About Us
Meet Our Talented Team
Our passionate and dedicated team brings together a diverse range of skills and expertise to deliver exceptional patient care.
Dr. James Poock, MD
Principal Investigator
Dr. James Poock, MD, is the owner of CV Primary Care, part of Cedar Valley Medical Specialists. He brings over 13 years of invaluable experience as an investigator in clinical trials previously conducting at Northeast Iowa Medical Education Foundation where he served as faculty.
He is committed to providing exceptional care, offering additional treatment options, and ensuring his patients receive the best possible outcomes. A lifelong learner, Dr. Poock enjoys continuously seeking innovative approaches to enhance patient care and well-being.
Dr. Jim Hoehns, PharmD
Research Director and Sub-Investigator
Jim Hoehns, Pharm.D., BCPS, FCCP is a Clinical Professor and Division Head, Applied Clinical Sciences with the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. He is the Research Director at Cedar Valley Clinical Research, part of Cedar Valley Medical Specialists. He is a clinical pharmacist at Cedar Valley Primary Care in Waterloo.
For 28 years he was involved with family medicine physician resident training at MercyOne Northeast Iowa Family Medicine residency. During this time he was the Research Director and participated in more than 100 phase 2-3 clinical drug trials as a Co-Investigator or Sub-Investigator..
Sarah Larson, BSN, RN
Lead Clinical Research Coordinator
As a University of Northern Iowa Biology graduate and UNI golf alumni, she transitioned to healthcare, obtaining further education in nursing at Mercy College of Health Sciences. During her Mayo Clinic research experience, she discovered her passion for clinical research under the guidance of a dedicated mentor. With a genuine love for learning and a desire to aid others, she found fulfillment in the dynamic field of clinical research, where patient engagement fuels her dedication. Committed to advancing medical science, she leverages her skills to improve patient outcomes as the lead clinical research coordinator.
Beth Trask, LPN
Clinical Research Coordinator
Beth has always been drawn to research and found her way back to research by joining the Cedar Valley Clinical Research team in the Spring of 2025. She has practiced as an LPN since 2007 and is excited to deliver exceptional care to our patients.
Cedar Valley Clinical Research
Our Mission
Bringing health innovation to Northeast Iowa is our mission. We aim to provide research opportunities within our community, eliminating the need for extensive travel. Our goal is to make science accessible to everyone—regardless of background or location. We believe that every individual, regardless of demographic or socioeconomic status, should have the chance to participate in clinical trials. As a site, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality care and playing a pivotal role in advancing clinical research.