SLMTA - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the QCMV Scientific Committee
• Director of the Global

Dr. Yao is the director of the global SLMTA program, which is funded by The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a US governmental initiative to address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. The SLMTA program is a training and mentoring program designed to enhance the quality management systems for laboratories. It has been implemented in 1300+ laboratories in 56 LMIC countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania. As of December 2021, the program has helped 237 laboratories in 27 countries attain accreditation to international standards. Dr. Yao is a Public Health Educator at US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She has a PhD in education with a focus on instructional design and adult learning.

Job Titles:

• Member of the QCMV Scientific Committee
• Associate Director for Laboratory Sciences

Dr. Luciana Kohatsu is the Associate Director for Laboratory Sciences, South America Regional Office at the US CDC. She is a senior Laboratory Systems Strengthening and Scientific Advisor for innovative technology, and laboratory accreditation expert. Dr. Kohatsu served in several roles at CDC Atlanta, East Africa, the Americas and at the U.S. State Department PEPFAR central offices. She is a Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biologist, holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pathology, and is a former CPEP-approved Clinical and Public Health Microbiology fellow from UCLA and the State of California. As a SLMTA Master Trainer, she trained the first cohort of Mozambican trainers, Latin American military trainers, and trainers and Master Trainers for the Americas.

Job Titles:

• Regional Delegate of Health, South West Region, Ministry of Health, Cameroon

Dr. Victor Mbome Njie served as Hospital Director at the Regional Hospital Buea, Cameroon, from 2008 to 2012. It is my intention to convey my highest consideration for this truly outstanding civil servant. His quest for quality laboratory systems to support healthcare provision has been steadfast, leading to a remarkable successful collaboration with CDC-Cameroon. He ensured that the rewards of the quality improvement program (through SLMTA) did not end, and also benefitted laboratories as reflected in the significant increase from 18% (zero stars) at baseline to 67% (two stars) following exit audit. He is the founding architect of the quality improvement program in hospitals in Cameroon. He transformed Buea Hospital into a hospital with a culture of proactive services delivered by 200 staff to about 2,500 patients monthly. He established the Quality Taskforce (QUITAF) program, and through it initiated improvement projects at all levels including janitorial services. A passionate and strong advocate, Dr. Mbome has been relentless in his pursuit for quality change in hospitals for a healthier Cameroon. As a true ambassador, he expanded the successful program in Buea Hospital to 17 other districts and has created a vibrant awareness among 20 other hospital directors. His work has impact beyond Cameroon, as it was published in a peer-reviewed journal. His accomplishments attracted the World Bank to launch the Performance Based Financing (PBF) initiative in the South West Region, and Dr. Mbome has ensured the regulatory role of the regional delegation of health in the implementation of the World Bank's PBF initiative to date by developing standardized tools for monitoring and evaluation. Dr. Mbome' s passion for quality improvement in healthcare service delivery provides the platform on which he draws inspiration to execute his many leadership responsibilities with measurable and improved outcomes that have benefitted millions, not only in Cameroon but beyond.

Mr. Davis is a Senior Laboratory Scientist at African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), a non-profit networking and service alliance of Field Epidemiology (and Laboratory) Training Programs (FELTPs), and other applied epidemiology with operations in over 31 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. AFENET is a Cooperative Agreement partner with the US CDC (grant no. NU2GGH002140) to create and implement the SLMTA program. Mr. Davis manages the project at AFENET and has a Master's Degree in Science in Public Health.

Mr. Paladar co-led the redesign of the classroom-based QCMV curriculum for on-line delivery and will serve as an instructor and facilitator of the e-learning course. Based in Malawi, he is a Project Manager at Adventist Health International, as well as Assistant Professor at the Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Loma Linda University. Mr. Paladar has a Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He is a SLMTA master trainer and has trained numerous laboratorians in the past decade.

