Master Of Public Health In Infectious Diseases Johns Hopkins Univ.

LUIS SZYFRES, M.P.H.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES (ID) & IMMUNIZATIONS

727-***-**** *************@*****.***

SUMMARY/Unique Professional Value Offered to the Employer

Training: Extensive, Multidisciplinary & Integrated Medical Training

sMasters Degree (MPH) sThree Accredited Training Programs sOne Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Experience: Worked at Multiple Settings and Levels

-Years: Extensive professional experience with progressive responsibility and documented success in areas of expertise. (last twelve years in managerial positions).

-Settings: Private, Public, State, Federal, Academic, and International organizations, including:

The Johns Hopkins University (Hospital and SPH), City University of New York (Mt. Sinai Medical Center), IT&E International Corporation, US.DHHS, Dpt. of Health of Washington, World Health Organization/United Nations.

Core Competencies: multidisciplinary & integrated, include:

Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, Laboratory, Biomedical Research, Biotechnology, Socio-Behavioral Science, Disease Prevention and Control, Emergency Preparedness, Hospital Acquired Infections, Surveillance Response Systems for Epidemics, Biodefense, Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases, Antibiotic Resistance, Strategic Planning, Economic Modeling and Research, Outcome Evaluation, and Administration of Infectious Diseases and Immunization Programs.

Experience: International /Member countries of the World Health Organization were I worked:

USA, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Ghana, Rwanda, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Somalia, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Gabon, Peru, Burundi, Bolivia, Tanzania, Colombia, Nigeria, Paraguay, Gambia, Brazil, India, Mexico, Cambodia, Laos, Uruguay, Liberia, Venezuela, Honduras, Angola, Guatemala, Mali, Vietnam, Jamaica, Haiti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Thailand, Philippines, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Angola, Nepal, Bangladesh, Lebanon.

Fund Raising/Grants

1.Federal/Block Grant $30 million dollars.

2.Federal Grant/CDC $7 million dollars

3.Federal Grant/NIH $4.2 million dollars

4.Federal Grant/health services $3.5 million dollars.

5.Federal Grant/health needs assessment__$2.8 million dollars.

6.Federal Grants/PATH & DIATECH $4.2 million dollars.

EDUCATION

St. Elizabeths Campus/National Institutes of Health (NIH). Washington, DC 1993

Accredited Training Program: Psych/Behavioral Sc, applied to Infectious Diseases’ Social Epidemiology, Education-Communication-Behavioral Modification, Behavioral Surveillance, Social Marketing, Public Health, Disease Prevention and Control, Health Information and Surveillance Systems, and Epidemiological Research Studies, in recognition of the interplay between social-behavioral factors and health.

The Johns Hopkins University, Hospital and School of Medicine. Baltimore, MD 1986

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Biotechnology/Genetic Engineering of Infectious Diseases, with emphasis in viral agents’ diagnosis and treatment.

City University of NY. Mount Sinai Medical Centers,. Manhattan, NY 1985

Accredited Training Program: Laboratory Medicine/Microbiology, applied to: Epidemiological Research Studies medical facilities and the community, Pharmacology, Toxicology, diagnosis, clinical/laboratory correlation, information and surveillance systems, evaluation of prophylactic and therapeutic agents, seroepidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, and program management and evaluation

The Johns Hopkins University. Dept. of Infectious Diseases. Baltimore MD 1980

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.): Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, Epidemiological Research, and Program Management of I. Diseases.

EXPERIENCE: CHRONOLOGICAL

World Health Organization’s Ctr. for Communicable Diseases, Bioinformatics, and Publications. DC.

Manager 1996-2013

Successfully develop a solid infrastructure to design, develop, evaluate, provide technical assistance, and disseminate the results of epidemiological research studies and other sources of information, about Infectious Diseases in WHO member countries.

NIH-Funded Center for epidemiology, research, and training center.

Professor of Epidemiology 2005 – 2009

Successfully developed a Regional Center for Medical Epidemiology, Biomedical Research, Bioinformatics, and Training of local professionals.

IT&E International Corporation. Headquarters, San Jose, CA.

Worldwide Coordinator 2001 – 2004

Responsibilities & Examples:

Successfully prepared, submitted, and secured grants i.e. $7 million dollars grant ($ 1.4 million/year for five years), from CDC's ELCIDS (Epidemiology & Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases Surveillance).

Successfully developed the various components of CDC-ELCIDS, including the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) for infectious diseases surveillance. Successfully organized and evaluated CDC's BioWatch System. Successfully designed and implemented a Syndromic Surveillance Systems for natural and intentional epidemics, based in the timely collection of data from Networks of E. Rooms, Schools, Workplaces, and Pharmacies. Successfully supervised CDC's DNA-Fingerprint System-(PFGE), applied to the accurate identification of potential biological threats. Developed and evaluated IT&E tools (i.e. sensors, filters) for early detection of pathogens.

