JAMES JEFFREY O’KELLEY MS, SM(ASCP)CM
**** ****** ***** 323-***-****
Los Angeles, CA 90068 ad46yk@r.postjobfree.com
ASCP Board Certified Medical Technologist in Microbiology M, SM(ASCP)CM
California Clinical Microbiology Scientist MTE-02393828
PROFESSIONAL OVERVIEW
A skilled certified clinical microbiology technologist driven to provide exemplary healthcare by providing a distinct purpose, a direct vision who leads by example and is committed to life-long learning of the advancement of clinical laboratory science and its future.
Clinical strengths: Proven successful microbiology manager with extensive experience in culture evaluation, bacterial/fungal/mycobacterium identification, purchasing and budgeting for lab supplies, research project participation, effective test utilization, and team building, 12 years as a Microbiology section supervisor, 5 years as a Microbiology department manager; thorough knowledge of CLSI, CLIA, The Joint Commission, and College of American Pathologist laboratory guidelines and standards.
Personal strengths: Driven, Committed and a Self Starter, Excellent Oral and Written Communication Skills.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Implemented a 1.4 million dollar/yr. cost saving initiative by reducing turn-around-time for cultures positive for MRSA
Assisted with the design and construction of an additional Microbiology laboratory
Assisted with the design and construction of a centralized Microbiology laboratory
Assisted with the design, testing and validation of CERNER Millennium Microbiology Pathnet Domain for Floyd Medical Center
Assisted Floyd Medical Center Infection Prevention team to reduce catheter associated urinary tract infections by 40%
Participating author and committee secretary on the development of CLSI document “M-56-Principles and Detection of Anaerobes in Clinical Specimens.”
Participating member of the 2014 CLSI Fungal Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Bacterial Antimicrobial Susceptibility Committee
Member of Mission Hospital Infection Prevention Committee
Member of Mission Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Committee
Implemented a new positive blood culture identification scheme using the smudge plate procedure for the HCA North Carolina Division
Graduate of HCA Leadership Institute
Created a divisional respiratory testing algorithm across several testing platforms to reduce cost and standardize care for the HCA North Carolina Division
Created divisional COVID19 PCR testing reflex rules to reduce cost and streamline reagent utilization for the HCA North Carolina Division
Adopted over 10 different Lean Six processes as to streamline procedures with the Floyd Medical Center Microbiology department
Extensive experience with BD Phoenix Vitek II XL, Previ-Color, BD FX, BD MAX, Cepheid, Solana, BioFire, and MALDI
Assisted with the creation of C. difficile testing alerts and specimen acceptability for the HCA North Carolina Division
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Manager Microbiology Department
2017-2024
Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC: Working manager responsible for all aspects of the Microbiology department including: scheduling, competency assessment, gram staining, culture evaluation and interpretation, susceptibility testing, serology testing, PCR testing, QC/QA, purchasing and budgeting for lab supplies, student and new hire training, infection prevention, antibiotic stewardship, regulatory compliance, policy and procedure creation and review
Primary Care Giver
2015-2017 (full-time)
Atlanta, GA 30329: Working as a full-time primary care giver for a family member who was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma
Supervisor Microbiology Department
2006-2015 (full-time)
Floyd Medical Center, Rome, GA: Working supervisor responsible for all aspects of the Microbiology department including: scheduling, competency assessment, gram staining, culture evaluation and interpretation, susceptibility testing, serology testing, QC/QA, purchasing and budgeting for lab supplies ($1,000/day allowance), student and new hire training, infection prevention, antibiotic stewardship and research project participation.
Medical Technologist (PRN)
2014-2015 (part-time)
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital: Bench technologist responsible for specimen processing, Microscan panel processing, culture evaluation and reporting, PCR testing, Gram staining
Faculty Instructor
2008-2013 (part-time)
Georgia Highlands State University, Rome, GA: Part-time instructor teaching Medical Microbiology lecture and laboratory to health science majors (i.e., Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, etc.
Graduate Assistant
2006 - 2008 (part time)
Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Al 36265: Graduate assistant responsible for instructing Health Microbiology Laboratories. Teaching such principles as lab safety, gram staining, quadrant streaking, aseptic technique, identification of gram positive and gram negative organisms, Kirby-Bauer Testing, and Epidemiology (A part time position while obtaining my Masters in Microbiology)
Medical Technologist M (ASCP)
2005-2006
L.J. Chabert Medical Center, Houma, LA 70361: Staff bench tech responsible for daily duties of the microbiology department which includes culture evaluation and interpretation, susceptibility testing, gram staining and interpretation, AFB staining and interpretation, Mycology/Mycobacterial culture reading, specimen setup and QC.
Medical Technologist M (ASCP)
2001-2005
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32601
Microbiology Supervisor: Four years experience performing culture evaluations from all clinical samples and providing clinical and diagnostic consultation to clinicians, residents and students with culture results. Proficient in bacterial/fungal and mycobacterium identification methods, result reporting and implementing new cost effective strategies to reduce laboratory costs. Was responsible for performing all monthly and weekly quality control procedures for the microbiology laboratory, and also dealt extensively with budgeting, personnel, and administration issues ($5000.00 daily/$25,000 monthly purchasing approval). Acted as a clinical/diagnostic participant with various microbiological research projects, and also acted as a consult to residents and students with seminar presentations that dealt with such things as antimicrobial resistance, infection control, and emerging pathogens that directly involved the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center. Was responsible for performing bi-yearly anti-biogram data for the hospital, and acted as laboratory manager when the main supervisor was away.
PRIOR EMPLOYMENT
Medical Technologist: LabCorp of America, Birmingham, Alabama 2000-2001
Phlebotomist: St. Vincent’s Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama 1999-2000
EDUCATION and MEMBERSHIPS
Education
University of North Alabama: Biology Major 1990-1996
University of Alabama at Birmingham: Courses: Medical Microbiology, Clinical
Chemistry, Health and Safety management, Bio-Statistics, Immunology 1999-2000
Jacksonville State University: Masters of Science (Microbiology concentration) 2006-2008
Memberships
American Society for Microbiology (ASM), American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
CERTIFICATIONS
M ASCP #3961 2002
SMCM ASCP #296*-****-****
STATE LICENSES
California Microbiology Scientist MTE-02393828 2024-2026
PUBLICATIONS
Carrillo NA, Giguere S, Gronwall RR, Brown MP, Merritt KA, O'Kelley JJ.
Disposition of orally administered cefpodoxime proxetil in foals and adult horses and minimum inhibitory concentration of the drug against common bacterial pathogens of horses
Am J Vet Res. 2005 Jan:66(1):30-5.
Milner RJ, Horton JH, Crawford PC, O'Kelley J, Nguyen A.
Suppurative rhinitis associated with Haemophilus species infection in a cat
J S Afr Vet Assoc. 2004 75(2):103-7.
James Wellehan, D.V.M., M.S., Christine Turenne, M.Sc., Darryl J. Heard, B.V.M.S., PhD., Dipl. A.C.Z.M., Carol J. Detrisac, D.V.M., PhD., Dipl. A.C.V.P., and Jeffrey J. O’Kelley M. ASCP
Dermatophilus chelonae in a King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
J Zoo and Wild Medicine 2004 35(4): 553-556.
Patricia A. Crosse, BVSc, Karen Soares, DVM, Jason L. Wheeler, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS, Kirsten L. Cooke, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, Chris A. Adin, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, Jeffrey J. O’Kelley, M (ASCP) and Julie Kay Levy, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM Chromobacterium violaceum Infection in Two Dogs Chromobacterium violaceum in two dogs Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 2006 42(2): 154-159