1. Joseph Tkacz, M.S., CCRP
jptkacz@yahoo.com
www.linkedin.com/in/joetkacz
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Junior Scientist
Department of Translational Science
Health Analytics
Columbia, MD
January 2009 – Present
Performs statistical analyses for randomized clinical trials using IBM SPSS v.19
Manages and prepares large medical and pharmacy claims datasets for statistical analysis
Authors/co-authors original manuscripts for submission to peer reviewed journals
Creates/designs scientific posters for presentation at national and international meetings
Conducts literature reviews and manages references with Endnote Software
Supervises undergraduate and graduate student interns
Creates and assists with the development of research reports for clients
Assists project management and vice president in day-to-day operations
Participates in project-specific and company-wide meetings
Senior Research Projects Coordinator
AMDA Foundation
Columbia, MD
April 2008 – January 2009
Worked with study personnel to develop essential study related materials including
Standard Operating Procedures, Case Report Forms, and Regulatory Binders
Served as liaison between the AMDA Foundation and Michigan State University, Wright
State University, and Copernicus IRBs
Coordinated logistical and operations aspects of three major award programs including
working with committees and sponsors
Provided planning and support to the AMDA Foundation’s 2008 Long Term Care
Research Network Conference (November 14-16, 2008, Baltimore, MD)
Created and designed research surveys using Survey Monkey
Prepared, shipped and managed inventory of study related supplies
IRB Specialist (part-time)
University of Maryland Greenbaum Cancer Center
Baltimore, MD
November 2008 – February 2009
Designed informed consent documents for cancer trials in accordance with Institutional
Review Board specifications

2. Clinical Research Associate
Department of Pediatrics
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, GA
April 2005-April 2008
Planned psychological data collection with elementary school-aged research subjects and
their parents; scored and maintained records of psychological data from subjects, teachers
and parents; processed, entered and analyzed data with SPSS and a local intranet SQL
database; compiled bibliographies with Endnote software; supervised undergraduate
student interns
Testing duties consisted of individual administrations of the Cognitive Assessment System
and portions of the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Achievement III while maintaining blinded
status, running subjects through experimental fMRI procedures, and administering
computer-based assessments of task-switching processes
Presented data at scientific meetings, and assisted the principal investigator with abstract,
manuscript and grant preparation using APA style
Served as liaison to Richmond, Columbia, and Aiken county GA school personnel, and
also to faculty and student collaborators at the University of Georgia
Assisted with informed consent/assent preparation and subject recruitment
Intern Research Assistant
Department of Pediatrics
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta, GA
Jan 2005-May 2005
Ran research subjects through experimental stressors following strict protocol guidelines
Participated in hemodynamic evaluations of subjects at rest in response to vascular
activated stressors
Aliquotted urine and blood samples for purpose of analyzing sodium retention
Entered physiological and environmental data into computer databases and performed
quality control checks on data entered
Graduate Student Assistant/Animal Lab Caretaker
Psychology Department
Augusta State University
Augusta, GA
Aug 2003-Aug 2005
Performed general laboratory maintenance for animal facility housing strains of Sprague-
Dawley derived albino rats bred for alcohol research
Managed oversight of non-sibling mating procedures, maintained housing, food and
water, and euthanized animals when necessary
Studied animals in thesis research, operant conditioning experiments with undergraduate
students, and other research projects involving minor surgical procedures