Joint Appointment: Member of the Advisory Committee of the Secretary of US-DHHS. Washington, DC, and Manager, Division of Epidemiology, Research, and Evaluation Government of the District of Columbia, Dpt. of Health. Washington, DC 1995-2000

US.DHHS:

Responding to Congressional and other inquires regarding the US.DHHS funded programs effectiveness and impacts, successfully designed and conducted an evaluation study, with emphasis in outcome evaluation, aimed at improving the use and delivery of health care services. The study was based in the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative information gathered from a sample of completed projects from grantees, and site visits were conducted at nine ongoing grantee projects.

The study results indicate that these projects achieved good efficiency, productivity, cost-benefit, and notable impacts, as evidenced by generation of additional funds to supplement US.DHHS grant dollars.

Awarded Letter of recognition by the Deputy Secretary of the

US Department of Health & Human Services (US.DHHS)

DOH:

Conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the efficiency and impact institution and its programs, introduced improvement initiatives in the ongoing activities, and developed new projects in all areas related to epidemiology, bioinformatics, research, and evaluation.

Awarded Certificate of Recognition for an Outstanding

Performance Rating, by the Major of Washington, D.C.

The Johns Hopkins University. School of Public Health. Baltimore, MD.

Faculty Member/Research Associate

-Teaching: students and professionals of various categories (MDs, DVMs, PhDs, RNs, MPHs, and MSCs), in Epidemiology and Biomedical Research.

-Research: development, evaluation, and management of epidemiological research projects.

a.Development of the Indium Slide Immunoassay for the diagnosis of several diseases: development of the technique, and field clinical trials, with a grant from PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health). Laboratory development conducted at the Johns Hopkins University. Field clinical trials conducted in cooperation with the Cayetano Heredia University of Peru.

b.Development of DNA-Probe techniques for the diagnosis of CMV and HIV virus.

Awarded Letter of Recognition for “Research of the

Highest Caliber“, by the Chairman of the Dept.

EXPERIENCE: FUNCTIONAL/KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

My unique, extensive and multidisciplinary scientific background provided me with a very solid professional formation, the knowledge, abilities, and skills to approach the various aspects of ID from different perspectives, and the tools to find the most appropriate way to solve the most complex and/or controversial technical problems in this field. This background has enabled me to work in the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of all the components of Infectious Diseases.

MY EXPERIENCE IN IMMUNIZATIONS:

1.With the World Health Organization (WHO) participated in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to vaccinate children throughout the world, with the WHO standardized vaccination schedule for the original EPI vaccines: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT), oral polio, and measles, Hepatitis B (HepB), yellow fever, and Haemophilus influenzae meningitis (Hib) conjugate vaccine.

2.In charge of a large WHO’s Expanded program of Immunizations (WHO/EPI), created with the purpose of improving child health in the poorest countries by extending the reach of the EPI trough a coalition, that included the UN agencies and institutions (WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank), public health institutes, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, the vaccine industry, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and many more.

3.Participated in the current goals of the EPI are: to ensure full immunization of children under one year of age in every district, to globally eradicate poliomyelitis, to reduce maternal and neonatal tetanus to an incidence rate of less than one case per 1,000 births, to cut in half the number of measles-related deaths, and to extend all new vaccine and preventive health interventions to children in all districts in the world.

4.Contributed with GAVI to set up specific milestones to achieve the EPI goals: that all countries have routine immunization coverage of 90% of their child population, that HepB be introduced in 80% of all countries, and that 50% of the poorest countries have Hib vaccine.

MY EXPERIENCE IN EPIDEMIOLOGY, RESEARCH, & DATA MANAGEMENT OF ID:

Evaluating potential biological threat agents according to their characteristics for production and dissemination in quantities that would affect a large population based in availability, most effective route of infection, and environmental stability. Studies on the most efficient way to prevent or control infectious diseases emergencies.

1.Experience with epidemiological methodologies

Randomized Clinical Trial (experimental study), Cohort Study, Case-Control, Analysis of Secular Trends, Case Series, Case Reports, Medical Surveys, Seroepidemiology

2.Experience in epidemiological and laboratory studies

Assessment of the research needs in infectious diseases (ID), for the different population groups

Study of the frequency and distribution of ID epidemics, and the factors associated with the observed distribution

Analysis of the magnitude, profiles, patterns, and trends of epidemics

Identification of risk factors for epidemics in the different population groups

Development of mathematical models for the incubation period distribution of infectious diseases

Implementation of epidemiological studies of disease-related attributes of human populations

Organization of surveys to determine the seroincidence and seroprevalence of infectious diseases

Development of infectious diseases transmission models

Evaluation of data sources and methods for assessing the scope of epidemics.

