International Speakers
 

Dean R Hess, PhD. RRT, FAARC

Dean Hess is Assistant Director of Respiratory Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Associate Professor of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. He has over 35 years of experience in respiratory care, including clinical, research, teaching, and administrative responsibilities. He is an Associate Editor of Respiratory Care journal and serves on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Aerosol Medicine, International Anesthesiology Clinics, and Critical Care Alert. His research interests include aerosol delivery techniques, adult mechanical ventilation, and critical care monitoring. He is a Fellow of the American Association for Respiratory Care and the American College of Chest Physicians. He has published nearly 200 papers and 7 books. His books have been translated to Korean and Chinese. He has had a high level of professional activity, including committee appointments with the American Association for Respiratory Care, the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society, and 2 years as President of the National Board for Respiratory Care. He has lectured extensively throughout the United States, as well as in Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America. He has received numerous awards including the Forrest M. Bird Award for Lifetime Scientific Achievement, presented by the American Respiratory Care Foundation (1999); American Association for Respiratory Care Life Membership (1999); American College of Chest Physicians Simon Rodbard Memorial Honor Lecture (2001); Jimmy A. Young Medal, presented by the American Association for Respiratory Care, for meritorious service to the AARC and advancement of the respiratory care profession (2006); Robert H. Miller, RRT, Award, presented annually by the National Board for Respiratory Care to a respiratory care practitioner who has selfishly served the profession and been instrumental in its growth over a significant period of time.. He has received teaching awards from the medical residents at the Massachusetts General Hospital (1999) and the Harvard Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship program (1996, 1998, and 2001). Since January, 2008, Dean Hess has been Editor in Chief of Respiratory Care, the official science journal of the American Association for Respiratory Care.

Brian K. Walsh, MBA, RRT-NPS, RPFT, FAARC

Clinical Research Coordinator for the department of Pediatrics at the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital.

Mr. Walsh completed his undergraduate studies in science at Old Dominion University and graduate studies in business at Liberty University. He was the supervisor for UVA Children’s Hospital Respiratory Therapy Department for six years (1999-2005) before being selected by the department of Pediatrics as a research coordinator (2005). Prior to being supervisor Brian was a Senior Therapist for four years (1996-1999).

Hassan S.  Alorainy  BSrc, RRT, FAARC

Respiratory Care Clinical Education and Research Specialist

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Executive Committee Member , International Council for Respiratory Care (ICRC)

Vice-Chairman, International Committee, American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)

Tel. Office:  (+966) 1 4423901, Fax: (+966) 1 4423902, Mobile:  (+966) 505402454

e. Mail:  alorainy@kfshrc.edu.sa  or  halorainy@yahoo.com

Hassan S. Alorainy completed a Bachelor of  Science degree in Respiratory Care (Clinical Emphasis) from Loma Linda University (LLU), California, USA in 1987. Also completed one (1) Year Post-Graduate Clinical Internship at Loma Linda University Medical Center (full time employment). Obtained the American Board in Respiratory Care (RRT) in 1986 and became the first Saudi National to acquire a degree, and pass the American Board in the profession of Respiratory Care. In 1987, Alorainy Started employment at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Respiratory Care Department as a Staff  Therapist for 2 years, a Supervisor for 5 years, Assistant Head for 6 years, Head, Respiratory Care Services for 5 years, and currently he serves as Respiratory Care Clinical & Research Specialist.

In addition to his current position, Hassan S. Alorainy serve as:

• Member of the Executive Committee,  International Council for Respiratory Care (ICRC), and governor to Saudi Arabia.

• Vice-Chair International Committee, American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).

• Head Section of Respiratory Care, Pan Arab Critical Care Medicine Society.

• Member of the Editorial Advisory Board, RT Magazine, California, USA.

• Member of the Editorial Board and Co-Editor in Chief – Asia Section, Update in Respiratory Care and Applied Technology journal, Madrid, Spain.

• Member of the Board, Saudi Society for Respiratory Care (SSRC)

• Chairman, Respiratory Care Scientific Committee, Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In addition of being a member of the organizing and scientific committees of many regional international conferences and workshops, Mr. Alorainy has attended more than 30 International respiratory conferences around the world including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Finland, South Korea, Canada, and as invited speakers to conferences in the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Greece, India, Iran, and some Arab countries.

In recognition of Mr. Alorainy’s professional achievements and contribution to the profession of Respiratory Care world wide, he recently received the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) International Achievement of Excellence in Respiratory Care Award and became a fellow of the American Association for Respiratory Care, FAARC, and more recently he received the Loma Linda University, CA, USA Annual Alumnus Award.

