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Joseph has been a practicing clinical perfusionist for 40 years. Currently, Joseph is the CEO of Houston Extracorporeal Technologies and is the program director of The New Orleans Conference and MediWeb which includes PerfWeb and NurseWeb.
Dr. Mark Mettauer, MD is a cardiac surgery specialist in The Woodlands, TX and has been practicing for 16 years. He specializes in cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery.
Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Little Rock, AK - 1991
Board Certification: Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery - 2004
Lucas M. Duvall, MD, FACS is a board-certified and fellowship trained cardio-thoracic surgeon and a fellow in the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Duvall is the Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital Cardiovascular Surgery Medical Director and the Vice President of the Medical Staff.
CV ICU Clinical Coordinator
Memorial Hermann The Woodlands
The Woodlands, TX
Dr. Prakash Balan is a board certified Physician and Assistant Professor for the Department of Internal Medicine at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
John Ingram is a magna cum laude graduate from University of Texas, Texas Heart Institute and a board certified perfusionist currently specializing in adult perfusion as well as pediatric and adult ECMO. He has several medical patents and has served as a consultant for nearly every perfusion manufacturer. He has published seven research publications in the perfusion literature, and has presented both nationally and internationally. With fifteen years experience as a Chief Perfusionist, and thirty years perfusion experience in total, he presently provides nationwide temporary and long term locum tenens coverage.
Keith Samolyk first started working in Perfusion in 1989 at Johns Hopkins and has worked in the Mid-Atlantic and New England and he is still very involved with the field in many ways. He is currently the Liaison to the Blood Management Medical Community of SABM and its Networks for AMSECT as well is the AABB Liaison for Perfusionist from AmSECT. He is a Director for the International Board of Blood Management (IBBM) and a Certified PBMS (Patient Blood Management Specialist), He was on the Steering Committee for “NABM” New Advances in Blood Management organizing Perfusion meetings in Jackson Hole and Kansas City for ten years. He is a Past Chair of the SABM Perfusion Blood Education Committee, was on the Guideline writing committee ICEBP International Board of Evidence Based Best Practices. Has authored peer reviewed publications and guidelines. He has Developed, Patented, and brought to market an innovative Blood Salvaging Device and Method for Saving Autologous Whole Blood in Surgery with sales in the USA, Canada and Globally Abroad. He has received the AABB’s highest award the Dale E. Smith Award for Innovation Pioneer in Blood Conservation from the National Blood foundation. Currently he serve full time as the President and CEO of “Global Blood Resources” and is chairman of the Board. https://www.ctsnet.org/home/ksamolyk
BS Health
Education 1981 Texas AM University
BS Perfusion 1984 UTHSCH Texas Heart Institute
Practicing clinical perfusionist in Texas Medical Center at Memorial Hermann and CHI St. Luke’s Hospital for 30 plus years
Clinical Coordinator and Instructor for Texas Heart Institute School of Perfusion Technology
Interests: Artificial Heart/Circulatory Assist Device Research, International Perfusion Education, Conflict Resolution
William J. DeBois, CCP, MBA is Perioperative Services Director and Chief Perfusionist at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. After graduating from State University of New York at Stony Brook, he started his career in Brooklyn, NY and after seven years moved to Cornell. In his almost 37 years as a perfusionist, his programs have performed over 45,000 open-heart procedures. Bill’s passion for perfusion technology led him to work in blood conservation and safety for which he has over 100 publications and presentations.
He has been active in AmSECT and currently he serves as President. Additionally he has been involved with perfusion licensure and served as Chair of the licensing committee in New York.
As President of AmSECT Mr. DeBois has worked hard to get more perfusionists involved in the professional organization and has helped to improve membership to over 2000 members. He continues to work at improving membership and helping to engage perfusionists to adopt AmSECT’s standards and guidelines. Bill believes that this will improve the performance of perfusionists and ultimately improve the care of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.
