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Healthmark Education


SPEAKERS

To request a speaker for your event, please click here to fill out an educational request form.

Mary Ann Drosnock, MS, CIC, CFER, RM (NRCM), FAPIC

Mary Ann Drosnock is the Director of Clinical Education at Healthmark Industries, where she provides expertise on medical device processing and leads a team of 9 Clinical Educators. She is also co-chair of AAMI WG 84, which writes ST91, the national standard on flexible endoscope reprocessing and TIR99 on processing of ultrasound probes and dilators. Previous to Healthmark, Mary Ann managed the Infection Control Program for Olympus. There she had responsibility for Infection Prevention & Device Reprocessing Functions. Before Olympus, MaryAnn worked as a pharmaceutical microbiologist, managing quality control and R & D laboratories and taught Microbiology courses to nursing professionals. MaryAnn has a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Quality and Regulatory Affairs. She is certified in Drug Development, Pharmaceutical Science, Infection Control, Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing, is a Nationally Certified Registered Microbiologist and is an APIC fellow.

Stephen Kovach, B.S.

Stephen M Kovach is Clinical Educator Emeritus at Healthmark Industries. He has been active in the medical field since 1975, where he started as a sterilization orderly and held many different positions since his first job in healthcare. Stephen has many publications to his credit, both peer and non-peer-reviewed, varying on subject matter from perfusion to cleaning and everything in between. Stephen has also organized and participated in numerous seminars, tutorials, conferences, webinars, and podcasts on all levels from local, state, national, and international on a variety of processing topics. He has received many awards in his career, such as the Award of Honor from IAHCSMM for his dedication to the Sterile Processing field. Also, HPN named Stephen as one of the most influential people in the field of Sterile Processing. Stephen is always proud to say, “I have worked in the Heart of the Hospital, Sterile Processing.” Lastly, Stephen has a BS in Biology from Central Michigan University and holds various professional certifications. Stephen, “The CPDGUY,” can be reached by email at cpdguy@hmark.com.

Cheron Rojo, AA, CRCST, CIS, CER, CHL

Cheron Rojo is a CRCST (Certified Registered Central Service Technician), CIS (Certified Instrument Specialist), (CER) Certified Endoscope Reprocesser), (CFER) Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocesser, and a CHL (Certified Healthcare Leader). He served on the PDRC (Professional Development Resource Committee) for IAHCSMM, as well as the Education Director for the CCSA (California Central Service Association).
Mr. Rojo has 30 years in the Sterile Processing arena as a has a Sterile Processing Technician, SPD Educator, an Instrument Coordinator, and a Surgical Technologist in the Surgical realm. Mr. Rojo is currently one of the Clinical Education Specialists for Healthmark Industries and has been with the company for three years. Mr. Rojo currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He graduated with his BS in Communication and with a certificate in Marketing in April of 2021. He graduated in 2008, with highest honors from Fresno City College with an Associates of Arts in Speech Communication specializing in public speaking and team dynamics. He is also currently on the AAMI working groups for ST79, PB70, ST91, TIR99. Mr. Rojo has also taught the CRCST and CIS courses since 2006 for new and existing Sterile Processing technicians.
Mr. Rojo has also presented to local colleges and seminars across the country for numerous organizations like; APIC, SGNA, AAMA (the American Association of Medical Assistants, AORN, CBSPD, and IAHCSMM with topics relating to the Periop arena, specializing in effective communication, and the struggles of Sterile Processing today.
Mr. Rojo is a published author in the AORN Journal and in Surgical Products. Cheron Rojo is a member of IAHCSMM and AORN and named the 2018 “Educator of the Year” by the Golden West Central Service Chapter. He is a great advocate for nurturing education throughout the United States and believes “Attitude is Everything!”

Jahan Azizi, BS, CBET

Jahan Azizi has spent 30 years in healthcare settings investigating and reporting problems with medical devices. His focus has always been on fixing and correcting, then moving on to the next. Jahan has written numberless safety reports, internal reports, presentations, and hospital policies. He has published the findings from his work, better to reach those in industries and in regulatory agencies that can affect positive changes in medical device design, maintenance, and control. Jahan has spent several years on the issue of validating and optimizing surgical instrument reprocessing methods, which has provided him with a unique skill set and knowledge. He was invited to make presentations at the FDA and industry professionals symposia of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), the American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM), the FDA's MedSun, IAHCSMM and local societies, and recently to the State of Michigan Health Facilities Evaluation Section.

