River Birch Research Alliance's clinical research team has, collectively, over a century of healthcare training, patient care and research experience. Our team comes from diverse backgrounds having trained in highly notable institutions as Case Western, Duke and Washington University (St. Louis).

At River Birch Research, our team brings to our work a richness that only comes from experiencing other walks of life in countries that include: Canada, Italy, Malaysia, Scotland, Singapore, and the United States. The RBRA team is widely published in recognized peer-reviewed journals.

Patient care remains our highest priority as we strive to bring new medications in clinical trials to you.

Dr. Eblaghie obtained his B.Sc. in Integrated Science with a focus in the Life Sciences from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC, Canada) graduating with first class standing. His academic achievements translated to several scholarships and membership to the Golden Key International Honours Society.

Dr. Eblaghie's early research experience as an undergraduate student fueled his interest in pursuing a graduate degree, eventually obtaining his doctorate degree from the University of Dundee's renowned College of Life Sciences (Scotland). Under the mentorship of then advisor Professor Cheryll Tickle (distinguished for her contribution to the field of embryonic limb development), Dr. Eblaghie enjoyed success in research early, completing his PhD in a remarkable 2 years and 5 months, resulting in 3 publications in prestigious journals which include Cell Biology and Developmental Biology. His PhD work would produce 6 publications in all. At the age of 24 and with a PhD to his name, Dr. Eblaghie took to further training as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the laboratory of Professor and Department Chair Brigid L. M. Hogan (Duke University): a prominent scientist known for her contribution to the study of lung biology, stem cell biology and to a class of molecules know as BMPs (Bone Morphogenetic Proteins).

Dr. Eblaghie's training continued with a second postdoctoral appointment as research Fellow at the Albert Eye Research Institute (Duke University) with Director of Research Dr. Fulton Wong, PhD. At AERI, Dr. Eblaghie's work exploring the inner workings of mouse retinas exposed him to the clinical aspect of basic science research, and ultimately to a change in career path focusing primarily on clinical research management.

Dr. Eblaghie's professional membership includes the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP).

Dr. Tidman is the founder, president and CEO of RBRA. His impressive resume reveals a multi-disciplinary, multi-faceted professional.

Prior to pursuing his interest in medicine, Dr. Tidman was an engineer. He obtained his Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering with honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA).

Dr. Tidman's perfect 4.0 GPA in Physics earned him many distinctions and memberships including Sigma Gamma Tau and Tau Kappa Epsilon (Aerospace Engineering Honor Societies). It was during these formative college days as an engineering student that Dr. Tidman decided to pursue Medicine.

In his senior year, Dr. Tidman carried out a research project looking into blood flow dynamics in normal versus atherosclerotic patients: a multi-disciplinary subject indeed, bridging his interests in engineering physics and medicine. Dr. Tidman later carried out pre-clinical training at the Medical College of Georgia (Augusta, GA) and obtained his medical degree from Case Western School of Medicine (Cleveland, OH) in Allopathic Medicine.

Dr. Tidman received many accolades, not all of which were for his outstanding academic achievements (Lang Award) but also for his contribution to the medical community (CIBA Award).

Dr. Tidman completed his residency training in Family Practice at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN. It was a few years into his medical profession when Dr. Tidman founded RBRA and devoted part of his time to clinical research.

15 years and over 100 clinical trials studies later, Dr. Tidman is a distinguished principal investigator and creative thinker. He is co-owner, CEO and on the Board of Directors for RiverStone MD, P.C. Dr. Tidman holds privileges at Fannin Regional Hospital (Blue Ridge, GA) where he has held the position of Chief of Staff, and Piedmont Mountainside Medical Center (Jasper, GA).

Dr. Tidman is board certified in Family Medicine and holds professional memberships including the American Academy of Family Physicians (Fellow), Georgia Academy of Family Physicians and the Medical Association of Georgia.

Dr. Roof obtained his B.Sc. from Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA) and M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia (Augusta, GA). Dr. Roof did his internship and residency training in Family Practice at The Medical Center in Columbus, GA. For 25 years, Dr. Roof ran his own private practice in Blue Ridge, GA, before joining a division of RiverStone MD, P.C. as partner and co-owner.

