Quality Assurance Medical

Marilyn Sonilal, PhD

Marilyn Sonilal PhD, MHA, MS, MLT(ASCP)SC

**** ****** ***

Pearland, TX 77584

713-***-**** (C) or 507-***-**** (C)

Email:***********@*****.***

SUMMARY

I am a graduate of the Doctor of Public Health Program at the University of Texas School of Public Health. My major is Health Care Management, and my minors are in the fields of Biostatistics, and Health Economics/Health Services Research. I am a graduate of the Masters in Health Care Administration Program at Texas Woman’s University. I also have a Master of Biomedical Science, Biochemistry from Mayo Graduate School Rochester, MN. My most recent position was Director of Laboratory Services of a physician owned toxicology laboratory system in Dallas, TX. The lab provides toxicology screening by immunoassay, and confirmation services by mass spectrometry. I am certified by ASCP as a Medical Laboratory Technician, and Specialist in Chemistry.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. (2013): University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC), School of Public Health.

M.H.A. (2009): Texas Woman’s University, Houston, TX.

M. S. Biochemistry (2005): Mayo Graduate School, Rochester, MN.

B. S. [with Honors] (1989): University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, WI.

A. A. S. [with high honors] (1995): Clinical Lab Science, Marshall University, Huntington WV.

Board Certification (2015): SC ASCP 079829 (1996): ASCP MLT53869.

AWARDS

Komen Breast Cancer Disparities Traineeship Award (Spring 2011): UTHSC, School of Public Health Houston.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Public Health Traineeship (Fall 2010, 2011 & 2012): UTHSC

Outstanding New Student Doctoral Tuition Scholarship (Spring 2010): UTHSC, School of Public Health Houston.

Assistantship (1991): Masters Program in Animal Nutrition: University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Physician Owned Toxicology Laboratory Services (POL), Dallas, TX September 2013-April 2014

Director of Laboratory Services

Responsible for technical quality and managerial operations of three screening, and three confirmation labs: United Toxicology, US Toxicology, Medicus screening lab; ALG, Reliant and Medicus confirmation labs.

Certifying scientist for 55 drug pain panel, and alcohol metabolites ETG/ETS. Mass spectrometry equipment include ABSCIEX 5500, Thermofisher Ultra and Quantum Access Max, and ABS 4000 analyzers. Proficient with Multiquant, Analyst, and Tracefinder software for data analysis. Screening lab analyzers include Olympus AU640, and Olympus AU2700 instruments.

Review CAP and API proficiency testing for all labs, competency assessments, calibration verification and prepare labs for COLA accreditation inspection, and re-certification.

St. Luke‘s Patients Medical Center, Pasadena, TX Aug 2012-Feb 2013

Laboratory Director

• Developed, organized, implemented, directed and evaluated the organization’s laboratory operations and performance; ensured that testing systems in use for each of the tests performed in the laboratory provide quality laboratory service for all aspects of test performance: pre-analytic (specimen integrity, lost specimens, on time delivery, specimen identification), analytic (proficiency testing, turnaround times, test reliability), and post-analytic phases of testing (revised reports, critical results notification reports); coordinated all testing in compliance with safety and regulatory guidelines. Addressed ongoing historical issue with possible potential to negatively impact quality of patient care

• Supervised and evaluated the performance of laboratory staff; developed work performance standards; scheduled, assigned work and developed priorities; reviewed and approved timecards, resolved conflicts, provided technical expertise. Established and revised laboratory policies and procedures; developed and maintained appropriate QC and QA procedures

• Participated in planning and budgeting processes; projected personnel and equipment needs, developed and monitored the laboratory budget; approved purchase of equipment and supplies. Improved operational efficiencies by developing an appropriate schedule to meet laboratory needs resulting in significant reductions in overtime costs

• Coordinated API proficiency orders; received and distributed proficiency testing samples, analyzed all proficiency data and exception reports to comply with CAP guidelines, and Lab Quality Improvement programs: prepared various QA/QI reports for the Monthly Operating Report and Laboratory Services Quality Plan. Examples include turnaround times, crossmatch to transfusion ratios, specimen rejections (by Department)

Promoted individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education, skills competency, and support for department-based goals; served as preceptor, mentor, and resource for all staff. Provided resources to staff to ensure accomplishment of annual performance/merit based goals

University of Texas Medical School -Houston, TX April 2008-Aug 2012

Chief Medical Technologist/Laboratory Supervisor -HPLC Drug Monitoring Laboratory

Lab management, technical troubleshooting, regulatory and accreditation compliance: principal participant for procedure review, new test implementation, proficiency testing reports, and CLIA inspection; streamlined operations to absord loss of 1 FTE and improve operational efficiencies, enhanced team communications, improved teamwork, resolved conflicts, encouraged team participation in continuing education opportunities

Medical Technologist III

Clinical testing: tacrolimus, cyclosporine, rapamycin, mycophenolic acid (MPA), everolimus

Primary equipment: HPLC, Mass Spectrometers LCMSMS (MassLynx software), LCMS (Empower software) and Architect i1000 immunoanalyzer.