Dr. Gersak is a full Professor of Surgery, University of Ljubljana, Medical Faculty and Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at University Medical Center Ljubljana, Slovenia. He is active in the cardiovascular medicine for more than 35 years and published more than 500 peer reviewed papers and presentations on various topics in cardiac surgery. He organized and chaired many international surgical meetings around the world, including European Congress of Cardiovascular Surgery and World Congress of Cardiothoracic, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. His main interest is minimally invasive cardiac surgery for mitral and aortic valve pathology, as well as atrial fibrillation. He was visiting professor in various institutions around the world, including Tel Aviv (Israel), Sao Paolo (Brazil), Ryhadh (Saudi Arabia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and served as proctor and master proctor for Edwards, Atricure and Sorin-Livanova. At the present moment he is very active in USA and Japan.
Christiane Perme, PT CCS FCCM is the owner of Perme ICU Rehab Seminars and a Clinical Development Specialist at the Houston Methodist Hospital, where she has practiced for the past 32 years with a large variety of complex patients in ICU.In 2005 she became a Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Clinical Specialist. In 2017, she was accepted as a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine, the first physical therapist in the world to receive such recognition.
Mrs. Perme has published 18 articles and is co-author in 9 book chapters. She has extensive experience in treating adult patients in ICU with special interest in patients on mechanical ventilation. Mrs. Perme has presented hundreds of courses and lectures in the United States. She is also a world-renowned speaker with presentations in Colombia (2017), Puerto Rico and Germany (2016), Denmark (2015), Russia (2014), Brazil (2015, 2013, 2012, 2010), Nigeria (2011), and at the World Physical Therapy Congress (Netherlands-2011, Canada-2007, Spain-2003).
After 21 years of perfusion, Roger went to the dark side as a clinical specialist, and has worked with ECMO units across the US. His recent work has focused on oxygenator clotting and recirculation. He is currently in the process of leaving industry and returning to perfusion full time.
I graduated from Butler University in 1988 with a degree in Zoology/Pre-Med. I then completed training as a registered respiratory therapist, and practiced for about 5 years, mainly in critical care. During that time, I observed an open heart surgery case, and decided to pursue a career as a perfusionist. I graduated from the first class of the Cleveland Clinic/Ohio State school of Cardiovascular Perfusion program in 1995. I presented my student research project at the AmSECT meeting in 1995, which was given the award for “Best First Time presenter” as well as the AmSECT Research Award for “Exceptional Original Research published in The Journal of Extracorporeal Technology”, for work in pumpless A-V carbon dioxide removal in acute lung injury. In 2010, I spent about 3 and half years as a clinical specialist for VAD Company starting their US clinical trial. I returned to full time clinical perfusion in 2013 as a mechanical circulatory support coordinator for the University of Louisville Physicians department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. I mainly focus now in adult clinical perfusion, ECMO, ventricular assist devices, adult clinical perfusion and MCS, and when required, pediatric VADs.
Graduated with degree in medicine at the University of Amsterdam. PhD research with prof. Can Ince at the department of Clinical Physiology of the University of Amsterdam Academic Medical Center. An early care investigator pushing the relevance of the microcirculation into clinical practice. (Co-)Authored numerous papers on the microcirculation in leading medical journals like the Lancet, Applied Physiology and Critical Care. One of the founders of MicroVision Medical. Works closely with critical care leaders to develop microcirculation monitoring as a viable tool for clinical decision making support. In charge of an initiative by MicroVision Medical to help clinicians setup clinical investigations and publish their results in acclaimed international medical journals.
Matt Warhoover graduated Vanderbilt University with a Masters in Health Care Management. He also earned a masters in Perfusion Science from Milwaukee School of Engineering. Matt is the current Associate Chief of Perfusion at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is the lead for the perfusion based ECMO service line performing nearly 100 ECMO patients and 20,000 hours annually.
His career started as a Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Anesthesia Technician in 1997 and continued his education and started his perfusion career at Midwest Heart Institute in Milwaukee, WI in 2002. In 2005 Matt moved to Perfusionist Supervisor for McAllen Perfusion Associates, Inc. in McAllen, TX and in 2016 became Associate Chief of Perfusion at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.