Dr. Roof joined RBRA in 2000 as research sub-investigator and he has carried out more than 80 clinical trials studies to date. His clinical interests have included: COPD, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, diabetes, hypertension, allergy, osteoarthritis and depression.

Dr. Roof is Board Certified in Family Practice and holds professional memberships with Georgia Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Roof is a great contributor to the community having volunteered as Teaching Staff at Mercer School of Medicine.

Dr. Roof served on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce (2004, 2005) and has been on the Chamber's Board of Directors since 1999. Furthermore, Dr. Roof has served on the Board of Health for 5 years running, serving as Chairman from 2006 to present.

Dr. Renee Rimmer is a Georgia native. She graduated from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee in 1993, where she was voted the most dedicated in her class. Since that time she has practiced both with an Ophthalmology speciality practice as well as a general optometry practice in the Atlanta area.

In 2003 she opened a solo practice, Bear Eye Care located in Blue Ridge, Georgia. She is a member of the "Society of Professional Optometrists" and attends the "Southern Educational Congress of Optometry" each year to learn new technology and research regarding optometry.

Although she became a Fannin County resident in 2003, she has been visiting relatives in Blue Ridge her entire life. Her mother was born and raised in Morganton, Georgia. Her hobbies include flower gardening, piano, flute, hiking, and spending time with her husband Greg in the beautiful north Georgia mountains

Lee Tidman is a Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner (CANP) and licensed APRN (Georgia Board of Nursing) who joined RBRA in 1995. Lee trained at the College of St. Catherine (St. Paul, MN) earning her BSN degree. Lee furthered her nursing training with a Masters at St. Catherine in the Accredited Adult Nurse Practitioner program. Already with years of nursing experience, Lee's devotion to continued education took her to Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA) where she obtained her MS degree in a Nurse Practitioner program.

Lee's clinical interests include diabetes, chronic illnesses, gerontology, Women's health and health promotion. Lee is a Certified Diabetes Instructor and is the founder, co-owner and director of Riverstone Skin & Laser spa.

In her 25 years plus as CANP, Lee has acted as Receptor and Lecturer in Nurse Practitioner programs and assisted in the development of a lecture series in Cardiac Rehabilitation. Lee's role as NP educator extends to the community where she has held health clinics that focus on health maintenance and patient education. Her commitments to the community are long standing and include such services as: coordinator of a diabetes support group, senior citizens workshop, youth group mission director, cancer support group, among others.

Lee has held professional memberships with the American Heart Association Board, North Georgia Counseling Advisory Board, and North Georgia Crisis Network Board.

Marilyn Williams brings over 2 decades of healthcare experience to RBRA. She obtained her ASN from Macon College (Macon, GA) and followed this with a BSN from Georgia Southwestern College (Americus, GA) with highest distinction and a 4.0 GPA.

While working towards her BSN, Marilyn held the post of Charge/Staff ER Nurse at Sumter Regional Hospital (Americus) earning valuable experience in an emergency healthcare setting. Since then, Marilyn has held several senior positions as nurse practitioner in hospitals, clinics, medical and urgent care centers.

Camille is a certified nurse practitioner who joins RBRA in 2008. Camille obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 2001 from Brenau University in Gainsville, GA. As a nursing student, she held the positions of Class Vice-President in her Junior year (2000) and of Class President her senior year (2001). Camille furthered her training as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner completing a Master of Science degree in Perinatal and Women's Health (2007) at the Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing, Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA).

Camille has worked in several health care settings including: Medical/Surgical Nurse at Fannin Regional Hospital (Blue Ridge, GA), Childbirth Educator for Essentially for Women program (Gainesville, GA), Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse at Northeast Georgia Medical Center and more recently as Clinical Instructor for North Georgia College and State University, where she instructed second year ASN nursing students through their OB, mother/baby, newborn and NICU rotation experiences.

Camille holds prestigious memberships with The National Scholars Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau and is a member of the Association of Women's Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. Moreover, she holds certifications for Basic Fetal Monitoring, CPR, and Neonatal Resuscitation.