3. EDUCATION
Augusta State University Augusta, GA GPA
Master of Science: Experimental Psychology December 2005 3.70/4.00
Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC GPA
Bachelor of Science: Psychology May 2003 3.72/4.00
CERTIFICATIONS
▪ IBM SPSS Level 1 Certified
▪ Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
▪ Society of Clinical Research Associates- 2008-Present
PUBLICATIONS
Ruetsch, C., Cacciola, J., & Tkacz, J. P. (2010). A national study of a telephone support
service for patients receiving office-based buprenorphine medication assisted treatment:
Study feasibility and sample description. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, in press.
Albright, J., Ciaverelli, R., Essex, A., Tkacz, J. P. & Ruetsch, C. (2010). Psychiatrist
characteristics that influence use of buprenorphine medication-assisted treatment. Journal
of Addiction Medicine, in press.
Ruetsch, C., Tkacz, J. P., Dewan, N. (2010). Improving qualtiy and accountability
through information systems. In Dewan, N., Luo, J., & Lorenzi, N. (Eds.), Information
technology essentials for behavioral health clinicians. New York: Springer.
Petty, K. H., Davis, C. L., Tkacz, J. P. & Young-Hyman, D. & Waller, J.L. (2009).
Exercise effects on depressive symptoms and self-worth in overweight children: A
randomized controlled trial. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 34(4), 929-939.
Tkacz, J. P., Davis, C. L., Young-Hyman, D. & Boyle, C. A. (2008). Structured aerobic
exercise program reduces overt anger expression among overweight children. Pediatric
Exercise Science, 20, (4), 390-401.
Tomporowski, P. D., Davis, C. L., Lambourne, K., Gregoski, M, & Tkacz, J. P. (2008).
Task switching in overweight children: Effects of acute exercise and age. Journal of
Sport and Exercise Psychology, 30 (5), 497-511.
Davis, C. L., Tkacz J. P., Gregoski, M. J., Boyle, C. A. & Lovrekovic, G. (2006).
Aerobic Exercise and Snoring in Overweight Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Obesity, 14 (11).

4. Severt, J., Tkacz, J. P., Ruetsch, C. (2010). Opioid relapse rates among a sample of new
buprenorphine-medication assisted treatment patients: Relationship to compliance at one
year follow-up. Manuscript in preparation.
Tkacz J. P., Hobbs, S. H., & Elkins, R. L. (2010). The GABA antagonist picrotoxin
attenuates an ethanol-induced taste aversion in taste aversion-prone rats. Manuscript in
preparation, to be submitted to Addiction Biology.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Tkacz, J. P., Severt, J., & Ruetsch, C. (2010). Buprenorphine compliance is associated
with improved psychiatric outcomes and service utilization among opioid dependent
patients. Abstract accepted at the 2010 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry,
December 2 – 5, Boca Raton, FL.
Severt, J., Tkacz, J. P., & Ruetsch, C. (2010). Buprenorphine compliance is associated
with improved employment and functioning outcomes among opioid dependent patients.
Abstract accepted at the 2010 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, December 2
– 5, Boca Raton, FL.
Ruetsch, C., Roebuck, C., & Tkacz, J. P. (2010). Buprenorphine adherence among
insured patients with opioid dependence: Impact on health services utilization and cost.
Abstract accepted at the 2010 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, December 2
– 5, Boca Raton, FL.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J.P. (2010). The effect of a telephonic patient support program on
treatment for opioid dependence: Outcomes at one year. Abstract accepted at the
American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence National Conference,
October 23-27, Chicago, IL.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J.P. (2010). A longitudinal analysis of the effect of
buprenorphine-medication assisted treatment (B-MAT) and a structured patient support
program on B-MAT adherence for the treatment of opioid dependence. Abstract
accepted at the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence National
Conference, October 23-27, Chicago, IL.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J.P. (2010). Refusal of ancillary support services early in opioid
dependence treatment predicts six month buprenorphine-medication assisted treatment
compliance. Abstract accepted at the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid
Dependence National Conference, October 23-27, Chicago, IL.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J.P. (2010). Opioid relapse rates among a sample of new
buprenorphine medication assisted treatment patients: Relationship with medication
compliance at one year. Abstract accepted at the American Association for the Treatment
of Opioid Dependence National Conference, October 23-27, Chicago, IL.

5. Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J.P. (2010). The effect of a telephonic patient support program on
treatment outcomes among a sample of opioid dependence patients: One year follow up.
Poster presented at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes
Research 15th Annual Meeting, May 15-19, Atlanta, GA.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J.P. (2010). A longitudinal analysis of the effect of
buprenorphine-medication assisted treatment (B-MAT) and a structured patient support
program on B-MAT adherence in a national sample of opioid dependent patients. Poster
presented at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research
15th Annual Meeting, May 15-19, Atlanta, GA.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J.P. (2010). Refusal of ancillary support services early in
treatment predicts six month outcomes among buprenorphine-medication assisted
treatment patients. Poster presented at the International Society for Pharmaco-
economics and Outcomes Research 15th Annual Meeting, May 15-19, Atlanta, GA.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J.P. (2010). Opioid relapse rates among a sample of nre
buprenorphine medication assisted treatment patients: Relationship to medication
compliance at one year. Poster presented at the International Society for
Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 15th Annual Meeting, May 15-19, Atlanta,
GA.
Tkacz, J. P. & Ruetsch, C. (2009). Compliance with buprenorphine-medication assisted
therapy decreases drug use among opiate addicts: A randomized controlled trial. Poster
presented at the 2009 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, December 3-6th, Los
Angeles, CA.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J. P. (2009). Buprenorphine-medication assisted therapy: A full
economic analysis of health plan data. Poster to be presented at the 2009 American
Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, December 3-6th, Los Angeles, CA.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J. P. (2009). Differences in opioid dependence severity by health
insurance ameliorated by month three of buprenorphine treatment. Poster presented at
the 2009 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, December 3-6th, Los Angeles, CA.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J. P. (2009). Drug use severity predicts subsequent
buprenorphine-replacement treatment compliance and drug use behavior among opioid-
dependent patients. Poster presented at the 2009 American Academy of Addiction
Psychiatry, December 3-6th, Los Angeles, CA.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J. P. (2009). Opioid dependence treatment outcomes improve
with addition of structured patient support program. Poster presented at the 2009
Academy of Managed Care Physicians, October 7-10th, San Antonio, TX.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J. P. (2009). Cost-effectiveness of medication-replacement
therapy with buprenorphine among opioid-dependent patients: Results from a

6. retrospective analysis of health plan membership claims data. Poster presented at the
2009 Academy of Managed Care Physicians, October 7-10th, San Antonio, TX.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J. P. (2009). Factors that predict early treatment failure among
patients in outpatient treatment for opioid dependence. Abstract accepted to the
International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 2nd Annual Latin
American Conference, Sept. 10th-12th, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J. P. (2009). Methods of achieving and maintaining adequate
study subject participation for a multi-site time series trial. Abstract accepted to the
International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 2nd Annual Latin
American Conference, Sept. 10th-12th, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ruetsch, C. & Tkacz, J. P. (2009). Factors that influence decisions among MBHO
network physicians to use office-based treatment for opioid dependence or to increase
numbers of opioid-dependent patients they treat: Results and Psychometric Evaluation of
the OBOT attitude and intention physician survey. Poster presented at the 14th Annual
International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research annual meeting,
May 16th-20th, Orlando, FL.
Davis, C. L., Tomporowski, P. D., Naglieri, J., Miller, P. H., & Tkacz, J. P. (2008).
Aerobic Training Benefits Children’s Cognition and Achievement: Randomized
Controlled Trial; Component of the symposium: Physical Activity and Children’s
Cognition---Convergent Multidisciplinary Experimental Evidence. Poster presented at
the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, August 14th,
2008.
McDowell, J. D., Austin, B., Allison, J., Yanasak, N. E., Camchong, J., Tomporowski, P.
D., Tkacz, J. P, Miller, P. H., & Davis, C. L. (2008). Changes in Brain Activation
Following Exercise Training in Overweight Children; Component of the symposium:
Physical Activity and Children’s Cognition---Convergent Multidisciplinary Experimental
Evidence. Presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting,
Boston, MA, August 14th, 2008.
Davis, C. L., Tkacz, J. P., & Tomporowski, P. D. (2008). Influence of Physical Activity
and Weight Status on Children’s Cognitive Functioning. Paper presented at the 2008
Obesity Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
Boyle, C, Tkacz J. P., & Davis, K (2008). The effect of an after-school exercise
program on body composition and lipids in overweight children. Paper presented at the
2008 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.
Petty K., Davis C. L., Tkacz J. P., Young-Hyman D. (2008). Exercise effects on self-
worth and depression symptoms in overweight children: a randomized controlled trial.
Poster presented at the 2008 National Conference in Child Health Psychology.