Seth Hendee, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CER, CFER, IAHCSMM APPROVED INSTRUCTOR

Seth Hendee is a Clinical Education Coordinator for Healthmark Industries where he provides clinical expertise on medical device processing, SPD education and standards. Prior to joining Healthmark, he has had over 20 years experience as a Central Services professional. Responsible for many Sterile Processing roles, Seth primarily focused on education for the last 8 years. He was responsible for providing continuing education to ensure the SPD staff remained certified and were conversant about the latest trends and requirements of a Sterile Processing area. He also had responsibility for competence verification and documentation activities within the department. Seth is a Certified Registered Central Service Technician, a Certified Instrument Specialist, a Certified Endoscope Reprocessor, a Certified Healthcare Leader and an Approved Instructor through IAHCSMM. Seth is also a Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor through the CBSPD. Seth participates in a number of AAMI Sterilization Standards Work Groups, including those responsible for ST79, ST91 and ST90.

John Whelan, BSN, RN

John Whelan is a Clinical Educator for Healthmark Industries. John’s healthcare career spans more than 40 years, predominantly in the fields of Emergency Services and Endoscopy. This has included staff roles, as well as those of educator and manager. At the beginning of 2019, he ended a 31-year career at University of Michigan Health System. It was his 20 years spent in Endoscopy that helped provide a foundation for a system role – overseeing High Level Disinfection processes for the UM Health System. In that inaugural role, he was instrumental in the planning and launch for the Centralized Endoscope Reprocessing Department on the main medical campus. John is an active member of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, where he serves as a member for ST/Workgroup 84 - Endoscope reprocessing, as well as ST/Workgroup 61 – Chemical Sterilants. He is the coauthor for a June 2019 chapter on endoscope reprocessing in Otolaryngology Clinics of North America. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Michigan State University.

Kevin Anderson BSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM, CRCST, CHL, CIS, CER

Kevin Anderson is a Clinical Education Coordinator for Healthmark Industries. He is a registered nurse (BSN) with multiple certifications including CNOR, CSSM, CRCST, CHL, CIS and CER. Before joining Healthmark Industries, Kevin worked for 18 years in the acute care setting serving in various clinical and leadership capacities including clinical coordinator of general surgery, operating room manager and manager of sterile processing and endoscopy services. His sterile processing team was recognized with IAHCSMM’s Confidence Builder Award for their outstanding quality improvement in 2018. Kevin is a published author with articles featured in Outpatient Surgery and the AORN Executive Newsletter. He also enjoys producing his own written content and presenting at industry conferences, using his experiences to improve quality, education and integrity within the field of sterile processing. He is also an active member of AORN and sits on multiple working groups for AAMI.

Malinda Elammari, ST, CSPM, CSPDT, CFER, CSIS, CRCST, CIS, CLSSGB

Malinda Elammari is currently the Interim Director of Education and Quality at the Medical University of South Carolina. Before MUSC, she served as the Sterile Processing Educator and Quality Control Manager for Duke Raleigh Hospital and as the lead instructor for the Central Sterile program at Durham Technical Community College. Malinda began her career in the medical field as a Surgical Technologist where she specialized in open-heart surgery. She holds several certifications in sterile processing through CBSPD and IAHCSMM. She is a TeamSTEPPS Master trainer and a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. She is an active member of AAMI and sits on seven national standard writing committees. Malinda currently serves as president-elect for the North Carolina IAHCSMM chapter, NCAHCSP. She was featured in AAMI’s BI&T magazine, Beyond Clean Podcast, and Healthmark’s “Conversations from the Clinical Couch”. She serves on the Editorial Board for BI&T magazine and serves as a project manager for Kilmer’s Aseptic Presentation subgroup. Malinda has presented at local APIC conferences and her abstract posters have been displayed at local and national conferences. She is a graduate of Duke’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship program as well as Duke’s Technical Excellence Program. In 2019, Malinda was awarded the Diane Fink Outstanding Leadership in Central Services Award.

