2022 ABLE BioSkills Symposium

Agenda

Speakers

Christina Strong, Esq.

The Law Offices of Christina Strong is a specialty healthcare law practice. Ms. Strong is particularly engaged in issues surrounding organ, eye and tissue donation for transplant, education and research, and has been closely involved in state and national law and policy development concerning anatomical donation and transplant. She was closely involved in the 2006 revision of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, as well as numerous other legislative and regulatory initiatives to save and enhance lives through transplant, education and research. She is particularly interested in assisting anatomical donation, education and research organizations as they help to shape and comply with public policy surrounding the altruistic gift of human bodies. A frequent speaker on legal and policy topics nationally, Ms. Strong endeavors to stimulate civil discussion on topics at the intersection of law, health care and bioethics. She also teaches at Rutgers University School of Law-Newark, as an Adjunct Professor in Health Law.

Tonya Andrews, BS, CCFE, CTP, CGP

Education:

MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Current Student   February 2023  Walden University, Minneapolis, MN. Relevant Coursework: Group Processes, Multicultural Counseling, DSM-5 Diagnosis & Assessment, Addictions Counseling, Psychopharmacology, Crisis and Trauma Counseling.

BS Psychology, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA. May 2020. Specialization: Crisis & Trauma Counseling. Relevant Coursework: Foundations of Crisis Response, Acute Stress, Grief & Trauma, PTSD & Combat Related Trauma, Multicultural Counseling.

Professional History: 

Therapist - New Directions Counseling  -  June 2022 - Present     

Mental Health Coach, Learning to Live Again, LLC at New Directions Counseling  -  Nov. 2021 - Present

Community Couselor & Call Center Specialist, Lakeside Behavioral Health  -  May 2021- Sept. 2021    

Family Care Specialist, Mid South Transplant Foundation  -  March 2020 - Jan. 2021

Behavior Specialist, Consultant & Parent Advocate, Andrews Consulting  2003 - 2011

Roy W. Sanders, M.D.

Florida Orthopaedic Institute

Dr. Sanders specializes in acute trauma and posttraumatic reconstruction, as well as Foot and Ankle Surgery.  His is the President of Florida Orthopaedic Institute, a group he helped found, and the Director of the Orthopaedic Trauma Service. He is currently the Chairman of USF's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Dr. Sanders attended medical school at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City, and performed his residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, also in New York City, graduating in 1985.

Dr. Sanders received fellowship training in musculoskeletal trauma at Vanderbilt University Medical School, an then went on to obtain the AO/ASIF Jack McDaniels Memorial Trauma Fellowship, which he completed under the tutelage of Thomas Ruedi, M.D., in Chur, Switzerland.  Upon his return, he spent several months with Sigvard T. Hansen, Jr. M.D., as a foot and ankle fellow at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.  Dr. Sanders is highly respected both nationally and internationally for his work in othopaedic trauma, and foot and andle surgery.  He has designed a comprehensive plating system for articular fractures of the upper and lower extremities (A.L.P.S., Depuy Orthopaedics), as well developing a complete intramedullary nailing system for long bones (Trigen, Smith & Nephew) in conjunction with Dr. Toney Russell, M.D. of Memphis, TN.

Dr. Sanders is the Past President of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (2004-2005) and is currently serving as Director of the Orthopaedic Trauma Service, and the Chief of the Department of Orthopaedics at Tampa General Hospital. He has been involved in resident and fellowship training for over twenty (20) years.  He has been a past Chairman of the Committee on Trauma for both the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and for the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.

Dr. Sanders has authored over 100 articles and abstracts on orthpaedic trauma, published several textbooks on orthopaedic trauma, and is presently the Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, the leading international journal in the field.  He has served as faculty for over 150 courses, has given over 230 lectures, and served as course Chairman for 39 courses to train other orthopaedic surgeons, including originatingthe AO/ASIF Course in Foot and Ankle Trauma with Sigvard Hansen, and the Current Solutions in Orthopaedic Trauma Course, now in its 8th year.