He is certified with the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion and is a Licensed Perfusionist by Tennessee State Department of Health.
He is published in the Journal of Extracorporeal Technology, June, 2008. Publication of Argatroban in Short Term Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Due to Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia. Matt also presented to the Wisconsin Perfusion Society Meeting – September 2002 – Presentation on the inflammatory response of the utilization of pump suction during primary CABG surgery.
Matt is a member of the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (2002 – Present), Tennessee Perfusion Association Member (2006 – Present) and Tennessee Perfusion Association President (2010 – Present)
Juan Carlos Zubieta, MD, MPH graduated from Universidad Centroccidental in Venezuela in May of 1995. Dr. Zubieta received his MPH from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia in May of 1999. Postgraduate Fellowship at Cooper University Medical Center in Camden, New Jersey and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. Residency and Internship at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Darby, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Zubieta has practiced as an Attending Intensivist at several institutions including, St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston, Texas, Integris Baptist Medical Center, Memorial Hermann NE and SW, Valley Baptist Medical Center, Freeman Hospital Joplin Missouri, Christus St Michaels Texarkana, Scott & White Healthcare, VA Healthcare System, UPMC, Memorial Hermann NE and The Woodlands. Dr. Zubieta was Assistant Professor at Texas A&M School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Zubieta also held the title of Chief of QA and Education at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC and was the Hospital Coordinator of Venezuela Ministry of Health Rural Physician Primary Care Plus.
Dr. Zubieta is or has been a member of Neuro Critical Care Society, Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP) and Society of Critical Care Medicine.
I am an interventional cardiologist with UBMD Cardiovascular Medicine, with specialized training in echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and noninvasive vascular interpretation (RPVI). I see outpatients through the UBMD ambulatory practice at the Amherst Clinic, and I care for patients admitted to the Buffalo General Medical Center (BGMC) consultative service and BGMC’s Cardiac Care Unit (CCU). My interventional practice involves evaluating and caring for patients with coronary and structural heart diseases. I perform diagnostic coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary atherectomy, percutaneous mechanical hemodynamic support, cardiac biopsy, patent foramen ovale (PFO)/atrial spetal defect (ASD) closure and transaortic valve replacement (TAVR).
I also have a specialized focus on evaluating and managing patients with peripheral vascular disease, including noninvasive vascular testing and endovascular interventions. I see patients at the Gates Vascular Institute (GVI) where I perform diagnostic peripheral and carotid angiography and interventions for peripheral arterial diseases. These procedures include lower extremity arterial atherectomy, angioplasty and stenting, renal and mesenteric artery revascularization and subclavian intervention.
I am active in research at the GVI by participating in a number clinical trials. One aims at protecting patients from renal damage during PCI (CARIN, Ischemix). Another involves an alternative procedure to perform TAVR for intermediate-risk patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis (SURTAVI, Medtronic). A third clinical trial addresses using intracoronary delivery of stem cells in patients postanterior myocardial infarction with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction (ALLSTAR, Capricor).
As a faculty member at the University at Buffalo, I teach and mentor residents and fellows during their hospital rotations.
Clinical Director | Clinical Education and Support Director | VP Clinical Operations
“Development of Innovative Patient Centered Programs and Excellence in Execution”
An accomplished Clinical Director with expertise in the development and delivery of patient centered programs that consistently provide excellent outcomes. I develop and lead highly effective teams to create innovative clinical support solutions. My background includes strong experience in medical sales and account management.
As Clinical Education and Support Director of the Peripheral Vascular Division of Angiodynamics, I manage a clinical staff of 13 providing organizational goals and strategies to two teams in one division. We develop innovative clinical programs in the area of venous thromboembolic disease. Angiodynamics is a leader, developer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative, propriety minimally invasive devices used by interventionalists and surgeons. Divisions: Vascular Access, Surgery Oncology, Peripheral Vascular.