Texas Children’s Hospital - Houston, TX Dec 2007- April 2008

Medical Lab Tech-Core Laboratory

Performing clinical testing in chemistry, hematology, microbiology. Instruments included Vitros Fusion 5.1 analyzer, Prospec (nephlometer), Adivia Centaur System (chemiluminescence & immunoassay technique), Sysmex, XE-2160 (hematology analyzer), IMX (immunoassay analyzer), ABL835 (blood gas analyzer).

Mayo Clinic- Rochester, MN Jan 1998-June 2007

Education Specialist- Renal Laboratory

• Principal participant in the identification of and planning for laboratory education needs; structured lab education programs to ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements for medical trainees (pathologists, residents, fellows, post docs, medical school students), allied health students (medical lab technician and medical technology students) and new employee training. Renal Lab education program became the model for other clinical labs to emulate

• Developed training guidelines for laboratory workstations, standards of performance for both trainers and trainees; perform new employee orientation and mentor new employees

• Address technical, training, and schedule related concerns of lab staff: resolved conflicts between trainers and trainees, improved communications between lab technical staff and managerial staff

• Developed quality improvement program to address technical deficiencies in lab testing and result reporting; increased productivity, quality and efficiency to better meet the needs of internal and external clients; streamlined processes and operational systems to facilitate minimum disruption in workflow due to instrument downtime.

Lead Medical Technologist- Renal Lab

Resource for troubleshooting equipment and test results, QC, QA, instrument maintenance. Perform clinical testing using a variety of automated, semi-automated, and/or manual technology: methodologies include capillary electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography, immunoassay, flow cytometry, UV absorption spectroscopy, microscopy. Perform operational functions to facilitate workflow including new equipment and new test validation. Wrote new procedures, updated old procedures to reflect current methodologies, trained new and current employees in new test procedures

Medical Technologist

Performed clinical testing, maintenance, quality control, quality assurance, and support functions.

Cross-Match Technician-Transfusion Medicine

Cross-match samples to provide compatible blood for patients, preparation of components like fresh frozen plasma for infusion, selection and pooling of platelets, dispatch and release of blood and components to the appropriate transfusion personnel

University of Maryland-College Park, MD. Sept 1991- Sept 1992

Research Assistant

Collaborated with the principal investigator, in the preparation of experiments for the study of the nutritional requirements of ruminant farm animals. Preparation of experimental diets, collection of biological samples for analysis; laboratory analysis of collected samples, analysis of experimental data and preparation of report.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Presentations: Research articles and projects as part of graduate course work (individually/team) at Mayo Graduate School, Texas Woman’s University, and UTHSC-Houston, School of Public Health. Technical Principles of Operation of Hitachi 911 at general laboratory meetings and management team meetings.

Computer Skills: Text Editors and typesetting programs like LATEX, Windows XP OS, Microsoft Productivity Tools (Word, Excel, Presentation), Stata, Laboratory Systems

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION

University of Minnesota, MN: Introduction to Financial Reporting, Corporate Finance, Operations in Manufacturing and Service Businesses, Cost Accounting for Healthcare Services Health and Health Systems, Healthcare Management Ethics, Health Finance 1, Principles of Management in Health Services

University of Maryland, College Park, MD: Biostatistics II, Biostatistics III, Mineral Metabolism, Linear Models Comp Lab, Biochemistry II, Recent Advances-ANSC, Energy Nutrition

University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire (UWEC), WI: Micro-Economics, Macro-Economics.

Rochester Community and Technical College, MN. Concepts in Computer Science

PUBLICATIONS

Horwitz, B. I., Sonilal, M., & Horwitz, K. S (2011). Improving health care quality through culturally competent physicians: Leadership and organizational diversity training. Journal of Health Care Leadership, 3: 29-40.

Dasgupta, A., Moreno, V., Balark, S., Smith A., Sonilal, M., Tejpal, N., & Van Buren T. C. (2011). Rapid estimation of whole blood everolimus concentration using Architect sirolimus immunoassay and mathematical equations: Comparison with everolimus values determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, 25: 207-211.

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