and through his work in clinical research as a principal or sub investigator. He has shared his expertise and research discoveries through over 30 publications and presentations.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Eli Lilly - Coordinators Advisory Board
- Clinical Research Strategy & Study Design / Professional Affiliations
- Study Coordinator Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Management Team
Joshua Smith, MD, MBA is a board-certified physician in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology. Dr. Smith attended Brigham Young University where he received a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience. Dr. Smith was the first to graduate from the joint MD/MBA program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and the University of Texas at Dallas School of Business. He completed the MBA with honors in 2006 and then 6 months later, completed his medical degree in June 2007.
After completion of medical school, he began his internship and residency in pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia, in Augusta, Georgia. He completed his training in 2010 and was asked to serve as a chief resident from 2010 to 2011. Upon completion of his chief resident year, he returned to the University of Texas Southwestern as a fellow in Pediatric Endocrinology. He completed his 3-year fellowship in 2014.
He joined a private, multi-specialty practice in Austin, Texas called ‘Specially for Children' after his fellowship, where he provided endocrine and diabetes care for the children of Central Texas. He was made the chief of the division in 2016 and subsequently a member of the board of directors for the practice.
He was affiliated with Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin, Texas and provided inpatient endocrine care for children of all ages. In preparation for the opening of the new Dell Medical School, Dr. Smith was appointed as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in September of 2016.
Dr. Smith joined Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center in January 2017 and immediately began using his rare expertise to help children with endocrine disorders in the greater Idaho Falls area.
Dr. Smith enjoys seeing a variety of endocrine patients and visiting with their families. He places significant emphasis on teaching patients about their conditions, and informing them about what is happening with their bodies. Dr. Smith likes using technology to provide evidence-based, comprehensive care.
He has a special interest in diabetes, adrenal conditions, thyroid disease, and endocrine effects on optic nerve hypoplasia, pubertal disorders, and growth disorders.
Dr. Smith has been active in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES), and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). He was elected as the chair of the Section on Medical Students, Residents, and Fellowship Trainees while in his residency. This allowed him to work with the more than 10,000 section members and represent their issues and annual service campaign. While in fellowship, he served on the membership and maintenance of certification committees of the PES. His involvement with the Austin chapter of JDRF provided better relationship with Dell Children's Medical Center and furthered the mission of the JDRF to help all children with Type 1 diabetes receive the best care possible.
Kevin Prier, MD, is dual-specialized in internal medicine (adult medicine) and pediatrics. Dr. Prier joined RMDC in August of 2022 and has been
mentored by Dr. Carl Vance working side by side on these studies. He currently helps Dr. Vance with many of his ongoing clinical trials and understands the rewards provided to the patients who choose to participate in clinical research.
He has specific interests in high-value, preventive medicine, including diabetes care, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, thyroid disease, and osteoporosis. His training in both adult medicine and pediatrics gives him a unique perspective on the care of patients with life-long medical diseases, such as diabetes.
Dr. Prier has a passion for helping patients as they transition through different life stages from childhood through adulthood. He loves people and teamwork. He finds satisfaction in creating strong relationships with his patients as he helps them prevent illness and achieve their desired health goals.
After completing his undergraduate work at Brigham Young University (magna cum laude), Kevin attended and graduated from medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern, where he was elected to the Gold Humanism Honor Society. After medical school, Dr. Prier completed a combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency at Duke University Medical Center where he received the YT Chen Award for excellence in patient care.
Drs. Carl Vance and Dave Liljenquist have participated in clinical trials for over a decade and continue to contribute in the very detail-oriented effort. Dr. Joshua Smith makes significant contributions to clinical trials, using his pediatric specialization to focus on pediatric studies. Dr. Kevin Prier joined the team in the summer of 2022 and brings his unique background and expertise to the group.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Research Management Team
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Member of the Research Management Team
- Operations Manager
- Research Operations Manager
Nathan Cheney is the Operations Manager who has worked with the Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center family of businesses since 2018. He has been an integral member of the Rocky Mountain Clinical Research management team from its inception.
Nathan brings nearly three decades of management experience overseeing human resources, operations, finance and sales efforts for businesses in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. This extensive experience, coupled with his specialized CITI biomedical research certification and PHRP human resource accreditation, makes his oversight invaluable to Rocky Mountain Clinical Research.
Nathan is driven to facilitate well-trained, team-oriented individuals and to cultivate a healing environment that will support the clinic's mission to do all that is possible to lift the physical and emotional burdens of patients battling diabetes or other illnesses. He feels it is an honor to work with remarkable healthcare professionals who are centered on healing and who sincerely want to make a difference in people's lives not only in our community but throughout the world.
To Nathan, one of the most exciting aspects of Rocky Mountain Clinical Research is the dynamic partnership the doctors and the research care providers share with patients. Together, they all gain a more profound understanding of the effectiveness of new therapies enveloped with optimal patient care and comfort. It is astonishing for him to see how doctors and research care providers, with seemingly small adjustments in treatment, can often make a huge impact on the future health of a patient and treatment methods for others.
Within Rocky Mountain Clinical Research, Nathan oversees operations, which includes hiring, training, and study-related finances and more. Just about anything that needs attention within the organization will be tended to with Nathan's ambitious gusto!
The research staff at Rocky Mountain Clinical Research has over 130 years of combined research experience. The team also includes several certified research coordinators with an exceptional regulatory documents department. This department manages the ever-changing mass of documents in such a unique and efficient way that many auditors have suggested its methods be taught to other clinical research sites.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Research Management Team
- General Manager of the Rocky Mountain Diabetes
Von Crofts is the General Manager of the Rocky Mountain Diabetes family of businesses which includes, Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center, Rocky Mountain Clinical Research, Rocky Mountain Pharmacy and Express Lab. The administration of the clinical, research, education, and laboratory functions of each entity requires a substantial staff of talented professionals. Since February of 2004, Von Crofts has been the General Manager leading the administrative and clinical teams as the practice developed and adapted to meet the region's ever-changing needs of the challenging practice of endocrinology and diabetes care.