About Us
Clinical Research Institute of Michigan, LLC (CRIM) was founded by President and CEO, Dr. Ronald P. Fogel in 2003. Under his direction our research team has taken part in over 200 clinical trials. In order to offer optimum research opportunities to the community, CRIM collaborates with several physicians around the Metro Detroit area. Our staff of highly qualified study coordinators and research assistants has over 40 years of combined research experience. Our efforts to advance medicine through research are frequently recognized by our clinical trial sponsors, as we’ve received numerous awards for high study enrollment.
MEET OUR DOCTORS
Gastroenterology
Dr. Fogel is a board-certified gastroenterologist with extensive experience in all areas of the management and prevention of gastrointestinal disease. He is a graduate of McGill University and has completed residencies at both Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital and the University of California; and a research fellowship in gastroenterology at Tufts University.
Dr. Fogel is dedicated to the prevention and aggressive treatment of gastrointestinal disease. His areas of specialty include the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as screening and prevention/education for colon cancer. He is committed to providing the highest quality medical care with compassion and respect for patients and their families. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Fogel is also actively involved in research, having served as a principal investigator on over 300 clinical trials over the last 35 years.
Prior to founding the Digestive Health Center of Michigan, Dr. Fogel served as the head of gastroenterology services at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, MI for 13 years.
ANEZI E. BAKKEN, MD MS is Board certified in Internal Medicine and in Gastroenterology. Dr. Bakken completed her undergraduate and medical school studies at the University of Nigeria and had three years of further medical training at various hospitals in the United Kingdom. She then completed her Internal Medicine residency at Wayne State University. Her three-year Gastroenterology and Hepatology fellowship was completed at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Bakken also has a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research from Rush University. She has presented papers at national conferences on gastrointestinal diseases. She performs all diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures. She is a member of the American Medical Society, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterology Association, and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Dr. Bakken is on staff at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy.
SANTE D. BOLOGNA, MD FACP is American Board of Internal Medicine certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He is the senior partner and was instrumental in forming the group in 1992. A graduate of Wayne State University, Dr. Bologna served as Chief Resident at Henry Ford Hospital, prior to completing his three-year GI fellowship there. Dr. Bologna enjoys all aspects of GI and liver diseases and has a particular interest in motility disorders, GERD, Helicobacter pylori and colon cancer. He performs all diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures. Dr. Bologna is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a member of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American College of Physicians, American College of Gastroenterology, Michigan Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Dr. Bologna is well-published and has presented many papers, both nationally and locally. Dr. Bologna is on staff at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy.
M. EMIN DONAT, MD FRCPC is American Board of Internal Medicine certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. Dr. Donat is a graduate of University of Western Ontario, Canada, where he also obtained his medical degree. Dr. Donat completed his residency and three-year Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Ottawa, Canada, where he was Chief Resident, Division of Gastroenterology in 1997. He has held consultancy positions in gastroenterology at both the Ottawa Hospital and the Canadian Forces Support Unit, in Ottawa Canada. Before joining The Center for Digestive Health, Dr. Donat was with the Wellborn Clinic in Evansville, IN. He performs all diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures and has a special interest in biliary and pancreatic disease. Dr. Donat is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterology Association. Dr. Donat is on staff at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy.
PARTHA S. NANDI, MD FACP is American Board of Internal Medicine certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He performed his undergraduate studies at Ohio State University, where he graduated summa cum laude. Dr. Nandi obtained his medical degree at Wayne State University, where he graduated with distinction. He also completed his Internal Medicine residency at Wayne State University. His three-year Gastroenterology fellowship was completed at the University of Michigan. Dr. Nandi has a special interest in therapeutic endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound. He is the author of several peer reviewed publications and lectures residents and fellow physicians regarding topics in gastroenterology and hepatology. Dr. Nandi performs all diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterology Association and the American Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy. Dr. Nandi is on staff at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy.
