Medical Operations Manager / Chief Blood Services

Melanie A. Sloan

757-***-**** *******@*****.***

Medical Operations Manager / Chief – Blood Services

Proven expertise in managing blood donor center along with knowledge of the regulations and procedures governing blood donor programs

Exemplary management and interpersonal skills with demonstrated success in leveraging program and project management disciplines, methodologies and practices to accomplish goals, objectives, timelines, and milestones. A thought leader and practitioner with exceptional knowledge in leading efforts to ensure that operations are conducted in compliance with regulatory requirements including experience implementing new programs and technologies. A seasoned professional, capable of conducting strategic analyses on company policies and procedures and has progressively responsible management experience of a hospital-based laboratory department with a large outreach program. Proven ability to direct and respond to change; analyze and create data sources and recommend appropriate action. Possess knowledge of local, state, national, and international regulations as they relate to the blood industry, quality, and manufacturing activities.

Core Competencies:

Strategic Planning & Analysis Project Management Relationship Building Data Analysis Regulatory Affairs / Compliance Operational Management Global Blood Banking Blood Management System Blood Program & Products Blood Collection Customer Service Inventory Management Equipment & Budget Administration Personnel Development Marketing Leadership & Supervision Communication Skills Training, Coaching & Mentoring Organizational & Staff Development

Key Contributions

Assisted the United States Department of State with access to the Theater Medical Data Store application; so their personnel could perform blood banking inventory management in Iraq.

Strategically built close relationship as a Subject Matter Expert in Deployable Blood Banking Solutions, to both Conventional and Special Operations Units.

Successfully brought on novel blood banking solutions to include: low titer O whole blood, liquid plasma, and the removal of white blood cells from whole blood; to provide the right product at the right place at the right time.

Established a network of project and program enablers in 4 states to screen over 2000 potential walking blood bank donors in 18 months in response to a blood distribution gap identified by overseas customer requirements.

Instrumental in developing targeted briefings and marketing materials to over 25 senior military commanders in support of relationship building and knowledge transfer for the Armed Services Blood Program to support the blood collection of over 15,000 blood donors annually.

Awarded with the “9A” proficiency designation for significant contributions made to the advancement of my field of expertise, through extensive publications and activities in National Organizations.

Recognized with the “Joint Commendation Medal” for providing exceptional technical guidance and logistical acumen in support of the transition to Operation Freedom's Sentinel and the increase of blood products necessary for Operation Inherent Resolve.

Professional Experience

U.S. ARMY – United States 1992 to Present

Chief, Blood Services Ft Bragg Blood Donor Center – Ft Bragg NC Jun 2017 – Present

Plan, implement, direct, and evaluate operational and clinical activities. Provide oversight for the collecting, testing, shipping, and issuing, safe, potent blood products in the region as well as Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR). Direct blood service operations to include accountability of over $2,000,000 of equipment and a $2,500,000 budget. In collaboration with departmental leadership, establish, implement and guide the strategic vision and manage the quality improvement operations for assigned area(s) of responsibility. Supervise 18 Military, 15 contractors, and 6 civilians. Work closely with departmental & pathology leadership assets ensuring safe practices, policies and guidelines for laboratory testing.

Responsible for equipment acquisition and replacement, supply, discipline, and adherence to regulatory requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), College of American Pathologists (CAP), American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), the Joint Commission (TJC), and the Armed Services Blood Program Office (ASBPO).

Ensure validation and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and internal Womack Army Medical Center (WAMC) and external policies at Womack Army Medical Center.

Ensure the highest standards of quality and service are maintained consistent with the mission, vision, and values of Center. Comply with all criteria mandated by applicable regulatory, accrediting and licensing agencies.

Function as the Regional Health Command-Atlantic Laboratory Sciences (Blood) Consultant; positively and directly influence Army Medical and Defense Health Agency staff on a consistent basis relative to working knowledge of blood support for damage control resuscitation. Communicate advice in the reflected the depth and breadth of the considerable experience and affected future medical programs and policy that will carry the Army through the end of sustained combat operations and into an Army focused on prolonged field care with decreased intervals and opportunities for evacuation.

As the Chief of Blood Services at WAMC, regularly inform and collaborate with deployable medical assets to shape and form first; an XVIII Airborne Corps, then a MEDCOM, followed by a Defense Health Agency policy on the use of Blood Group O Low Titer Whole Blood in support of improving the survivability of the combat wounded. Serve as lead on the Resource group, working to standardize the personnel and equipment used in support of this blood product.

Chief, Blood Services Kendrick Memorial Blood Center (KMBC) – Ft Gordon GA Apr 2015 – Jun 2017

Responsible for defining the strategy, goals, and objectives, and operational structure of Collections department; provide management, supervision, and coordination of all day-to-day operations of fixed-site and mobile donor collections.

Supervised 25 Military, 5 Contractors, and 12 Civilians and specific duties consisted of defining staffing needs, establishing hours of operation, monitoring of operational productivity, allocation of resources, ensuring the adherence to organization and departmental policies and procedures, and coordinating with other areas of operations.

Ensured the validation and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and internal Eisenhower Army Medical Center (EAMC) and external (ASBPO) policies at KMBC and the EAMC Transfusion Service.

Demonstrated exceptional strategic leadership and professionalism by multiple poster presentations at multiple national conferences. Led team to collect $725K worth of blood products in 8 weeks. Developed Customer Support Agreements with Special Operations Units in support of Rapid Deployments.