Traci Nicole Howeth graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in December of 1989 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Child Development and Family Relations and went on to complete all state courses and requirements, earning her State of Texas Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker credentials in 2003. Traci began her career as a child abuse investigator for the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services in January of 1990, working as an advocate for abused and neglected children, before transferring to an inpatient Psychiatric Center working with children and youth with severe mental health issues.
In September of 1992, Traci began working with Harris County Community Youth Services, where she worked tirelessly as a Crisis Intervention Specialist. As a County Employee, she was school campus based, and acted as a liaison between multiple Schools, Children’s Protective Services, Police Agencies, the Juvenile Probation Department and the Court System. She worked with children ranging in age from Pre-K through High School, providing immediate crisis intervention and support to children and families dealing with domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse, gang violence, grief and trauma issues, suicide/homicidal threats, children victimized by internet crimes, and many other highly at risk areas. Traci gave numerous awareness presentations to staff, parents and youth and assisted in coordinating prevention events such as “Shattered Dreams” and the Documentary “Chronicles of a Teen Killer”. She received numerous awards for her work throughout her career.
In 2014, Traci retired from Harris County and worked as a Contract Crisis Social Worker at Spring High school, offering individual and group crisis counseling support to staff, parents and students following an on-campus homicide. Traci also acted as the liaison between campus staff and students, Police Investigators, The District Attorney’s Office and other agencies throughout the aftermath of the event and the trial.
Although she “officially retired” in 2016, Traci is still very active in her field of passion: helping youth and families. She consults with and supports parents and schools giving presentations on topics affecting our youth today, volunteers with church organizations and is a proud Board Member and supporter of Hands of Justice, an inspiring Human Trafficking Awareness and Education Non-Profit agency based in Montgomery, County Texas.
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Dr. Soma S. Jyothula earned his medical degree at All India Institute of Medical Sciences and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed his fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Dr Jyothula is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and critical care medicine and has been practicing medicine since 2006. His clinical interests include lung transplantation, interstitial lung disease, COPD, pulmonary hypertension and interventional pulmonology.
Dr. Jyothula’s practice philosophy is to provide the highest quality, comprehensive and innovative care to patients with chronic lung disease. He believes in a personalized approach to managing each patient’s medical needs.
Dr. Jyothula is the medical director of the Lung Transplant Center at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and part of clinical faculty as an associate professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. He is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians, American Thoracic Society, American Society of Transplantation and International Society of Heart & Lung Transplantation.
A resident of Houston’s Museum District, Dr. Jyothula has two children. In his spare time, he enjoys clay shooting, running and has aspirations to be a writer.
Erin Herrman is a board-certified Perfusionist, with 12 years of experience, who travels
nationally and has provided full service Perfusion coverage to over 20 hospitals. She has been
both a Perfusion Quality Manager and a Compliance Officer, and specializes in complex adult
surgeries as well as ECMO. Erin has a Master’s of Science degree in Neuroscience and has
taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at Kent State University and Brown Mackie
College. She considers herself a lifelong learner and brings her passion for learning to every
account; she has mastered adaptability, resourcefulness, and effective communication in
diverse healthcare environments. Erin began traveling after she saw the demand for quality
perfusionists expand with the recent shortage, and continues to embrace the challenge of
learning the vast array of approaches in Perfusion.
Dr. David Platt has a PhD in carbohydrate chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and completed his post-doctoral work at Wayne State University in Michigan. He is a pioneer in designing drugs derived from co-polymers. He has over 30 years of experience in drug development, with over 30 patents, authored 10 journal articles, completed 2 textbooks, CEO of 5 public companies, 3 of which were NASDAQ, and conducted over 30 clinical trials. He was the very first to combine chemotherapy with a co-polymer to target cancer which radically improved the safety profile of the treatments. He coined the name Galectin and was the first to publish in a field of research that now produces over 300 peer reviewed articles annually. His life’s work is embodied in his latest invention called BXT-25 which is an oxygen transport delivery drug that is 5000 times smaller than a red blood cell and is capable of treating stroke, ARDS, and other diseases that have an element of hypoxia within the disease.