7. Tkacz J. P., Davis C. L., Yin Z., Duda J. (2008). Task-involving exercise program
fosters healthy motivation among overweight, sedentary children. Poster presented at the
2008 National Conference in Child Health Psychology.
Davis, C. L., Blanchard, A., Pogula, A, Tkacz, J. P., Chervin, R., & Waller, J. (2007).
Race differences in oxygen saturation and sleep quality among overweight children.
Poster presented at SLEEP, 21st annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep
Societies, Minneapolis, MN.
Austin, B. P., McDowell, J. E., Allison, J., Yanasak, N. E., Camchong, J., Tomporowski,
P. D., Creech, C. Tkacz, J. P., Miller, P., & Davis, C. L. (2007). Exercise-induced
changes in circuitries supporting antisaccade performance in overweight children; an
fMRI study. Poster presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, San
Diego, CA.
Davis, C. L., Tkacz, J. P., & Tomporowski, P. D. (2007). Effects of aerobic training
dose on overweight children’s cognition and Achievement: A randomized controlled
trial. Poster presented at the NAASO, The Obesity Society, Boston, MA.
Tomporowski, P. D., Davis, C. L. & Tkacz, J. P. (2007). Routine exercise improves
overweight children’s executive function. Poster presented at the International Mind,
Brain and Education Society, Fort Worth, TX.
Miller, P. H., Davis, C. L., Tomporowski, P., Jones, L., Naglieri, J., Tkacz, J. P., &
Gregoski, M. (2007). Executive functioning: Effects of a vigorous exercise intervention
on overweight children. Poster presented at APA annual meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Tkacz, J. P. & Davis, C. L. (2007). Aerobic exercise reduces depressive symptoms in
obese, sedentary children. Poster presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine,
Washington, D. C.
Petty, K., Tkacz, J. P., Young-Hyman, D., & Davis, C. L. (2007). Exercise program
improves self-worth among overweight white, but not black children. Paper presented at
the Society for Behavioral Medicine, Washington D. C.
Davis, C. L., Blanchard, A., Tkacz, J. P., Pogula, A., Waller, J, O, Boyle, C. A., Creech,
C., & Chervin, R. (2007). Exercise improves objective measures of sleep-disordered
breathing in overweight children. Poster presented at the Society for Behavioral
Medicine, Washington D. C.
Tkacz, J. P., Hobbs, S. H. & Elkins, R. L. (2006). Effects of a GABA antagonist on
ethanol-induced taste aversions. Paper awarded “Outstanding Graduate Research” at the
Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA
Austin, B. P., McDowell, J. E., Allison, J., Yanasak, N. E., Camchong, J., Tomporowski,
P. D., Creech, C. Tkacz, J. P., Miller, P., & Davis, C. L. (2006). Exercise effects on

8. antisaccade performance in overweight children; an fMRI study. Poster presented at the
Society for Neuroscience (listed in press book); Atlanta, GA.
Tkacz, J. P., Davis, C. A. & Boyle, C. A. (2006) Aerobic exercise training reduces
overt anger expression among overweight children. Poster presented to the 2006
Pediatric Health Psychology Conference, Gainesville, FL
Davis, C. L., Tkacz, J. P., Alison, J. & Boyle, C. A. (2006). Ethnic differences in
visceral fat but similar response to exercise in black and white overweight children.
Poster presented at the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks; Atlanta, GA.
Davis, C. L., Tkacz, J. P., Gregoski, M. J., Boyle, C. A., Creech, C., & Tomporowski, P.
D. (2006). Aerobic exercise training improves overweight children’s behavior in the
classroom. Poster presented at the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and
Physical Activity; Boston, MA.
Tkacz, J. P., Sparks, J. W. & Widner, S. C. (2005). Remembering the bad times: A
study on anxiety and memory. Poster presented at the Southeastern Psychological
Association, Nashville, TN
Tkacz, J. P. (2003). Differential error feedback conditions in learning a novel hand-eye
coordination task. Paper presented at the 2003 Carolina Psychology Conference,
Raleigh, NC.