3.Experience in studies to evaluate of drugs and vaccines

Preclinical Studies: preparation of research protocols and grants, mathematical models for feasibility assessment and research outcome, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics studies

Clinical Studies (Phases I to III): R&D of antibiotics and vaccines, development and implementation of multicenter clinical trials; assure quality of research methodologies

4.Experience in data management (epidemiology/biostatistics)

Identification, collection, tabulation, analysis, evaluation, and presentation of health information, sources of data, mathematical models; identification of biases; algorithms; sampling techniques, subject selection; methods of observation; validity; confounding; statistical inference about effect measures; options for control of extraneous factors; stratified analysis; matching; interaction, effect modification, and synergism; mathematical and analytical aspects of tracking systems

COMPUTER SKILLS

SAS; SPSS; STATA; SUDAAN; GIS; Access; Excel; EpiInfo; EpiData; EpiLog; Paradox; Visual dBase; Unix Harvard Graphics; Oracle-clinical; etc.

MY EXPERIENCE IN EPIDEMIOLOGY & INVESTIGATION OF EPIDEMICS/OUTBREAKS

Extensive experience in: 1. Detecting a possible Epidemic/Outbreak; 2. Defining and finding cases; 3. Generating Hypotheses about likely cause or source; 4. Testing the hypotheses; 5. Finding the point of infection/contamination; 6. Controlling the outbreak; 7. Deciding when the epidemic/outbreak is over.

MY EXPERIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY APPLIED TO ID:

Development and evaluation of internet-accessible database software programs to collect track and benchmark information about infectious diseases. Implementation of surveillance/response system for the close and continuous monitoring of infectious diseases, and rapid response for epidemics.

Identification of cases for investigation and follow-up

Assessment of the magnitude and characteristics of the threat

Detection of epidemics and generation of appropriate interventions

MY EXPERTISE IN NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS FOR ID:

a.National Level:

I actively participated in the CDC-National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS), National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), Colorado Electronic Disease Reporting System (CEDRS)m and other Computerized Syndromic Surveillance Systems for drugs, pharmacies, and hospitals (i.e. National IMS-Audit.NPA, US Pharmaceutical Hospitals & Drugstores).

b.International Level:

I worked with the WHO-Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), aimed at organizing and coordinating national human and technical resources for the rapid identification, confirmation and response to outbreaks of international importance. Coordinated WHO Program for International Surveillance with National Computerized Monitoring -Reporting Systems, analyzing new signals from the information submitted by the National Centers and the WHO database, using a data-mining approach (BCPNN).

MY EXPERTISE IN EMERGING AND RE-EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Direct experience with uncommon infectious diseases, not reported in recent history, or never reported in the US, characterized for their production and dissemination in quantities that would affect a large population (partial list): Anthrax, Antimicrobial Resistance, Botulism, Campylobacteriosis, Ehrlichiosis, E. coli, Influenza: Avian Influenza (H5N1), Swine Influenza A (H1N1), Group A Streptococcal Infections, Hepatitis, Lyme disease, Plague, SARS, Salmonellosis/Salmonella, Shigellosis/Shigella, Smallpox, Tuberculosis, Tularemia, West Nile Virus, Unusual serogroup of Meningococcal Disease, Unusual serotypes of salmonellosis, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola, Lassa Fever, Cholera, Yellow Fever, Dengue.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH BIOLOGICAL AGENTS THAT MAY BE USED INTENTIONALLY

Anthrax, Botulism, Plague, Tularemia, Smallpox, Viral hemorrhagic fevers, Brucellosis, Q fever, Cholera, Nipah virus, Hantavirus

MY EXPERTISE IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDENESS RESPONSE SYSTEMS FOR NATURAL OR INTENTIONAL EPIDEMICS: policy, planning, and management.

Emergency preparedness planning, focusing on local readiness and response capacity, integrating the role of state, regional, and federal governments, as well as state, regional, and national assets.

Strengthening the public health infrastructure, by enhancing the surveillance and epidemiological capacity; the laboratory capacity to support surveillance efforts; and the communications systems to collect, analyze, and share data.

Developing links with other partners beyond the public health and medical community particularly law enforcement and intelligence.

Implementing strategies for the prompt access to necessary preventive and therapeutic products.

Establishing appropriate strategies to address the public and educating them about epidemics, by developing a framework of understanding and support required to both, put in place the systems to respond effectively in a crisis, and to achieve a level of understanding that can form the foundation for sharing information and developing knowledge when a crisis occurs.

Implementing an open and continuous communication with policymakers by defining policies to support our preparedness efforts, the needs for new resources, and the places in which to invest.

Developing a national stockpile of medications and vaccines for civilian use

Establishing legal and regulatory issues, by developing clear and practical quarantine laws and jurisdictional concerns, as well as with the availability or use of drugs or vaccines

Developing clear goals and realistic strategies to accomplish the mission of the surveillance and response systems, at the local and national levels.