Vice President, ECLS/ECMO
Linda Mongero works to advance SpecialtyCare’s pursuit of clinical excellence. Prior to joining SpecialtyCare, she served as Director of Clinical Perfusion at The New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center. She also served as President of the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP) and the American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion. Linda is a member of the American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology (AmSECT) Quality Assurance Committee and JECT associate editor, Director for the Accreditation Committee Perfusion Education (AC-PE) and is an advisor to the New York State Board of Health. Presently, Linda is working on the committee for Renal Guidelines in collaboration with STS, SCA, and AmSect. She has presented more than 200 abstracts and articles in the literature. Specific Clinical interests include extracorporeal Life Support specifically (ECMO), ventricular assist, and pursuit of standardization focus for our 500 clinical associates at SpecialtyCare.
Tammy graduated from Texas Heart Institute and had been practicing for nearly 17 years in the Houston and surrounding areas. She is employed with Houston Extracorporeal Technologies as a clinical perfusionist. Her professional interests are perfusion education, ECMO management and blood conservation.
Chicago native, Teri Trifiletti, served as a cardiovascular perfusionist for 22 years. She graduated from Rush University College of Health Sciences with a BS in Perfusion in 1997. Upon graduation, she accepted a position in California and returned to the Chicago area a year later. She spent 4 years in Chicago as a staff perfusionist and 2 years as assistant treasurer of the Illinois State Perfusion Society, when she and her husband received an opportunity to relocate to London, England. Teri took a Lead Perfusionist position at the Royal Brompton Hospital in 2002 where she was exposed to leading therapies in heart failure; including implantation of the Jarvik Heart.
Teri and her husband returned to Chicago in 2004 where she continued her career at NorthShore University HealthSystem. She helped develop NorthShore’s ECMO & VAD program and served as the Mechanical Circulatory Assist Perfusion Team Leader while completing her MBA in Healthcare Administration at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.
In 2017, Teri and her family moved to Charlotte, NC and she continued to practice per diem until her retirement from Perfusion in 2019.
Teri is the founder of Women in Perfusion; a group dedicated to the advancement of women in perfusion, as advocates for equity, ensuring excellence in health care, and promoting leadership.
Ann Guercio is a perfusionist with 34 years of experience in the profession and has resided in Houston, Texas for 31 years. She has provided clinical excellence in a variety of settings, including large academic centers performing adult and pediatric cardiac surgeries, single-center community health care facilities, and multi-center health care systems. Gratefully, Ann spent 10 years as a staff instructor at the Texas Heart Institute School of Perfusion, giving back to perfusion students at her alma mater.
Ann participates in perfusion professional societies and credentialing bodies. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Cardiovascular Perfusion (AACP), a current Board Director on the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP), and serves on the Texas Medical Board in matters of state perfusion licensure. Preserving, promoting, and advancing the Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP) certification process is forefront in her professional efforts.
Quality in cardiac surgery is another of Ann’s passions. She pursues objective advances through her associate membership and database abstraction work in the Society or Thoracic Surgeons (STS) registry. Currently, she is President of the Texas Region Data Managers Network (TRDMN) and divides her role in the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System between perfusion and STS registry duties. Ann believes that perfusion is part of the team effort of cardiac surgery. Through collaboration, communication, and data sharing, improvements in patient care are achieved.
In a large healthcare system, facilities can become siloed. Ann serves with a group of perfusion colleagues in her healthcare system to standardize where possible and share thoughts and ideas. She chairs the Perfusion Council at Memorial Hermann, which includes representatives from all system perfusion service providers. Through the Council, the perfusionists are able to compare processes and innovate, as well as network.
Outside of perfusion, Ann enjoys spending time with her husband, Sal, also a perfusionist, retired. They enjoy old home renovations, listening to music, cooking, cocktails, “talkin shop” and pretty much just being together.
