Program
Keynote Speakers
Invited Speakers
Dr Tobi Karchmer
MD, MS Medical Director
BD Diagnostics - GeneOhm
Tobi B. Karchmer, MD, MS, is Medical Director for BD Diagnostics - GeneOhm. She was previously an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Infectious Diseases at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Hospital Epidemiologist at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from 2000 - 2007. She is board-certified in infectious diseases.
Dr. Karchmer received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and Master of Science from the University of Virginia. She completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Karchmer then completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville.
Dr. Karchmer is a member of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) as well as an Associate of the American College of Physicians. She was a Member of the Board (Academic Councilor) of SHEA, 2006-2007, and has served on various committees of SHEA and IDSA. Dr. Karchmer has written numerous articles and 2 book chapters on infectious diseases and hospital epidemiology, and has presented many local and national invited lectures.
Ms Kathy Warye
Chief Executive Officer, Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC)
Ms. Warye joined the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) in March of 2004 as Executive Director. In October of 2006, she was named Chief Executive Officer. APIC's mission is to improve health and patient safety by reducing risks of infection and other adverse outcomes. The Association's 12,000 members have primary responsibility for infection prevention and hospital epidemiology in health care settings around the globe. APIC advances its mission through education, research, collaboration, practice guidance, public policy and credentialing. Ms. Warye also serves as CEO of APIC Consulting Services, Inc. a fully-owned subsidiary created in 2008.
Prior to joining APIC, Ms. Warye served as President of the National Science and Technology Education Partnership (NSTEP), a start-up organization dedicated to expanding the pipeline of U.S. science and technology talent. During her tenure, she worked closely with leading technology companies to improve science and technology education in the U.S., increase funding for innovative educational programs in the public schools and to position NSTEP as a leading voice in linking curriculum to the workforce requirements of the technology community.
Prior to joining NSTEP, Ms. Warye served as Senior Vice President, Education and Government Relations with the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), an association of 6,000 medical device manufacturers, healthcare professionals and regulatory agencies. In this role she had oversight responsibility for AAMI's educational products and services as well as government relations activities. During her tenure she led efforts to position AAMI as the leading provider of medical device quality systems education and represented the Association in consensus development initiatives related to medical device regulation.
During the early 1990's, Ms. Warye served as a consultant to the Smithsonian Associates and the Brookings Institution on the restructuring of their educational businesses, related strategy development and business planning. Earlier in her career, Ms. Warye held positions in education and professional development with the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and the Special Libraries Association.
Ms. Warye has a B.A. from the University of Maryland. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives (GWSAE). Ms. Warye has authored a number of articles and taught extensively on best practice in the management of associations. In 1989 she received ASAE's Award of Excellence in Education and in 2002, ASAE's Associations Advance America Award. Also in 2002, Ms. Warye led development of a Telly Award winning video production.
Ms Claire Boardman
B. App Sc (Nsg), MPH, Cert IC - Victoria President, Australian Infection Control Association
Claire has 15 years Infection Control experience in both public and private health sectors and is currently employed as a Senior Infection Control Consultant at the VICNISS Coordinating Centre in Melbourne. Claire completed her Master of Public Health at Melbourne University majoring in Health Economics and International Health. Following the devastating Asian tsunami in Dec 2004 Claire was deployed to work as part of a public health team in the displaced peoples camps of Aceh in Indonesia.
Claire is the immediate past President of VICPA and current National President of AICA. Claire holds teaching positions at the University of Melbourne in undergraduate and postgraduate courses and currently sits on several steering committees of the Australian Commission on Quality and Safety in Healthcare.
Ms Cheryl Herbert
Chief Executive Officer, Health Quality and Complaints Commission, Queensland Health
Mrs Cheryl Herbert was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the recently formed Health Quality and Complaints Commission in September 2006.
Cheryl has extensive health leadership and management experience. Prior to leading the Health Quality and Complaints Commission Cheryl had 10 years' CEO experience as Executive Director of Spiritus Care Services which comprised the recently merged St Luke's Nursing Service, Anglicare and Anglican Care of the Aged and previously CEO of St Luke's Nursing Service.
