|
Jocelyn Hicks, President and Chair of the EB
Dr. Jocelyn Hicks is Executive Director Emeritus at Children's National Medical Center and Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and Pathology at The George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, US. She is currently the President of JMBH Associates, a health management consulting company. She is also a scientific and marketing adviser to several major international diagnostics companies.
Until recently Dr. Hicks was the Chief Operating Officer of the Genetics and Fairfax Identity Divisions of The Genetics and IVF Institute in Fairfax, Virginia. Prior to that, she was Chair of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Executive Director of the Center for Complex Diseases at the Children's National Medical Center (CNMC), Washington, DC.
Dr. Hicks obtained a BSc. (Honours) in Physiology and her MSc. in Biochemistry from the University of London (UK), and a PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University Medical School (USA). She has over 80 peer-reviewed publications, and many books, including Point-of-Care Testing and the Directory of Rare Analyses.
Dr. Hicks is a Past President of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) and founder of the Van Slyke Society that is devoted to education and research, as well as providing funds for young clinical chemists to attend national meetings.
Dr. Hicks is the founder and Past President (two terms) of the International Association of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine. Dr. Hicks was Chair of the Publications Division of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC), and introduced the IFCC Website and the IFCC Journal. Dr Hicks was most recently the Treasurer and a Board member of the IFCC, from 2003-2005.
Dr. Hicks' many honours include honorary memberships in the Association of Clinical Biochemists (UK), the Israel Society of Clinical Biochemistry, the Portuguese Association of Clinical Pathology and the Egyptian Society of Laboratory Medicine. Dr. Hicks has received three of the AACC's national awards, and is frequently invited to speak both nationally and internationally.
Vladimir Palicka Vice-President
Dr. Vladimir Palicka is a Professor of Biochemistry and Professor of Internal Medicine at the Charles' University of Prague, and Director of the Institute for Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics and Member of the Medical Staff at the University Hospital in Hradec Kralove.
Professor Palicka received his MD at the Palacky' University and after training in clinical biochemistry he obtained his PhD at the Charles' University in Prague. He is currently Director of the Institute for Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics, Director of the University Osteocentre (Clinic for Osteology) and Dean of the Medical Faculty.
He is now the honorary president of the Czech Society for Clinical Biochemistry having served as its president for 8 year as President. In addition, he has served as President of the FESCC (Forum of the European Societies for Clinical Chemistry) and currently serves as its Past-President. He is a member of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) and Honorary Member of the Slovak Society for Clinical Biochemistry, Polish Society for Laboratory Diagnostics and Hungarian Society for Clinical Pathology. He also serves on the editorial or advisory board for more that 10 Journals, including those published in USA, UK, or Italy.
His scientific interests are oriented mainly towards clinical biochemistry, clinical nutrition and intensive metabolic care. He also maintains a clinical practice in osteology with most of his recent publications being on this topic. He currently serves as President of the Czech Society for Metabolic Bone Diseases. Professor Palicka has published more than 300 scientific papers and presented more than 600 lectures at scientific conferences.
Mathias M. M�ller, Past President
Dr. Mathias M. M�ller is Professor of Medical Chemistry at the University of Vienna, Austria and Director of the Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics at the Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital and the Preyer Children's Hospital. He received his MD degree at the University of Vienna. He was trained in Laboratory Medicine and in Transfusion Medicine. He serves in senior positions in Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Biochemistry at the 2nd Department of Medicine and the 2nd Department of Surgery, University of Vienna.
Professor M�ller's major research interests include purine metabolism in clinical and applied biochemistry. His recent studies are related to laboratory diagnosis in transplantation medicine and to the rational use of tumour markers. His institute was part of a European research project for the establishing services for inborn errors in purine and pyrimidine metabolism. He has published more than 290 scientific papers; he is author and co-author in more than 250 abstracts, and editor and co-editor in 8 books and proceedings. He is Associate Editor of Clinical Biochemistry and serves on the editorial boards of Clinica Chimica Acta, and Advances in Clinical Pathology.
Professor M�ller has served in various professional organisations: He was Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and President of the Austrian Society of Clinical Chemistry. In addition he was elected President of the Austrian Society of Quality Assurance after having serves as its General Secretary from 1981 to 1992. He has also served as President of the European Society for Study of Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism in Man.
Within IFCC, he has served as Secretary (1985 - 1987), Vice President (1997-1999), President (2000-2005) and is currently Past-President. From 1988 to 1996 he was Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Scientific Division. During this time his main interest was oriented towards further development of the "Reference System" by starting within IFCC several projects on certified Reference Materials. Recently, he succeeded in establishing a working-collaboration with the European Institute of Reference Measurements and Materials (IRMM). He was also heavily involved in the formation of the Joint Committee of Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM) in 2002. The JCTLM is a joint venture of professionals, metrologists and the in vitro diagnostic industry with the aim to establish globally traceability of diagnostic measurements. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. He has also managed the establishment of the IFCC Professional Scientific Exchange Programme for young scientists, a scholarship for individual training and initiated the global IFCC campaign for disease management on diabetes mellitus.