Micheal Ray Brown, CCP, LP, is a graduate of The Texas Heart School of Perfusion Technology. He has been a perfusionist for
38 years in and around the city of Houston, Texas. Over his career, Mike has done approximately 5500 adult and pediatric open
heart surgeries, hundreds of hours of adult, pediatric and neonatal ECMOs and IABP monitoring, scores of RVAD and LVAD
initiations and bypasses. and thousands of ATS cases at various hospitals in the United States.
Mike served as a clinical instructer at The Texas Heart Institute for 11 months after graduating from the Class of 1982. In November
of 1983 he joined Houston Life Support providing perfusion services in the Houston area, and worked for 31 years in that company
that later joined SETA, Baxters Perfusion Services, Fresenius, Hospital Clinical Services Group and Specialty Care. For the past 6
years he has worked with HET as a clinical perfusionist.
Mike was instrumental in the development of the CPS system for temporary cardiopulmonary bypass, and placed the first patient
on that device in the county. He also was involved with The Medicins Company to perform clinical trials and protocols concerning
the drug Angiomax. He provided relief services to 12 hospitals in the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as two week perfusion medical mission in Perm Russia. Mike also serves as faculty for the HET Perfweb Webinar series.
When there is down time, Mike likes to spend his time with family, traveling and hunting.
Cuthbert Ormond Simpkins, Jr. (born August 20, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois), is a physician, biographer and inventor, best known for his work on shock and violence prevention and for his 1975 biography of the jazz musician John Coltrane. Dr. Simpkins' completed his surgical training in 1980 at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City and Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. After his surgical training, he did research fellowships at the Boston University School of Medicine and the Naval Medical Research Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. While in the United States Navy, Simpkins achieved the rank of Commander and received two commendations for excellence in research. Simpkins is board certified in surgical critical care. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and an honorary member of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Dr. Simpkins has consistently been a strong advocate for the provision of the best care possible for patients.
He has made original scientific contributions concerning the pathophysiology of shock and violence prevention. In 1993, he designed and established the Violence Intervention Program (VIP) which continues at the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Under this program a masters level social worker, Ms. Mary Hampton, interviewed hospitalized victims when they recovered sufficiently to converse. From this interview Ms. Hampton would obtain an extensive personal history and an individualized plan of intensive case management and counseling. After discharge from the hospital, the intervention continued with Ms. Hampton making home visits and conducting group sessions. The purpose of the intervention was to prepare the patient for employment and maintenance of employment once a job was secured. The first-year results were encouraging. Simpkins left Shock Trauma for the State University of New York School of Medicine in Buffalo. The results of a study of this program were published in the Journal of Trauma, Volume 61, pages 534-537, 2006. The lead author of the study was Dr. Carnell Cooper who took over the directorship of the program in 1994 after Dr. Simpkins' departure. As the director of the Trauma Program at LSU Health Sciences Center he continued his advocacy for patients embarking on modernization and reforms of the Trauma Program. While at LSU he led the restoration of the institution's certification by the American College of Surgeons as an adult level one trauma center as well as its new designation as a pediatric level one-trauma center. In addition, he established the Surgical Critical Care Team and collaborated with the hospital Infection Control Committee, and SICU nurses to reduce the previously high infection rate to rates that were consistently well below the national average. Simpkins was recognized for his teaching skills by the LSU surgical residents who awarded him with the "Best Faculty Teacher Award" in 2007. His focus on patient care led to his receipt of the Patient's Choice Award. According to the award sponsors, MDx Medical, Inc. fewer than 5 percent of the nation's physicians, 720,000 physicians, receive this award, which is based on surveying the comments of patients about their physician. In July 2008, the LSU hospital administration gave Dr. Simpkins the "Team Recognition Award" for "...commitment to excellence in the care and treatment of our patients, their families and our guests." The award further noted his "… positive attitude and caring spirit".