Director, Central Command Joint Blood Program Sep 2014 – Apr 2015

Served as the Director for the Theater Blood Program (Forward), responsible for Blood Product Support at all levels of care in support of expeditionary military operations in the CENTCOM AOR also functioned as Combatant Command leads for maintaining strategic joint blood program policies within CENTCOM AOR. Effectively used the Theater Medical Data Store (TMDS) for Operational Inventory Management and Walking Blood Bank Donor Asset visibility.

Planned and executed blood program policy to support major theater operations and maintained technical command and control over theater blood program joint assets in support of expeditionary blood operations.

Interacted with Combat Command Joint Blood Program Officers (JBPOs), Service JBPOs, and the Armed Services Blood Program Office (ASBPO), Transportation Command and the component Surgeons regarding delivery routes, equipping, procedures, processes, and manpower for optimal blood support within theaters of operation.

Expertly leveraged and communicated risk and benefits to medical leadership, facilitating an accurate blood support common operating picture. Admirably filled a critical position on the COCOM Surgeon's staff and provided flexible and responsive blood support to two dynamic and transforming operational areas.

Director, Sullivan Memorial Blood Center – Ft Benning GA Sep 2013 – Sep 2014

Managed the acquisition and processing of over $5M in blood products annually to over 500K active duty personnel and eligible beneficiaries throughout Southern Regional Medical Command (SRMC) as well as Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). Oversaw an annual operating budget of $4.6M; modernized equipment valued at $2.7M; and technical staff of 36 personnel including civilian, Active Duty and Reserve component.

Ensured regulatory compliance with all existing military, federal, state and local guidelines for manufacturing and distributing blood products. Participated in deliberate planning of blood products for peace and wartime missions.

Served as the SRMC Regional Blood Bank Consultant, providing regional Military Treatment Facilities blood banking expertise and guidance on regulatory compliance issues, as well as oversight into Military and civilian blood collection agency agreements. Used Lifetrak/Enterprise Blood Management System for blood donor management functions.

Led a diverse group of individuals to include civilians and Active Duty and Reserve Component Soldiers. Enabled formal and informal leaders to develop processes and procedures to bring new workload and blood product manufacturing to the Blood Center. Recaptured $20K workload from the Columbus area back to Martin Army Community Hospital.

Collaborated with the 75th Ranger Regiment in the establishment of both: a rapid-deployment blood product stock for contingency operations and the development of the Ranger Walking Blood Bank Program, which involved the mechanism for tracking the blood types, infectious disease tests, and titers; in a web-based system that can be accessed globally. Aided in the selection and validation of several different cold-chain extension products to assist in old-chain management.

Professional Development

Master of Science (Biomedical Sciences) Old Dominion University May 2009 – Dec 2017

Army Command and General Staff College Feb 2003 – Sep 2005

Master of Science (Biology) Department of Biological Sciences – Bowling Green State University Jul 1998 – Jan 2000

Bachelor of Science (Medical Technology) Department of Biological Sciences – Ohio University Sep 1987 – June 1991

Licenses / Certifications / Memberships

Assessor for the American Association of Blood Banks 2016

9A MOS Designation U.S. Army Medical Department 2016

Certified Quality Auditor American Society for Quality 2001

Specialist in Blood Banking American Society of Clinical Pathologists 1999

Clinical Laboratory Scientist National Certification Agency 1992

Medical Technologist American Society of Clinical Pathologists 1992

Papers Presented at Scientific Meetings

Sloan, M.A., Taylor, A.L., Corley, J.A., Conducting a Military Blood Drive. Annual Meeting of the Association of Blood Banks, Orlando, FL, October 2016.

Sloan, M.A., Taylor A.L., Corley J.A., Behind the Iron Curtain: Investigation of hemoglobin deferrals at two Military Basic Training facilities. Annual Meeting of the Association of Blood Banks, San Diego, CA, October 2017.

Sloan, M.A., Bredlau, G.T., Burke, J.E., Lumzy, F., Ellerbe, L., Taylor A.L., Armed Services Blood Donor Customer Care; Using Objective Data to Focus Recruitment Efforts and Donor Satisfaction. Annual Meeting of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association, Nashville, TN March 2017

Sloan, M.A., Burke, J.E., Ellerbe, L., Taylor A.L., Corley J.A., The Army Blood Program Experience with providing Whole Blood at the point of Injury; Prescreened Donor Testing and Risk. Annual Meeting of the Association of Blood Banks, Boston, MA, October 2018

Grovenger, S., Burke, J.E., Sloan, M.A., Swingholm M.A., Corley J.A., ASBP Screening for Low Titer O Whole Blood at the Point of Injury; Does Age of Sample Affect the Result? Annual Meeting of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association, Grapevine, TX, March 2019

Mason, W., Harper, J.M., Sloan, M.A., Swingholm, M.A., Corley J.A., The TIMWOOD Technique: Defining Value vs Non-Value Added Activities in planning for Armed Services Blood Program Mobile Blood Drives, Annual Meeting of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association, Grapevine, TX, March 2019

Burke, J.E., Famby, G.L., Sloan, M.A., Swingholm, M.A., Corley J.A., Performance Of Concurrent Blood Drives With Walking Blood Bank Prescreening; The Army Blood Program Approach To Whole Blood At The Point Of Injury, Submitted to Military Health Systems Research Symposium, August 2019

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