Mary Ellen Fortenberry-Moore, BS, CCSVP

Mary Ellen Fortenberry-Moore is a Sales Region Manager for Healthmark Industries. Mary Ellen’s healthcare career spans more than 35 years, from working at the hospital and IDN level in the Surgical Services environment with many years in Sterile Processing at a level one trauma center. She has extensive experience in sales on both the regional and nationally in project management specializing in quality improvement with in Sterile Processing and Surgical Service. Mary Ellen has publications to her credit on varying subject matters. Mary Ellen has been active in both national and local organizations promoting Sterile Processing, Past President of MSHCSP. She has presented on various topics from Instrument Management Systems to Quality Systems locally, regional, nationally, and internationally.

Ray Taurasi, MBA, CRCST, CHL, ACE, FCS

Ray Taurasi's healthcare career spans over three decades as an Administrator, Educator, Technologist and Consultant. Ray is a past president of IAHCSMM and was a long standing Advanced Member of ASHCSP. Ray has served on and contributed to many national committees, and task forces with a myriad of professional organizations, and regulatory entities. He has been an advisor and consultant to many manufacturers, corporations and prestigious healthcare networks. Ray has been a faculty member of numerous colleges teaching in the divisions of business administration and health sciences. He has authored several articles and textbook chapters and has been a featured speaker on the international scene. For the past ten years he has authored a monthly column in HPN entitled CS Solutions. He has been very involved in community health affairs and served two terms as an elected political official on the Board of Health in the metropolitan Boston area. He served as the board’s vice chairman for 6 years. Ray is an active member and contributor to many professional associations and regulatory entities including IAHCSMM, AORN, AAMI, AHA and SGNA. In addition to his professional credentials in the field of Central Service Technology and Education, he holds a BS degree in management and counseling and a Masters degree in Business Administration. His dedication to the healthcare field and community service has won him international recognition and several prestigious awards including HPN’s selection as one of the “Most Influential People in Healthcare Sterile Processing” over the last 30 years and a Mayoral proclamation of “Ray Taurasi Day” in the City of Boston

Kaumudi Kulkarni, M.S.

Kaumudi Kulkarni is the Business Development Microbiologist and Manager of the Research and Development Lab at Healthmark Ind. She has her M.S. degree from the University of Georgia, in Microbial Cellular and Molecular Biology and an M.S. degree from India in Microbial Genetics. She is a voting member at AAMI and ASTM and is also involved in the worldwide ISO round robin protocols that impact cleaning of medical devices. Kaumudi works with sterile processing professionals, medical device manufacturers, along with the FDA and other professional groups and organizations. She is also actively involved in developing products that help improve patient care outcomes.

Diane Gosser, BS, CRCST

Diane Gosser is currently the Director of National Accounts at Healthmark Industries. A veteran in the field of medical sales and marketing, Diane has worked within large corporations, privately held companies and start-up businesses. She has previously held positions in sales and marketing, management and corporate training. Diane’s area of expertise is medical device reprocessing. She is a CRSCT and a member of IAHCSMM, where she chaired their vendor advisory board for many years. Also, a past working group member of the Association for Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. Diane is a member of ANAE. Diane has a Bachelor of Science from Missouri State University and attended Webster University School of Business.

Fred Alston

Fred has 20+ years of experience working with healthcare facilities throughout the U.S. troubleshooting instrument reprocessing issues and providing consultative assistance in implementing national standards/guidelines to improve patient outcomes. Starting as a Biomedical Equipment Technician, Fred joined Getinge USA and spent 18+ years providing CSSD support as a Senior Service Technician, Service Branch Manager, Consumables Specialist and as a Capital Equipment Account Manager. More recently, Fred was a Strategic Accounts Manager with Crosstex/SPS Medical where he continued his support of best practices as well as performing courtesy audits of Central Sterile, Endoscopy and ASC departments. As a Healthmark Regional Clinical Support Manager, he continues to support dedicated healthcare departments comply with ever changing standards, recommendations and guidelines and IFU’s. A Certified Sterile Processing Department Technician, Fred also participates in several AAMI instrument reprocessing working groups where he contributes in the process of writing and refining national standards.