Serina Patrick, RN, BSN, CCTC, works as a Lung Transplant Coordinator at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, where she helps to evaluate patients for transplant, is involved in their transplant care before their surgery, and long-term follow up. In her role, she is also responsible for handling the flow of the transplant medical review board and ensuring that all aspects of patient information is available for the physician in order to make a decision. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Prairie View A&M University and is currently working on her Master of Science degree in Nursing Education with Aspen University. She has ten years of nursing experience with a background in critical care, employed in various Neuro, Medical, and Trauma Intensive Care Units during her career. Serina has been working with patients who require lung transplants for the past five years and is a member of the International Transplant Nurse Society. She is a Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator and has been a mentor and preceptor to upcoming and fellow nurses. Often recognized by her past patients for her dedication to what she does, Serina aims to tie her nursing experience with her passion for patient safety and nursing education. She is originally from DuPont, Washington, but has decided to make Houston her home due to her aspirations to continue to work in the world-renowned Texas Medical Center.
Gill Ford II is the chief perfusionist at Houston Methodist Hospital. He’s worked for Houston Methodist for 6 years and has been the chief for a little over a year. Gill graduated from Texas Heart School of Perfusion Technology in 2012. After graduating from THI he worked at Duke University Hospital for 2 years before returning to Houston to work at Methodist.
Shipali
Pulimamidi, MD graduated from Ross University School of Medicine in
2008, and subsequently completed all her post graduate training in
Cooper University Hospital, NJ in 2015. She is double board certified
in Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine and currently
practices Critical Care in The Woodlands, TX.
Dr. Hoffman was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and was raised in Los Angeles, California. His undergraduate degree is from Rice University in Houston, Texas. He attended medical school at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana and simultaneously received his MPH from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Dr. Hoffman’s general surgical training began at Emory and Grady Hospitals in Atlanta, Georgia followed by a fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery at University of Colorado in Denver, Colorado.
Dr. Hoffman's clinical interests include
end-stage heart and lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, mechanical
support and devices, as well as aortic surgery. His research interests
involve studying heart failure physiology in
patient’s undergoing LVAD placement and novel therapies to extend
the viability of donor hearts.
EDUCATION:
Doctor of Biology. Thesis: “Evaluation of Hemodynamic Status in Patients During and After Surgery by Electrical Impedance Methods” National Research Center for Surgery,
USSR Medical Academy, Moscow USSR
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Thesis: “Research and Development of Electrodeless Inductive and Capacitive Sensors for Measurement of Mechanical Function of the Human Cardiovascular and Breathing Systems” National Research Institute for Medical
Engineering, Moscow, USSR
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering, Thesis: “Low Pass Filters for Electromagnetic Flow Meters” Leningrad Institute of Electrical Technology, USSR
EMPLOYMENT:
2006 Present Vice President R&D, Chief Scientist, Transonic Systems, Inc., Ithaca, NY
1992 – 2006 Senior Scientist, Transonic Systems, Inc., Ithaca, NY
1980 – 1991 Group Supervisor and Head Research Fellow in ICU and Hemodialysis Units, National Research Center for Surgery, USSR Medical Academy, Moscow
1981 – 1983 Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, The Mechanical Machinery Institute, Moscow
1975 – 1980 Jr. Research Fellow, National Research Inst. of Medical Engineering, Moscow
1973 – 1974 Biomedical Engineer, Krasnogorsky 3 Military Hospital, Moscow, USSR
AWARDS:
2000 Tibbetts Award for Best NIH SBIR Grant Performance (Principal Investigator)
1991 Travel Award to the Fifth World Congress for Microcirculation (Louisville, KY)
among Eastern European and USSR Investigators
MAJOR RESEARCH INTERESTS: Development of new technologies to measure: blood flows, blood volumes, microcirculation, extravascular lung water, cardiac output, solute clearance and permeability.