He has been an investigator in over 20 research studies including a landmark National Institutes of Health Investigation on limb salvage, for which he was a recipient of the AAOS prestigious Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughan Award for Outstanding Orthopaedic Research in February of 2003.  His special area of expertise is reconstructive surgery of the lower extremity (complex fractures, mal/nonunions, deformity correction, post-traumatic arthritis an bone infection).

Brock Wilson - Johnson & Johnson

Manager Clinical Education, Clinical Simulation -  Johnson & Johnson MedTech,  Global Education Solutions, North America

Prior roll at Science Care – 7 years

Robin Bozarth, A.A.S., CTBS

Robin Bozarth is a skilled medical professional with over 30 years’ experience within the industry.  Robin currently leads the Genesis Legacy Whole-Body Donation Foundation, as the Genesis Manager, for the Medical Education Research Institute (MERI).  She has held various leadership positions at the MERI, a nonprofit medical teaching institution/bioskills facility, since her start in 2003 after ten years’ service within orthopedic surgery.  Robin is committed to her profession and maintaining the highest levels of ethical responsibility within the non-transplant anatomical donation industry for medical education and research. 

Robin was born in Memphis, TN and raised in DeSoto County, MS, where she graduated from Horn Lake High School.  Robin holds an Associates of Applied Science Degree and is a licensed Funeral Director in the State of TN.  She is a Certified Tissue Banking Specialist (CTBS) through the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and CQA (Certified Quality Auditor) certified through the American Society of Quality (ASQ).  Robin is a professional member of many societies and involved in various community-based volunteer programs.  Robin is a proud mom to beautiful twin daughters and is blessed with three gorgeous grandchildren in her life.  Robin loves her family, her community and helping those around her.  Two rescue cats (Zoie and Cap) are lucky to have claimed Robin’s place as their own. 

Kelley Bennett

Kelley is the Director of Clinical Partnership and Training& Education at GCMI. GCMI is a non-profit organization that accelerates the development of innovative medical products that improve quality based outcomes and delivery of healthcare for patients, through design & development, testing & training, and full life cycle product support. Kelley has 25+ years of experience in healthcare, research, and Bioskills. Experience includes 8 years at GCMI, 11 years in human transplant operations, 9 years as a surgical technologist and surgical first assistant, and 2 years in forensic science. Kelley holds a BS in Human Services Management (BSHS), a Diploma in Surgical Technology (CST), and a Certificate in tissue banking (CTBS) from AATB since 1996. She has been a member of ABLE since 2014 and serving on the ABLE board of directors since 2018.

Terence McIff

Member – Terence is Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center where he holds the Neff/Wiebe Endowed Chair for Orthopedic Biomechanics. He directs the KU Orthopedic Research and Education Center. He has his PhD in bioengineering from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow Scotland. His PhD research was performed at the AO Research Center in Davos, Switzerland where he also worked as head of the mechanical testing section. He received an MBA from Yale University. Terence conducts bioskills and research training for the KU orthopedic residency program. His center also provides bioskills training resources for various internal and external surgical groups. He teaches and works with students from a wide range of disciplines including Physical Therapy, Occupational Health, Medicine, Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering. His research is broadly focused with areas of work including infection, drug delivery, implant design and development, biomaterials, and spine biomechanics. Terence is a member of several professional societies including AAOS, ORS, ASME, and SFB where he serves on various committees. He is also a long-time reviewer for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Don Ashley, RT(R), Clinical Workshop Director, GE Healthcare (Surgery)

Don has been in X-ray since the early 1980’s. He joined OEC in 1995, prior to that company’s acquisition by GE. Don has held several roles, including Clinical Specialist, Regional Manager, several Zone Manager positions, and Field Technical Manager. He has held the current position of Workshop Director since January 2021. Don lives in Columbia, SC with his wife Kelly. They have four children and one grandson.