Aditi Saxena, M.D., has joined our practice recently as well. Dr. Saxena completed an Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, a Gastroenterology Fellowship at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, an Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Michigan Health System, and earned her Doctor of Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School.
Dr. Saxena has clinical interests in biliary disease, pancreatic lesions, endoscopic ultrasound, ERCP and enteral stenting.
JACK TOCCO, DO is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He completed his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University. Dr. Tocco obtained his medical degree from Pikeville School of Osteopathic Medicine in Kentucky. He completed his internal medicine residency at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital and his GI fellowship at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital. He has a special interest in hepatology, IBD, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and biliary disorders. He performs all diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures. He is a member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American College of Gastroenterology, American Osteopathic Association, and Michigan Osteopathic Association. Dr. Tocco is on staff at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy.
JOHN R. WEBER, MD is American Board of Internal Medicine certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Weber joined the group in 1997 from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he was Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology. Dr. Weber received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Michigan. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Minnesota and did three years of Gastroenterology Fellowship Training at UCSF. He was a member of the faculty at UCSF from 1992-1997. He also served as an Honorary Consultant in Gastroenterology at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in Liverpool, England. Dr. Weber has been active in clinical teaching and the National Institute of Health research. He is currently on the medical staff at William Beaumont Hospital and is an Assistant Professor at the Oakland University William Beaumont (OUWB) School of Medicine. Dr. Weber serves on various committees, including Beaumont’s Digestive Health Center of Excellence, and is a member of the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS). His clinical interests include esophageal disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer screening, and diagnostic/therapeutic endoscopy.
RICHARD T. WILLE, MD is American Board of Internal Medicine certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Wille completed his undergraduate studies at Wayne State University. He attended the University of Michigan for medical school, Internal Medicine residency and fellowship training in Gastroenterology/Hepatology. He also served as Chief Medical Resident in 1993. Dr. Wille has a special interest in biliary and pancreatic disease and training in endoscopic ultrasound and is currently the Director of the Endoscopy Unit at William Beaumont Hospital, Troy. Dr. Wille has presented papers at national conferences on gastrointestinal diseases. He performs all diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures. Dr. Wille is on staff at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy.
AMIR ABADIR, MD FRCPC is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Dr. Abadir received his MD degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. At the University of Toronto, he completed both his core residency training in Gastroenterology followed by a fellowship in Therapeutic Endoscopy where he received specialized training in advanced endoscopic procedures including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Freeha Khan, MD is a board-certified gastroenterologist at the Center for Digestive Health in Troy. Dr. Khan completed her fellowship with the University of Louisville after a research fellowship focused on Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Khan earned a Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine. Prior, she graduated from the University of Cincinnati with Magna Cum Laude Honors. Dr. Khan also served as a Research Associate for Procter & Gamble, conducting research to improve the quality of Febreze products. Dr. Khan is a current member of American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American College of Physicians – Internal Medicine, and American Medical Association. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys reading, bike riding and playing tennis and badminton.
Justin joined the CRIM team in late 2022 as our Nurse Practitioner/Sub-Investigator. Justin ensures study subject safety by conducting physicals, review of medical history and concomitant medications as well as confirming inclusion and exclusion study criteria. Justin has been within healthcare since 2002 and brings with him experience in emergency, critical care, and primary care medicine. He is a graduate of Simmons University with his Bachelors and Masters of Science in Nursing. He also holds a Bachelors of Science from Northern Arizona University and Baker College in Pre-hospital medicine and Emergency Management. In his free time, he is an avid fan of documentaries and on the forever quest to learn something new. He also enjoys camping in the summer and time with his friends and dog Jacob.