Dr. P�ivi Laitinen Secretary
P�ivi Laitinen is a clinical biochemist in the Laboratory of Oulu University Hospital, Oulu Finland where she is responsible for endocrinology and toxicology. She also is a lecturer in clinical chemistry in the Oulu University and in the Institute of Health and Social Care in Oulu. She obtained her PhD degree in Biochemistry in 1986 and MS in Health Care Administration in 2002 from Oulu University. She received her specialist training in clinical biochemistry in Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. In 2003 she was appointed a Docent in Clinical Biochemistry. Dr. Laitinen started her scientific research on polyamine metabolism. At present, her main interests include prenatal screening, first and second maternal trimester screening for Down syndrome.
Dr. Laitinen has been an active member of the Finnish Society of Clinical Chemistry since 1987 and has served as a member of the Board of Directors (1992-1995), Vice President (1996-1997) and President (1998-2002). She also had other activities in Finland including being member at-large of Labquality LTD from 1998 to 2002, Chairwoman of the Finnish Clinical Chemistry Register Committee (EC4) from 1998 to 2002, member of the editorial board of KliinLab (2002), and a member of the working group on laboratory nomenclature of the Finnish Union of Counties since 1999.
In addition to her professional interests, Dr Laitinen has served as a technical assessor for the Finnish Accreditation Service. She is also a Change Laboratory coach (Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research of Helsinki University) and she has led a Change Laboratory project (development of work process of laboratory) in her laboratory.
Her international activities include membership of several boards. She has been a member at-large of the Scandinavian Society of Clinical Chemistry since 1998, member at-large of the Board of the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry (EC4) (2003-2005) and a member of the IFCC Awards Committee since 2003. She has also been a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of several international congresses of clinical chemistry. At present she also serves on several working groups of EC4.
In addition to her professional interests, Dr Laitinen has served as a technical assessor for the Finnish Accreditation Service. She is also a Change Laboratory coach (Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research of Helsinki University) and she has led a Change Laboratory project (development of work process of laboratory) in her laboratory.
Ghassan Shannan, Treasurer
Dr. Ghassan Shannan graduated with a B.Sc., from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Damascus University in 1969. He followed extensive training programme in Laboratory Medicine for three years under a special scheme organized by the Ministry of Health. Dr. Shannan received his Ph.D. in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England in 1977. He followed several short courses on topics in Laboratory Medicine as well as in other disciplines such as Management, Finance, Reproductive Health, Family Planning and Disaster Management.
He started his career in 1970 as a junior Clinical Biochemist at one of Damascus Hospitals, followed by several positions including Manager and Director of various Medical Laboratories in Damascus, Syria. In 1992 he was appointed as Director of the Supply Department at the Military Medical Service. In addition to his official public positions, Dr. Shannan has maintained his professional work in his Private Laboratory in Damascus. At the same time, he worked as a lecturer for postgraduate students at Damascus University and the Ministry of Health.
He is involved in various Scientific and Professional Committees and/or Working Groups for the Evaluation of Laboratory Equipment for various Ministries in Syria including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Higher Education and the Military Medical Service. He was appointed by WHO/EMRO and the Ministry of Health to chair the National Committee of Quality Assurance in Medical Laboratories in Syria. He is also, a member of the Accreditation Committees at the Ministry of Health. He is an active member of the Syrian Clinical Laboratory Association (SCLA) since 1979 and he held several positions at the Executive Board of SCLA including Treasurer, Secretary and President. Also, he has played a major rol in the reform of the Arab Federation of Clinical Biology (AFCB) in 1991, since then he has been an active member promoting the federation and its activities. He was a member of the Executive Board of AFCB for several periods.
Dr. Shannan has also been active in the affairs of the IFCC having served as a Member-at-Large on it's Executive Board and is its current Treasurer (2006-2008).
Norbert Madry, Corporate Representative
Dr. Norbert Madry is currently Vice President PSI for Dade Behring, and has over 20 years of experience in the in-vitro Diagnostics industry. He has held various positions ranging from Research & Development, Manufacturing, Strategy & Business Process Development, General Manager and Managing Director in charge of Dade Behring's Marburg/Germany site.
He graduated from the University M�nster/Westphalia and holds a PhD in Microbiology from that same university. In the IVD industry, he has worked as a Lab Manager on tumour marker assay development, as a Scientific Director on assay and system development for the OPUS immunoassay system, and as a Production Head on urine test strip and blood glucose test strip manufacturing.
Dr Madry has actively collaborated with many IFCC Committees and Working Groups and will serve as the Corporate Representative on the IFCC Executive Board for 2006-2008 where he will emphasize areas of mutual benefit between laboratory medicine professionals and the IVD industry which would enhance the value of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine in modern health care and its appreciation by all stakeholders around the globe.
Joseph Lopez, Member
M Joseph Lopez obtained his BSc Honours in Biochemistry from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur in 1973 and then joined the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) as a clinical biochemist where he served for more than 32 years. While serving at the IMR, he obtained the Membership of the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists (by examination) and the MSc from the University of Malaya.