Cheryl has qualifications in nursing and midwifery and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Nurses Australia, Associate Fellow of the Australian College of Health Care Executives and an adjunct Associate Professor of University of Queensland.
Cheryl has been noted as an innovative and collaborative industry leader. She has worked closely with some of Australia's near neighbours to share skills and expertise, and has served on the following panels/Boards: Queensland Health Reform Panel, Forster Inquiry into Queensland Health, Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council, National Nursing Workforce and Education planning, Anglicare Australia, Anglicare NT, Bayside District Health Service Council, ACQI, and has accompanied the Australian Ministers for Ageing and Foreign Affairs in 1998, 2000 and 2002 to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan to showcase Australian Aged Care. She presently retains membership on the board of Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Queensland, External Advisory Council, School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Queensland and ACHS State Advisory Committee.
Mr Scott Mayoh
Principal Project Officer, CHRISP, Queensland Health
Scott Mayoh is a Principal Project Officer with the Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention (CHRISP). He has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Human Resource Management and has held government roles both locally and internationally. Scott's work experience includes roles as a human resource advisor, learning and development specialist and people and performance consultant. More recently he has led the implementation of the Clean Hands are Life Savers program, a Queensland Health state-wide behavioural and cultural change program.
Mr Phil Russo M.Clin. Epid
Project Manager - Hand Hygiene Australia
Phil's interest in infection control and prevention was ignited during the 1980's when he worked on the infectious diseases ward at Alfred Hospital Melbourne. Since that time, he has worked as an Infection Control Consultant and Alfred Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Southern Health. His work in this area was complemented by completing a Masters in Clinical Epidemiology in 2001. In 2002, Phil took up the role of Operational Director for the newly formed VICNISS Coordinating Centre, which implemented a uniform hospital acquired infection surveillance program in all Victorian public hospitals. During 2008, Phil was appointed National Project Manager of Hand Hygiene Australia to implement the National Hand Hygiene Initiative and implement a national approach to improving HH and monitor its effectiveness across all health care institutions, one of the five major initiatives of the Australian Commission on Quality and Safety in Health Care.
Ms Pauline Ross
Chief Nursing Officer - Queensland Health
Ms Ross trained as a registered nurse at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne and worked in clinical and middle management in nursing in regional and metropolitan teaching hospitals until 1984. From 1984 Ms Ross held several executive level positions within Victorian, New South Wales and Queensland including Deputy Director-General, Department of Families, Queensland from 2000 - 02, Director, Cape York Justice Strategy, Department of Premier and Cabinet and from 2005 to 2006 Executive Director of Nursing Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital and Health Service District, Brisbane. In November 2006, Ms Ross was appointed Chief Nursing Officer, Queensland Health. She holds a Bachelor of Health Administration and a Masters in Public Policy.
Ms Sharon Salmon
Infection Control Preparedness Officer
World Health Organisation (WHO), WR- Viet Nam Country Office (WR/VTN) Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Ms Sharon Salmon is the Technical Officer for Infection Control with the World Health Organisation, Western Pacific Regional Office based in Viet Nam Country Office.
Ms Salmon provides infection prevention and control technical advice to the Ministry of Health in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR. A primary focus of her work has been assisting countries to continue to develop minimal infection prevention and control capacity at ministerial level, specifically with writing and developing national plans including regulations, guidelines and training curriculum for ICP within health care facilities.
Ms Jenny Stackelroth
Surveillance Manager, CHRISP, Queensland Health
Jenny Stackelroth has worked in the areas of infection control and infectious diseases for the last 18 years. She holds qualifications in infection control and health management. Jenny's work experience includes both hospital and governmental roles. She is currently the Surveillance Manager with the Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention (CHRISP), Queensland Health.
Dr Helen Van Gessel
MB BS, FRACP, MPH, Senior Clinical Advisor to the Director, Office of Safety and Quality in Healthcare ;and Advisor to the Health Care Associated Infection Unit, Communicable Diseases Control Directorate, WA Health.
Infectious Diseases physician, high school in North Queensland, university in Tasmania and now based in WA. Interest in infection control and surveillance lead to working in patient safety and quality, particularly effective clinical practice improvement. Current hero Dr Don Berwick for his vision and courage to put himself out there, and continue to challenge the status quo.