Diederik Antonius Maria Paulus Johannes Gommers

EDUCATION:

Ph.D., Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, 9 December 1998

Dissertation: Factors affecting surfactant responsiveness.

Promotor: Prof. Dr B. Lachmann

Intensivist, AMC University Amsterdam, March 2005

                 Instructor: Prof. Dr. M.B. Vroom

Anesthesiologist, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, October 2003

                          Instructor: Prof. Dr. J. Klein

Medical Doctor, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, March 1996

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:

1985-1987:      Research-assistant on the department of Anesthesiology

                      Concentrations: mechanical ventilation, lung surfactant

1987-1989:      Research-assistant on the department of Radiology

                      Advisors: Dr W. Trouerbach and dr J. Grashuis

                      Concentration: development of bone density in young children

1990-1994:      Research-assistant on the department of Anesthesiology

                      Concentrations: mechanical ventilation, nitric oxide inhalation,

                      fluid ventilation

                      Advisor: Prof. Dr B. Lachmann

1996-1998:      Researcher on the department of Anesthesiology

                      Concentration: experimental and clinical studies of surfactant

                      therapy in ARDS

                      Advisor: Prof. Dr B. Lachmann

1999-2003:      Researcher on the department of Anesthesiology

                      Concentrations: Xenon anesthesia, Open lung ventilation in cardiac

                      surgery

2005-today:     Researcher on the departments of Intensive Care

                      Concentrations: Mechanical ventilation, Sepsis, Microcirculation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

2003-2005       Trauma-physician Helicopter-MMT (Medical Mobil Team),

                      Erasmus MC

2003-2006       Physician Anesthesiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

2005-2006       Physician Intensive Care, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

2006-today      Vice-chairman of department of Intensive Care, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam

Jerome M. Sullivan, Ph.D., RRT, FAARC

Currently, Dr. Sullivan serves as Professor and International Liaison in the College of Health Science and Human Service (CHSHS).  Dr. Sullivan served from 1999-2007 as the Inaugural, founding Dean of the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) and later the College of Health Science and Human Service formed as a result of the merger of The University of Toledo and the Medical College of Ohio.  In 1971 Professor Sullivan established and served as academic coordinator for the Respiratory Care Program which was designated by the Ohio Board of Regents as a Program of Excellence.  Professor Sullivan received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Ohio University and his Master of Science and Doctoral degrees from The University of Toledo.

Dr. Sullivan currently serves as the President 1991-2008, of the International Council for Respiratory Care representing 20 countries.  He has also served as President 1989-1990, of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).  He has been recognized by the University of Toledo as one of the top 100 researchers generating $1.7 Million (US) in external research funding between 1985-2002.

Dr. Sullivan is a Life Member of the AARC and a Jimmy A. Young Medalist Winner, the most prestigious award given by the American Association for Respiratory Care.  He has been awarded The Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Council for Respiratory Care and has been awarded Honorary Membership in the Japanese and Mexican Respiratory Care Societies.  He is the author of numerous professional articles, and clinical reports, and has made over 85 international and national presentations.

Dr. Sullivan was appointed by the American Medical Association (AMA) to serve on the National Task Force on Restructuring of the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation.  This task force was charged with developing a new national allied health accrediting process and establishing a business agency independent from the AMA to house the accreditation function. He then served as a commissioner, board member and president of the Commission On Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.  In 1994 he was appointed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Professions to serve as a national panel member on the PEW Commission, Allied Health Workforce Development Project.

For more than 35 years, Dr. Sullivan has advocated for the profession of respiratory care leading delegations throughout the world to Mexico, Canada, The Philippines, Japan, Brazil, Sweden, Taiwan, Russia, Georgia, The Ukraine and Uzbekistan.  Dr. Sullivan has testified before the United States Congress on standards for medical equipment and banning smoking on commercial airlines

Johns Hopkins Speakers
 

Gary Oldenburg, RRT-NPS

Currently, Gary Oldenburg serves as the ECMO Program Coordinator at the Johns Hopkins Hospital where he has been serving for the past 12 years.

The ECMO Program has gone through many expansions over the years which include increasing theECMO bed capacity, increasing the number of ECMO-trained Respiratory Therapists, and adding other cardio-pulmonary support systems to the program.

As Coordinator of the ECMO Program at Johns Hopkins, Mr. Oldenburg has started a well-known training program for other ECMO centers. He has also been instrumental in hosting two very successful international ECMO conferences known as SEECMO, one in 2001 and the second in 2007.