Training health workers in crisis intervention and management for infectious diseases emergencies

MY EXPERTISE IN IMMUNIZATIONS:

5.With the World Health Organization (WHO) participated in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to vaccinate children throughout the world, with the WHO standardized vaccination schedule for the original EPI vaccines: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DPT), oral polio, and measles, Hepatitis B (HepB), yellow fever, and Haemophilus influenzae meningitis (Hib) conjugate vaccine.

6.Participated in the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), created with the purpose of improving child health in the poorest countries by extending the reach of the EPI trough a coalition, that included the UN agencies and institutions (WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank), public health institutes, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, the vaccine industry, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and many more.

7.Participated in the current goals of the EPI are: to ensure full immunization of children under one year of age in every district, to globally eradicate poliomyelitis, to reduce maternal and neonatal tetanus to an incidence rate of less than one case per 1,000 births, to cut in half the number of measles-related deaths, and to extend all new vaccine and preventive health interventions to children in all districts in the world.

8.Contributed with WHO’s EPI to achieve its goals: that all countries have routine immunization coverage of 90% of their child population, that HepB be introduced in 80% of all countries, and that 50% of the poorest countries have Hib vaccine.

MY EXPERTISE IN HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTIONS (HAI):

A.Designed, planed, developed, administered, and evaluated the Infrastructure for Surveillance, Prevention, and Control Systems, and Projects for their Improvement

Integrated laboratory activities with HAI surveillance, prevention and control efforts.

Facilitated use of standards-based formats (e.g., Clinical Document Architecture, electronic messages) by healthcare facilities for purposes of electronic reporting of HAI data.

Provided technical assistance for implementations of standards-based reporting can help develop capacity for HAI surveillance and other types of public health surveillance, such as for conditions deemed reportable to state and local health agencies using electronic laboratory reporting (ELR).

Improved laboratory capacity to confirm emerging resistance in HAI pathogens and perform typing where appropriate (e.g., outbreak investigation support, HL7 messaging of laboratory results)

B.Designed, planed, developed, administered, and evaluated Surveillance, Detection, Reporting, and Response Systems:

Characterized role and mechanisms of main risk factors/priority targets:

a.Organisms: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections, Clostridium difficile Infections, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Multi-drug resistant organisms

b.Procedures and Instruments: Surgical Site-associated Infections, Central Line-associated Blood Stream Infections, Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections, Ventilator-associated Pneumonia

Established protocols and provided training for health department staff to investigate outbreaks.

Improved overall use of surveillance data to identify and prevent HAI outbreaks or transmission in healthcare facilities (e.g., hepatitis B, hepatitis C, multi-drug resistant organisms, and other IDs)

Improved HAI outbreak detection and investigation, by establishing an efficient collaboration with partners, including: the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), state legislatures, and providers across the healthcare continuum to improve outbreak reporting to state health departments

C.Prevention

Evaluated the local and state implementation of US.HHS-Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) recommendations.

Evaluated the implementation of CDC/HICPAC evidence-based HAI Prevention Guidelines, used by healthcare organizations, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Surgical Care Improvement Project and the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHCO).

Developed statutory or regulatory standards for healthcare infection control and prevention or work with healthcare partners to establish best practices to ensure adherence

Coordinated regulatory and oversight activities such as inpatient and outpatient facility licensing/accrediting bodies and professional licensing organizations to prevent HAIs

D.Evaluation and Communications

Conducted needs assessment and evaluation of the state HAI program to learn how to increase its impact

Established routine, practical evaluations to develop new strategies for the prevention of HAIs.

MY EXPERTISE IN POLICY ANALYSIS, STRATEGIC PLANNING, ECONOMICS RESEARCH & MODELING, OUTCOME EVALUATION, AND ADMINISTRATION OF ID PROGRAMS

Designing strategic plans for the development of efficient health systems, including: equipping, funding, staffing, operating, administering, and evaluating all matters affecting health programs.

Establishing, evaluating, and redefining work goals and objectives to accomplish the mission of the institution; development of an effective plan of action; establishing realistic goals in reference to the current local and national and economic policies.

Developing studies to improve ongoing health programs, recommending changes in their essential facets, including financing, organization (decentralization, including budgetary), delivery of services (new models of care), community participation (democratization of knowledge and social control), utilization of the health service

Evaluation of the financial system: cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, cost-containment, cost-production, productivity

Advising the health institutions regarding the national health situation and policies, development of an appropriate health care delivery system adapted to the different regional health problems.

Evaluating the various administrative components of the health systems, including the organizational objectives, plans, and decision-making models,.

Assessing the progress of health programs towards their stated objectives

Establishing effective strategies for interagency cooperation

Languages: English, Spanish Citizenship: US Citizen

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