At IMR he has been active in research, the provision of reference diagnostic services, training of allied health personnel and the provision of consultancy services in clinical biochemistry. In addition, for many years, he was closely associated with the IMR's activities in connection with the support it received from the World Health Organization.
His research interests and publications have been in the areas of laboratory methodology and evaluation, quality assurance and tumour markers. He has been closely involved with laboratory quality throughout his career and coordinated the introduction of the first inter-laboratory quality assurance scheme for government hospitals in Malaysia.
He is a founding member of the Malaysian Association of Clinical Biochemists where he held office for some years. Joseph Lopez was elected President of the Asian and Pacific Federation of Clinical Biochemistry (APFCB) in September 2004. Prior to his election as President of the APFCB, he was its Secretary from 1998 to 2004. Together with his colleagues, he has been responsible for the introduction of several new initiatives within the APFCB, including the APFCB Travelling Lectureship, the corporate and affiliate membership schemes, the APFCB Distinguished Service Award and the APFCB Philanthropic Fund. He is currently editor of the APFCB News and the APFCB web-site. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry.
Daniel Mazziotto, Member
Prof. Daniel Mazziotta is Professor of Clinical Chemistry at National University of La Plata (1989-), Director of the External Quality Assessment Program of the Argentine Biochemical Foundation (1987-) and Director of the Reference and Standardization Laboratory in Clinical Biochemistry of Argentine Biochemical Foundation (1997).
He graduated in Chemistry in 1974 and Biochemistry, Clinical Orientation in 1976 at the National University of La Plata, Argentina. From 1974 to 1982, he served the Central Laboratory Service of the Hospital San Juan de Dios of La Plata working for the Intensive Care Unit and the Heart and Lung Functional Exploration Service. He became a member of the Central Commission of External Quality Control of the Ministry of Health of Province of Buenos Aires in 1978 and he was the organizer of External Quality Control Program for the same Ministry from 1980 to 1986.
Professor Mazziota was a member of the Executive Board of the Specialists on Biological Analyses Association between 1984 and 1986. Also, he was Secretary of the Biochemical Federation of the Province of Buenos Aires from 1986 to 1992. He has been a member of the Permanent Scientific Section of the Latin-American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry since 1987. He was National Representative of Argentina at several IFCC meetings.
He is member of the Editorial Board of Acta Bioquimica Clinica Latinoamericana, the official journal of the COLABIOCLI, Member of the Intercontinental Advisory Board of Accreditation and Quality Assurance journal and member of the International Advisory Group of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry. He received the American Association of Clinical Chemistry International Fellowship Award in 2000.
He has developed intensive post-graduate education courses on Quality Control covering all Argentina as well many Latin-American countries, including Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil. He acts as adviser and professor for the Pan-American Health Organization in Guatemala and Ecuador.
Professor Mazziota has been active in the IFCC since 1992 when he was a corresponding member of the Committee on Analytical Quality (C-AQ) of the Education and Management Division. In 1994 he became member of the Nomination Committee and in 1997 became a member of the C-AQ. Between 1998 and 2002, he was the chairman of the same committee (C-AQ). In 2002, he was elected to a three-year term as a Member of the IFCC Executive Board and was re-elected to that position in 2005 for the term 2006-2008.
Michael Thomas, Member
Dr Michael Thomas, PhD is Clinical Director - Pathology and Head of Clinical Biochemistry at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, UK.
He trained in chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Liverpool and subsequently completed a research degree on the non-collagenous proteins of mineralized tissues (bone and dentine) during which time he also received a Leverhulme Travelling Scholarship. His professional training was done in Chelmsford and Guildford and subsequently at the Royal London Hospital. He then moved to the Royal Free Hospital in 1983 as Head of the endocrine laboratory and assumed overall responsibility for clinical biochemistry in 1993.
He has been Assistant Secretary and Secretary of the Association of Clinical Biochemists and as a Regional Tutor and was Chairman of the Organising Committee for the ACB national meeting Focus held at Excel, London Docklands in 2001. He is currently a National Assessor for the Department of Health. He has been an accreditation inspector for Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd and now represents the ACB on its Board. In 2005, he was elected as a Member-At-Large for the IFCC and will serve on its Executive Board for the term 2006-2008.
Dr Thomas' department has recently achieved recognition as a Specialist Centre for Cardiovascular Biomarkers. He is a member of the NHS R&D funded research programme into the effect of prescribed exercise on health (EXERT) and has collaborated on the mechanism of HIV lipodystrophy. He also still retains an interest in both bone and thyroid disease. More recently he has become a proponent of the benefits of total laboratory automation; the Royal Free Hospital became the first fully automated laboratory in the UK in 2000, and he has been an invited speaker on this topic at both national and international meetings.
He is currently involved with colleagues in developing ways in which pathology can be effectively delivered across the North Central Sector of London under a challenging modernising agenda of the Department of Health.
|