Wendy Bowers Email and Phone Number

As a technologist working second and third shifts, I read urine, stool, and throat cultures. On these cultures we identify bacteria manually, use Vitek 2 Identification cards, or the MALDI-TOF. When susceptibilities need to be run on the bacteria, we use Vitek 2 susceptibility cards, Microscans, or kirby bauers. I also read gram stains from many different specimen sources and blood parasite smears. We help doctors diagnose septicemia in patients. This starts with our Bact/Alert Virtuo. After the initial gram stain, we may then set up a Verigene or blood filmarray via the Biofire Filmarray System. This may give us an identification and resistance markers that are key in the treatment of the patient. I also run may different molecular tests. I have experience with the Illumigene, Simplexa, and BD MAX Systems. As well as running other tests on the Biofire Filmarray Torch System. I am a point person when my supervisor is unavailable. I train new and current employees on the second and third shift benches and preform yearly competencies. I do monthly quality control and run new lot/new shipment quality control when necessary. I trouble shoot all equipment when needed. I also get involved in bringing in and validating new equipment.

Here I read stool, throat, urine, respiratory and Group A Streptococcus cultures. On these cultures we manually identified pathogenic bacteria or used instruments called Vitek Machines and Microscans to aid in the bacterial identification. Susceptibility tests were run on many of these bacteria to aid doctors in prescribing the best antibiotic treatment. We ran the susceptibilities using Vitek Machines, Microscans, or kirby bauers. We ran tests to detect fecal immunoglobin on samples sent in from doctors and hospitals. We also ran Group A Streptococcus Probes to detect Group A Streptococcus in throat specimens. To detect septicemia in patients we used a Bactec Machine which I was very familiar with. I also performed many gram stains to aid in bacterial identification.

In working with this company, I become a Sewage Enforcement Officer (SEO) with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and took classes with the Army Corps of Engineers. My titles included being a Certified Sewage Enforcement Officer, Wetland Biologist, Soil Biologist, Conservation Biologist, and project manager. As an SEO I conducted soil testing for storm water systems and to place, size, and design on-lot septic systems. I conducted wetland delineations and worked with the Army Corps of Engineers in Jurisdictional Determinations and Joint Permits. Permitting with organizations such as the Pennsylvania D.E.P. was another service this company provided andthat I was involved in. These include permits to cross bodies of water with roads and utilities. Other larger permits include Erosion and Sediment Control, NPDES, and Building Permits. With this company I also performed Phase I Bog Turtle Studies and other endangered species surveys. My experience with this company also includes civil surveying. For a period of a year, while at this company, I was also a project manager for many of their environmental projects.

Here I did my internship in the Educational Department. We worked with amphibian species, reptilian species, and a few mammalian species. More specifically, we took care of different snake, lizard, turtle, and tortoise species, and ring-tailed lemurs. The care included cleaning of the cages, feeding, and spending time with them. As an intern I also worked with the public doing Live Animal Shows, Live Animal Talks with different animals around the zoo (amphibians, reptiles, ring-tailed lemurs, spectacled bears, zebras, and giant river otters), and I worked in the Primate House.

Employed during the summers of 1998, 1999, and 2000.I was a lab assistant for the summers of 1998 and 1999 and a lab technician in the summer of 2000. During this time, I ran tests on the influent and effluent waters. The tests include measuring pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, nitratesand nitrites, phosphates, sulfates and sulfites, suspended solids, total suspendedsolids, total oxygen, volatile suspended solids, and fecal coliform. I also ran testson the wastewater in the sludge tanks that included temperature, dissolved oxygen, and identification and counting of microorganisms. I performed field-testing on the stream (Swamp Creek) which the treated effluent was released into. Three spots were tested on the stream, one above the fluent outlet, one at the outlet, and one below the outlet. These tests were run for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as volunteer work. At each spot the temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrates, phosphates and fecal coliform were measured. At these three spots the aquatic macroinvertebrates and stream fauna were noted. I was also shown how to test and run the system that controls the plant and the two pump stations.