Shawn M. Hughes RRT-NPS, CPFT

Shawn completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania/West Penn Hospital School of Respiratory Care.

Currently, Shawn is the Neonatal Clinical Coordinator at the Johns Hopkins Hospital where he has served for the past 4 years. Shawn is also a member of the Johns Hopkins’ ECMO team, which is the only full team in the state of Maryland.

Shawn is an active member to the American Association of Respiratory Care. He is a Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor. Shawn has an extensive background in neonatal respiratory care, working in the field for 12 years. His research interests include: performance of neonatal resuscitation and advanced modalities of neonatal ventilation. He presented an abstract at the 2006 International Respiratory Congress in Las Vegas, Nevada comparing colorimetric carbon dioxide devices and co-authored an abstract on neonatal use of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation in 2007.

Tawam Hospital-Johns Hopkins Speakers
 

Steven A. Matarelli, Ph.D., R.N.,

is the Chief Clinical Officer of Tawam Hospital/ Johns Hopkins Medicine.  Dr. Matarelli is a noted regional and national speaker in the United States on topics of nursing care, hospital operations, and “theory-into-practice” for heath care providers, community organizations, and academic settings.  Dr. Matarelli has a dual Master’s in Nursing Administration and Medical/Surgical Nursing and a Ph.D. in Health Administration. He is a graduate of the Johnson & Johnson Wharton School of Business Fellowship Program for Nurse Executives. Dr. Matarelli has held line-staff to executive positions in his 23-year healthcare career in Critical Care and Emergency Departments, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Chief Nursing Officer, COO, and CEO, as well as, adjunct faculty positions

Aiman Al Rahmani, MD

Senior Consultant & Chief, Division of Neonatology

Deputy Chairman of Pediatrics

Tawam Hospital in affiliation with johns Hopkins Medicine

Currently a regional instructor of Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and the president of Emirate Neonatal Society.

Had MD diploma from Damascus University, Syria in 1987, followed by Pediatric residency training at UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson University  in USA and American Board Certification in Pediatrics in 1993. Trained at Temple University, USA in Neonatal-Perinatal medicine and has the  Sub-Board of Neonatology in 1999. Published research focused on the application of Liquid ventilation in the treatment of Respiratory distress syndrome.

Edita A. Almonte ,RRT-NPS

Edita completed her Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy at the California College for Health Sciences,USA and graduate a Bachelor of Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy in the Philippines. She obtained her credential as Registered Respiratory Therapist ( RRT)1996,Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) 1995 and Neonatal Pediatric Specialist (NPS)2006 from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC),Texas, USA.

Edita is the Acting Head & Supervisor of Respiratory Therapy Department at Tawam Hospital-Johns Hopkins Medicine,Al Ain,UAE. She is very much involved in the department management, staff education and patient care activities. She has wide experience in the field of Respiratory Care for seventeen years from Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care.

Edita is an active member of the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC). She is a Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) ,Advanced Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) Instructor .She is the Application Specialist for Hospital Information System for Support Services .Currently Edita serves as the Chair for the “1^st International Respiratory Care Conference” Johns Hopkins Medicine Her goal is to combine the Respiratory Therapy experts from the AARC, Johns Hopkins-Baltimore ,Tawam and the Middle East  and present the latest technology and advanced treatment of respiratory disorders. She also organized the yearly “Respiratory Care Week” at Tawam Hospital.

Anas Lababidi, MD

Senior Consultant & Chief, Division of Pulmonary Medicine

Tawam Hospital in affiliation with johns Hopkins Medicine

Had MD diploma from Damascus University, Syria in 1994, followed by Medicine residency training at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, USA and American Board Certification in Medicine in 1998. Trained in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Case Western University Hospitals. American board certified in pulmonary and critical care medicine in 2001

Dr. Gurdeep Dhatt

is the Chairman of Laboratory Medicine & Senior Consultant in Clinical Biochemistry at Tawam Hospital in affiliation with Johns Hopkins , Al Ain. UAE.  He has  wide international experience in clinical and academic laboratory medicine in the UK, Germany, South Africa and the Middle East.  He has over 30 publications in peer reviewed journals. Dr Dhatt is a reviewer for AQAL, Clin Chim Acta and Clinical Biochemistry. Gurdeep plays an active role in laboratory quality and accreditation. He is the IFCC representative in the UAE for the standardization of HbA1c and a member of the IFCC Working Group on Patient Safety.  He is the Regional Advisor of the Royal College of Pathologists, London for the Middle East and North Africa region. Dr Dhatt is the Chairman of the Tawam POCT Working Group. His special interests include diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases, POCT, laboratory  quality & accreditation.