From Birmingham, Alabama. Earned a BS in respiratory therapy at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Worked as a RRT at St. Vincent’s Birmingham for 5 years before attending perfusion school at Vanderbilt University. Earned certificate in Cardiovascular Perfusion Technology in 2017. Hired on as a staff perfusionist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the last two years as a senior perfusionist. Heavily involved in VUMC’s ECMO transport, Transmedics OCS Heart, and VUMC’s NRP heart procurement. Obtained Master’s in Management in Health Care from Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Business in August of 2020.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center Cardiopulmonary Perfusionist
· Responsible for Heart Lung Machine · ECMO Patients – transport, bedside monitoring
· Work directly with Surgeon, Anesthesia and Surgical Team
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Certified Anesthesia Technician/Evening Coordinator, Nashville
· Worked directly with Anesthesiologists, Residents, and CRNA’s.
· Excellent understanding of Aseptic Technique.
· Trained new technicians in all aspects of job.
· Cell Saver Certified, working directly with surgeons.
· Knowledgeable of Anesthesia machine and equipment.
Supaporn Kulthinee, Research Associate
Supaporn attended the Naresuan University in Thailand and received her bachelor’s degree in Cardo-Thoracic Technology in March of 2004. She went on the receive her master’s degree and PhD. in Medical Physiology. Supaporn continued her education with post-doctoral research training in Renal Physiology, Experimental Hypertension in February 2019.
Supaporn worked as a Cardiovascular Technician at the Heart Center and Cardiac Catheterization Department in Bangkok-Phuket Hospital in Thailand from 2004 to 2005. Then she took a position as a Perfusionist at Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the North East of Thailand in Khon Kaen, Thailand from 2005 to 2008. Supaporn was promoted to Chief Perfusionist at Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the North East of Thailand in Khon Kaen, Thailand in 2009 to 2011. She took a new position as Lecturer at Rajabhat Mahasarakham University at Faculty of Science and Technology in Mahasarakham, Thailand from 2012 to 2016, then took the position of Lecturer, Cardio-Thoracic Technology Program at Chulabhorn International College of Medicine at Thammasat University, Thailand from 2019 to 2021. In 2021 Supaporn took the Assistant Professor of Cardio-Thoracic Technology Program at Chulabhorn International College of Medicine at Thammasat University in Thailand. Currently Supaporn is a Research Associate with the Department of Plastic Surgery at Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University in the USA.
Justin Kendrick Senior VP & CEO Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital; Memorial Hermann The Woodlands;
Medical Center Justin Kendrick serves as the senior vice president & CEO of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands; Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital. During his nineyear tenure with the Memorial Hermann Health System, he has served as vice president of operations at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, as well as the director of operations at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital. He is the former COO of Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas and, prior to that role, he served as an Associate Administrator for Palmdale Regional Medical Center in Palmdale, CA. Justin received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern Nazarene University and master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on numerous community service and development boards. A resident of The Woodlands, Justin and his wife, Chelsea, have three young children – two daughters and a son: Collins, Ellison and Brooks.
Dr. Luis Gabriel Navar “Gabby” received his BS from Texas A&M in 1962 and his PhD from the University of Mississippi in 1966 under the direction of Dr. Arthur Guyton and continued as a postdoctoral fellow and faculty member. He served on the faculties of the University of Mississippi and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 1988 he joined Tulane University where his is Professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology. He is the co-founder of the Hypertension and Renal Center of Excellence where he served as Director from its inception in 2001 until 2020. Dr. Navar’s research has focused on the importance of the intrarenal and intratubular generation of Ang II and angiotensinogen in Ang II-dependent hypertension and diabetes mellitus. He has over 400 peer-reviewed publications including chapters and reviews. His work has been funded primarily by grants from the NHLBI, NIDDK, and NIGMS and has received numerous awards. He has held leadership roles serving as Councilor and President of the American Physiological Society (APS) and of the Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology, and as chair of the Leadership Committee of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research of the AHA. Dr. Navar is an active member of many societies including the APS, ASH, ASN, AHA, and SSCI. He has served on study sections (NIH, VA, AHA) and on Editorial Boards for various journals including American Journal of Medical Sciences
1988 Graduated from Loyola University certificate in Perfusion Technology.
Working since then in the Chicago and northwest Indiana area.
Instructor at Rush University School of Perfusion Technology for the past 4 years.