Metairie, Louisiana

Medical Director, Principal Investigator
Robert Jeanfreau, MD founded MedPharmics (now Velocity Clinical Research) in 2012 with his wife, Andrea Jeanfreau, MHA, BSN, RN. With Dr. Jeanfreau as medical director, and Andrea as CEO, they opened eight research sites in five states over a 10-year period. Throughout Dr. Jeanfreau’s time with Velocity, he has served as the principal investigator for more than 120 trials to date. His keen eye for detail and expansive knowledge has given him the opportunity to write questions for the Principal Investigator certification exam through ACRP. As a voracious reader and an avid learner, he has imparted his knowledge to the many people he has led over the years. Before he practiced medicine, Dr. Jeanfreau received his undergraduate degree from Loyola University in New Orleans and Louisiana State University School of Medicine for medical school. He completed his internship and residency at University Medical Center in Lafayette. He and his brother, Dr. Wallace Jeanfreau, ran their private practice, Jeanfreau & Jeanfreau, for 32 years. In 1992, Dr. Robert Jeanfreau briefly left the practice while he served in the Gulf War as a physician. Dr. Robert Jeanfreau, or Dr. J to many, is a highly respected physician in New Orleans. Dr. J always took the time to carefully listen to the concerns and ailments of those he treated; a skill that has further served him while overseeing clinical trials.

Principal Investigator
Suneil “Neil” Jolly, MD is a pain management physician at Louisiana Pain Specialists, with locations in Kenner, Metairie, Laplace, Baton Rouge, Marrero, and New Orleans, Louisiana. He specializes in treating chronic pain in men and women ages 20 and older. After 13 years of medical training outside of New Orleans, Dr. Jolly returned to serve a community in a city he calls home. He is committed to improving the health and lives of his patients through compassion, diligence, and exceptional care. Dr. Jolly joined Louisiana Pain Specialists in 2016. He was born and raised in the New Orleans area before completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin with honors. He obtained his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston before completing a transitional year internship at the University of Texas-Southwestern in Austin. Dr. Jolly completed an anesthesiology residency at the distinguished Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. He finished his medical training with an interventional pain fellowship at the well-respected Wake Forest/Carolinas Pain Institute program in Wake Forest, North Carolina. While training across the country with leaders in anesthesiology and pain management, Dr. Jolly acquired advanced skills in neuromodulation and surgical techniques, revolutionary spinal cord and peripheral nerve interventions and ablation, and innovative ultrasound- and fluoroscopically-guided procedures. He is an active member of many pain societies and has presented numerous times at national and international anesthesiology and pain medicine conferences. These experiences lead Dr. Jolly to Velocity Clinical Research 2022, where he has further expanded his skills as a principal investigator.

Sub Investigator
Susan Tortorich, WHNP-C has been involved in clinical research for 10 years and worked as a nurse for over 40. Susan joined MedPharmics (now Velocity Clinical Research) at its inception in 2013 and has been a Sub Investigator on over 100 clinical trials to date. Susan’s diligent attitude and no-nonsense approach have been instrumental to building the site where it is today. Susan earned her nursing degree from Hunter-College-Bellevue School of Nursing and later her master’s degree of Advanced Registered Practitioner from Boston College to earn the title of Nurse Practitioner. Prior to clinical research, Susan worked in numerous hospitals and clinics across New York, Massachusetts, Florida, and Louisiana. Susan’s roles have allowed her to advocate and fight for improved women’s healthcare. Additionally, Susan worked as an instructor for LSU Health Science Center Nursing School and for Delgado University Charity School of Nursing.

Sub Investigator
After attending Louisiana State University Nursing School, Paul Pati, MSN, FNP-C began his nursing career at Charity Hospital in New Orleans working in the Intensive Care Unit. After he discovered his passion was teaching patients and family members, he moved to the home health setting as a registered nurse. Following Hurricane Katrina, he owned and operated Pulse Home Health Care which was rated in the top 500 home care companies in the United States. After selling the company, Paul went back to school, attended Maryville University, and became a Family Nurse Practitioner. He worked at CVS Minute Clinics following graduation. After an unexpected encounter with Dr. Robert Jeanfreau, he was fortunate to start his research career as a Sub-Investigator with MedPharmics. He has found a new home at Velocity Clinical Research Metairie office in Louisiana. On his off-days, Paul can be found at his camp fishing and crabbing.

Site Director
RaeShanta McKendall entered the clinical research field in 2013 at Tulane University as a clinical protocol technician and later a clinical research coordinator. After several years there, Rae joined MedPharmics (now Velocity Clinical Research) in 2017. In her time with MedPharmics, RaeShanta played an integral role in the growth of the company as she helped develop each of the eight sites through training and operations management. Now in the role of Site Director with Velocity, RaeShanta can focus on one site and build it to new heights. In addition to her undergraduate degree from William Carey University, RaeShanta also earned her MBA with a concentration in healthcare management from Herzing University. With these skills, RaeShanta will continue to improve Velocity Clinical Research, Metairie.