Our Clinical Research Team

DR. SHARLIN
Principal Investigator
Ken Sharlin, M.D., M.P.H., IFMCP, is a board-certified neurologist, consultant, functional medicine doctor, Assistant Clinical Professor, researcher, author, and speaker in Springfield. His medical degrees are from Emory University, The University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt University. His functional medicine certification is through The Institute for Functional Medicine. He is author of the #1 best-seller The Healthy Brain Toolbox: Neurologist-Proven Strategies to Improve Memory Loss and Protect Your Aging Brain. His most recent publication, Reversal of Cognitive Decline: 100 Patients, can be found in the peer-reviewed Journal of Alzheimer’s & Parkinsonism, and he has been the primary investigator in several pharma-sponsored clinical trials that have helped bring new therapeutics to market. Dr. Sharlin practices general neurology, and directs his functional medicine program, Brain Tune Up!, in Ozark, MO.

SHAWNA TINDALL
Clinical Research Director
Shawna has over 13 years of experience in the nursing field in areas such as family medicine, ob/gyn, med-surgical medicine, cardiology, home health, and has been in Clinical Research for the last 6 years. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Southwest Missouri State University. She obtained her Associate’s Degree in nursing from Keiser University. She also holds certifications in Advanced IV Therapy and Phlebotomy Techniques, Research, and Medical Assisting and is a certified MoCA and CDR rater along with many other diagnostic rating scales. She has been a board member of the Parkinson’s Group of the Ozarks since 2021.

MIKHAYLA HAMILTON
Clinical Research Coordinator
Mikhayla Hamilton is a clinical research coordinator and has been in Clinical Research for the last 3-1/2 years. Her specific areas of interest include traumatic brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, and mirror neurons. She is a Nationally Registered Certified Phlebotomy Technician with certifications in IV therapy and advanced phlebotomy techniques. She has several other certifications, including in dementia rating, the neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaire, and in co-occurring disorders.

TINA EASTER
Clinical Research Technologist
Tina Easter is a Clinical Research Technologist, Infusion Tech, Unblinded Research Pharmacist and Research MRI Technologist at Sharlin Health Neuroscience Research in Ozark, Missouri.
“The best part of my job is getting to know and help people through Clinical Research! New and exciting innovations in so many aspects of medication therapy are on the horizon. Being a part of bringing these to the public is amazing. I am Blessed to be involved.”
Tina started in Clinical Research in 2019 as an Unblinded Pharmacist and has gradually increased her duties with Sharlin Health Neuroscience Research.Tina keeps busy. She and her husband of over 40 years have a 120-acre farm with a huge garden. She loves to travel, fish, do crafts paint and spend time with her 3 grandchildren.

JACKIE MARTIE
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
“This is a job unrelated to nay jobs I’ve held in the past. Research has a lot of interesting aspects to it. Knowing that the outcome of these trials will help people who had little hope. I am seeing everyday that we are making great strides in medicine.”
Jackie and her husband of 40 years live in the country with a veritable zoo atmosphere. She likes to travel, garden, get together with friends, and visit her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

LUKE VAN KIRK, DO
Sub-Investigator
Luke Van Kirk was born and raised in middle America from as far north as St. Paul, down to Olathe, and south to New Orleans. But he has been a continuous resident of the Greater Springfield, Missouri, area since 2012 and lived here during his college years at Evangel University between 2003 and 2007. He is board-certified in Family Practice and is the owner-physician of Command Family Medicine. A direct primary care practice, Command offers not only an innovative model for the delivery of primary care but many services not often found in the traditional office setting. In addition to his osteopathic medical degree from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, where he graduated in 2012, Dr. Van Kirk has a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He has been a licensed practitioner in Missouri since 2012 and a sub-investigator in clinical trials with Sharlin Health and Neurology since 2020.

SANDRA HINDS, CPNP
Sub-Investigator
Sandy Hinds is board certified through American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (Family Nurse Pract) specializing in pediatrics and holds a PNCB-Pediatric Nurse Practitioner- Primary Care certification. She received her Graduate/ Masters Nurse Practitioner at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and completed her Family Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Education at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

DAVID SWIFT, PsyD
Sub-Investigator
Dr. David Swift spent 14 years in Corporate Management, and 22 years a Clinical Psychologist. He Co-authored with Dr. Gary Smalley and has been published in national magazines. Dr. Swift has worked extensively with couples, stepfamilies, and seriously mentally ill patients. He has been married to his beautiful wife for over 30 years, has 3 adult children, and 6 grandchildren. He loves lake life, golf, and is an avid pilot.

LINDSAY VO, PsyD
Dr. Vo earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from William James College in Boston, Massachusetts, and completed more than two years of post-doctoral, specialized training in clinical neuropsychology (Neuro-Psychology Associates in Western Massachusetts and Central Arkansas Veterans Affairs Health Care Systems in Little Rock). She currently provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation services to adults and older adults, and psychoeducational evaluations to children and adolescents. The most common referral questions she receives, include dementia, traumatic brain injury/concussion, ADHD, movement disorders, and learning disabilities. She is the co-chair of the Vietnamese Neuropsychology Network and is an active member of the Asian Neuropsychological Association, National Academy of Neuropsychology, and International Neuropsychological Society, with the hopes of improving culturally competent neuropsychological assessment. Other interests include cognitive capacity, therapeutic feedback, cognitive rehabilitation, and assessment of noncredible task engagement.

MATTHEW GREEN, DO
Sub-Investigator
Matthew Green grew up in Oklahoma. He attended medical school at Oklahoma State University and completed a family medicine residency at Cox in Springfield, MO. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He has taken care of families in Southwest Missouri for over fifteen years. His interests include spending time with his wife, two sons, and daughter, being involved in his church, golfing, hunting, and traveling.

ROBERT SCOTT DUFF, MD
Sub-Investigator
Robert “Scott” Duff is a board-certified neurologist who has provided his expertise to thousands in need in southwest Missouri since the late 1990s. Dr. Duff is a diplomate of the American Academy of Neurology and a member of the American Society of Neurosonology and American Heart Association. He has been the author or co-author of four peer-reviewed articles, including his 1998 publication in the journal Neurology, entitled, “Mechanical ventilation for ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, indications, timing, and outcome.”