In my appointment in the Faculty of Medicine in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and through my affiliation with the School of Population and Public Health, I lead a number of high impact programs. These include leading the ISO 17043 accredited Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing Program (CMPT), the Program Office for Laboratory Quality Management (POLQM) and supporting the Canadian Ministry of Health. I am excited to be working closely with BC Provincial Health Services, the Diagnostic Accreditation Program, and other units within Ministry of Health and key stakeholders across Canada to study and address issues of diagnostic testing access and quality. This is particularly relevant for Canadians living in rural settings, including indigenous people of the first nation communities. I am especially excited about the opportunity to bring best practices and lessons learned from working with partners around the world to addressing health disparities in rural North America.

I lead the non-profit, UBC based Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing program, an ISO 17043 accredited external quality assurance provider which custom produces proficiency testing challenges for clinical and public health testing laboratories as part of their quality compliance.

Through the Program Office I lead the department's educational programs related to laboratory quality including the online certificate course in laboratory quality management and several new courses in development. Through this office I am excited to be working closely with BC Provincial Health Services, the Diagnostic Accreditation Program, and other units within Ministry of Health and key stakeholders across Canada to study and address issues of diagnostic testing access and quality. This is particularly relevant for Canadians living in rural settings, including indigenous people of the first nation communities. I am especially excited about the opportunity to bring best practices and lessons learned from working with partners around the world to addressing health disparities in rural North America.

Developed and delivered educational programs for laboratory professionals.

-Principal Investigator for USG funded global health projects.-Co-developer and Director of the UW Professional Certificate Program in Global Laboratory Leadership and Management.

Supported the development and piloting (Gambia) of an e-tool for assisting countries to develop a national essential diagnostics list based on the WHO Model List of Essential Diagnostics.

DMDP's vision is to build capacity for infectious diseases diagnosis by strengthening the infrastructure and technical capabilities of laboratory staff in clinical microbiology, biochemistry and hematology and by strengthening the capacity of health care providers to accurately diagnose infectious diseases primarily in the developing world.

Built an international team, generated and managed a portfolio >$20 million for projects focused on infectious disease diagnosis and surveillance, laboratory systems and capacity building, and improving human resources for health in multiple countries.

• Designed and executed a novel influenza virus vaccine evaluation (pre-clinical) in collaboration with a publicly traded clinical-stage biotechnology company.• Designed and executed collaboratively held projects investigating the lung pathogenesis and cellular immune response to potentially pandemic avian H5N1 and 1918 pandemic virus infections.• Investigated immunological mechanisms of pathogenesis of H5N1 and 1918 virus infections.• Characterized H5N1 avian influenza isolates in small animal models to assess pathogenicity and pandemic potential.• Evaluated novel anti-viral compounds to treat and control the spread of H5N1 and 1918 influenza viruses

• Served as the IHR Influenza Focal Point for the 37 WHO country offices in the Western Pacific Region during the first 3 months of the H1N1 influenza pandemic, assisted all member states in maintaining compliance IHR.• Conducted laboratory assessments and TA in Laos PDR and the Philippines, assisted Laos PDR in submitting their first human influenza virus isolate to WHO, coordinated diagnostic materials to member states, assessment of regional laboratory diagnostic capacity, and regional logistics.• Provided TA in the development and distribution of public health guidelines and policies in response to the 2009 influenza pandemic to all WPRO member states. Produced and disseminated technical guidelines in the areas of influenza virology and biosafety. Developed influenza outbreak management policies for WPRO countries within the framework of existing WHO guidelines. Facilitated communications between WPRO and the CDC during the 2009 influenza pandemic.