Rheumatology
Dr. Amar Majjhoo, MD was born and raised in the Detroit area. He earned his medical degree and completed two Fellowship training programs at Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center. He has been in private practice for the past 13 years and spend his professional time seeing patients, teaching residents, fellows and medical students. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine and Oakland University and Beaumont Hospitals School of Medicine. He is a member of GRAPPA, has numerous years of experience in conducting clinical trials and has lectured and presented at regional and international conferences. He is very involved in legislative issues and advocacy. He is the current president of Michigan Rheumatism Society, and sits on committees at Michigan State Medical Society and the American College of Rheumatology as well as the Coalition of State Rheumatology Organization. He has been the recipient of many recognitions and awards.
Dr. Sulich completed much of his medical training in both internal medicine and rheumatology in the Detroit, Michigan, area and remains there today as a private practitioner supporting his patients with autoimmune diseases, gout and osteoporosis for 30 years.
He also serves as a clinical instructor and Chief of Rheumatology at Ascension Saint John Hospital, Detroit and Assistant Clinical Professor at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, Michigan.
Dr. Sulich has performed as a principal investigator in 45 clinical trials. He is listed as a Top Doc for Rheumatology in Metro Detroit Hour Magazine.
He is a member of the American College of Internal Medicine, the American College of Rheumatology, Michigan State Medical Society, Arthritis Foundation, Wayne County Medical Society, Detroit Medical Club, and Bechet’s Foundation.
• BS in Human Physiology-Alma College 2011-2015
• MS/Physician Assistant training – University of Detroit Mercy 2017-2020
• PA @ Shores Rheumatology since Oct 2019
• Member of the Association of Rheumatology Professionals and Society for Physician Assistants in Rheumatology
• Research role: Independent joint assessor (and aspiring sub-investigator)
• Clinical interest: treat to target management of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis arthritis, and gout.
• MS/Physician Assistant training – University of Detroit Mercy 2017-2020
• PA @ Shores Rheumatology since Oct 2019
• Member of the Association of Rheumatology Professionals and Society for Physician Assistants in Rheumatology
• Research role: Independent joint assessor (and aspiring sub-investigator)
• Clinical interest: treat to target management of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis arthritis, and gout.
Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Dermatology
Dr. Filipof is a triple boarded physician in internal medicine, pediatrics and dermatology. In addition to caring for patients in her clinical pratice, Dr. Filipof is on staff at St. John Hospital Urgent Care & Occupational Health departments. She is a graduate of Butterworth Hospital Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Internship/residency; and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She received board certification in dermatology through the American Board of Physician Specialties in June of 2009. Dr. Filipof provides a variety of general dermatology & cosmetic services to the patients at Eastside Dermatology.
Dr. Filipof recently joined the CRIM staff as a principal investigator for our dermatology studies.
Internal Medicine
Dr. M. Shane Patterson is a board certified Internal Medicine (IM) Physician who is fellowship trained in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM). He has been integrating IM with OMT to provide a complete patient care experience since graduating from Bicounty / Henry Ford Residency in 2002. He is the CEO and owner of Osteopathic Health Care Associates and is the immediate past president of the Macomb County Osteopathic Medical Association (2021). He worked as a lab assistant during his first 2 years of training in medical school at the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City Missouri, and published multiple research papers in the JAOA. He is an accomplished clinician, physician trainer, and educator, who continues to expand his current independent medical practice while enjoying his 2 beautiful teenage children. He is inspired daily to care for his patients while ensuring his children are engaged and succeeding in school. Life is what you make it.
Optometry
Dr. Ratzenberger is an optometric physician who is dedicated to providing the highest quality, comprehensive eye care to her patients. She graduated, with honors, from the Michigan College of Optometry in 2007 and went on to complete a residency at the prestigious Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, in Chicago, Illinois in 2008. Her residency provided her extensive training in the treatment and management of ocular disease, including dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye changes, and corneal conditions, such as keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration. She is currently an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Western University College of Optometry and Michigan College of Optometry. Dr. Ratzenberger practices full-scope optometry including examining the health of the eyes, vision testing, prescriptions for eyewear and the fitting of contact lenses.
Dr. Ratzenberger recently joined the CRIM team to serve as a principal investigator on our optometry clinical trials.
MEET OUR STAFF