James Bardsley

James is the Chief Science Officer and Director of Operations for Anatomy Gifts Registry (AGR), a non-profit Non-transplant Anatomical Donation Organization (NADO), that was founded in 1994, which has also operated an in-house Bioskills facility and on-site Crematory for many years. James has spent his entire life among the world of non-transplant tissue banking and related fields, but started hands-on practice via working within AGR since 2004; while still in high school. James obtained his B.S. in Molecular & Cellular Biology from Towson University in 2010 and became a Certified Tissue Banking Specialist (CTBS) within the same year. He went on to obtain a degree in Mortuary Science and became a licensed mortician in the State of Maryland in 2013. James also happens to be a certified Crematory Operator. In the last 18 years, he has worked various positions within AGR; from a volunteer putting together registration packets for donors, to a recovery technician and crematory operator, to managing technical departments, and finally to his current position as an officer of the company. James is not afraid of hard or technical work, nor scientific or regulatory conversations. James is now the Chair-Elect of the NADO council of the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB). He also serves as a voting member of the AATB Standards Committee. James has been an active member of ABLE for many years and has had the honor of serving on the Board as a Director since 2019 in roles including Chair of the Membership and Guidelines Committees. James welcomes the opportunity to continue to serve on ABLE’s board and hopes to make continued strives toward growing ABLE as the premier Bioskills laboratory-standard-setting entity. 

Amy Oddo

Since November of 2019, Ms. Oddo has served as the Executive Vice President of US Bioskills. She was a founding partner of Platinum Training and served as its Executive Vice President. Ms.Oddo also served as the Executive Director of the Medical Education and Research Institute of Nevada (MERIN).  In addition, she is a co-founder and past President of ABLE.

Prior to her rolls in bioksills, Ms. Oddo directed operations for medical distribution and consulting organizations.  As the director of operations for CORE Medical she was instrumental in the development and operation of two physician based medical education societies, the Chicago Minimally Invasive Surgery Society and the Chicago Endovascular Surgery Society. As the director of operations for Platinum Medical, Ms. Oddo led a national team of clinical specialists managing logistics and support for multiple bioskills labs.

Derek Pupello

Joe Leonard

Joe Leonard is a bright and vibrant 30-something hailing from the metropolis of Largo, Florida. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Joe started working in medical research as a part of FORE during undergrad. For the past 12 years, Joe has continued to work for FORE, FIVE Labs, and now USBioskills. In 2019, Joe was, unfortunately, diagnosed with Stage III rectal cancer, which he successfully battled and overcame in 2020. Now, Joe continues with USBioskills as a Director overseeing the coordination, logistics, and technologies of events and facilities in the USBioskills network. Joe lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife and enjoys traveling to distant lands and spending time their fur children.

Linda Wojcik

Linda Wojcik, MBA, PMP- Executive Director / EXCELEN Center for Bone & Joint Research and Education (EXCELEN).
Linda joined the team at EXCELEN in 2013. Linda has played an instrumental role in achieving and maintaining EXCELENS’ ISO 17025 Accreditation. Linda enjoys working with a large variety of customers and medical specialties, as well as partnering with high school educators to facilitate exploration of careers in medicine, science and engineering. Prior to working for EXCELEN, Linda managed or directed preclinical studies and staff at Boston Scientific, Guidant Corporation, ACORN Cardiovascular, SCIMED Life Systems, and the University of Minnesota Experimental Surgical Services (ESS).

Chris Koenig

Sheri Hess

Sheri Hess is a highly competent, skilled and focused - driven professional with over 20 years of experience.  She has a strong record of achievement in providing successful program administration and experience in streaming operations, client satisfaction and increased proficiency. Sheri entered the bioskills field 20 years ago as a program coordinator and worked her way to an executive director position where she developed and managed a successful medical education training facility in Las Vegas, NV.

Sheri currently works for Viticus Group in Las Vegas, NV as the Human Health Account Executive.  Sheri produces favorable results on important business matters.  Her operations background allows her to quickly evaluate current situations.  Sheri is an expert regarding cost saving and result oriented outcomes.  Sheri has increased revenue pertaining to lab events at Viticus Group and has exceeded the company's projected revenue goal.

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