Job Titles:

• Director of Global Public Health Initiative Program, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, USA

Mr. Patrick Mateta has worked tirelessly since 2008 to support laboratory strengthening programs in raising the awareness of the SLMTA program and implementing Quality Management Systems (QMS) in more than 10 countries in Africa and Central Asia. Mr. Mateta's leadership qualities and experience in laboratory medicine, mentoring, auditing and management are worth recognition. Since 2008, he has trained over 1000 laboratory staff in more than 10 countries in quality improvements, quality management systems and internal auditing aligned to ISO17025, ISO 15190, ISO 22870 and ISO 15189. His leadership and selfless efforts have led 12 laboratories in 3 countries to being accredited to ISO 15189. Currently, he is mentoring 15 additional laboratories in two countries, which are expected to be accredited by the end of 2017. His work has significantly improved laboratory leadership in countries and allowed them to believe that accreditation is possible even in resource-constrained settings. Laboratories that have been accredited are now able to send accurate, timely and reliable results that clinicians can use to manage patients. Staff are motivated to continue implementing quality management systems that promote lean, efficient and better laboratory operations. Additionally, Mr. Mateta's initiatives and selflessness continue to inspire laboratory professionals to pursue continuous quality improvement. This has also created an accreditation awareness not only among laboratories but entire hospitals and other health care facilities.

Job Titles:

• Independent Consultant
• Member of the QCMV Scientific Committee

Ms. Murphy is an independent consultant. She created the original classroom-based Statistical Quality Control and Method Validation (QCMV) curriculum, a supplemental training to the SLMTA training series. She was also a key contributor to those SLMTA training curricula. She is a SLMTA master trainer and has trained numerous laboratorians in the past decade. Anna is a certified Medical Laboratory Scientist (by ASCP).

Job Titles:

• Member of the QCMV Scientific Committee

Ms. van der Puije helped redesign the classroom-based SLMTA 3 curriculum for on-line delivery and will serve as an instructor and facilitator of the e-learning course. Based in Ghana, Ms. van der Puije is a Public Health Program Manager at African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), a pan-African organisation strengthening medical laboratory networks and systems in Africa. Ms. van der Puije is a certified QMS Trainer, with a Master of Science Degree in Medical Immunology and Microbiology. She is a SLMTA master trainer and has trained numerous laboratorians in the past decade.

Job Titles:

• Master
• Member of the QCMV Scientific Committee
• Trainer
• Regional Quality Assurance Manager, Western and Northern Cape Area, National Health Laboratory Service ( NHLS ), South Africa

Ms. Scholtz co-led the redesign of the classroom-based QCMV curriculum for on-line delivery and will serve as an instructor and facilitator of the e-learning course. Before retirement, Ms. Scholtz was a Quality Manager, Regional Western and Northern Cape, at National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), South Africa. She is a certified auditor for The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). Ms. Scholtz has a medical diploma in Biomedical Technology. She is a SLMTA master trainer and has trained numerous laboratorians in the past decade. Janet became a SLMTA Master Trainer in August 2014 in Uganda. She was certified as an NHLS SLIPTA internal auditor in December 2012 and in November 2015 she was certified as a SLIPTA Master Trainer in Ethiopia by ASLM. Janet has been involved as a trainer in Stanger, Worcester and Kimberley laboratories while acting as a consultant to many trainers and auditors in the programme. In February 2017, Kimberley laboratory will be assessed by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) for accreditation and Stanger laboratory will be receiving a pre SANAS audit by NHLS auditors.

Job Titles:

• National Manager for Quality Assurance, National Health Laboratory Service ( NHLS ), South Africa

Job Titles:

• Program Manager, Kenya - Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute

Mr. Patrick Mateta has worked tirelessly since 2008 to support laboratory strengthening programs in raising the awareness of the SLMTA program and implementing Quality Management Systems (QMS) in more than 10 countries in Africa and Central Asia. Mr. Mateta's leadership qualities and experience in laboratory medicine, mentoring, auditing and management are worth recognition. Since 2008, he has trained over 1000 laboratory staff in more than 10 countries in quality improvements, quality management systems and internal auditing aligned to ISO17025, ISO 15190, ISO 22870 and ISO 15189. His leadership and selfless efforts have led 12 laboratories in 3 countries to being accredited to ISO 15189. Currently, he is mentoring 15 additional laboratories in two countries, which are expected to be accredited by the end of 2017. His work has significantly improved laboratory leadership in countries and allowed them to believe that accreditation is possible even in resource-constrained settings. Laboratories that have been accredited are now able to send accurate, timely and reliable results that clinicians can use to manage patients. Staff are motivated to continue implementing quality management systems that promote lean, efficient and better laboratory operations. Additionally, Mr. Mateta's initiatives and selflessness continue to inspire laboratory professionals to pursue continuous quality improvement. This has also created an accreditation awareness not only among laboratories but entire hospitals and other health care facilities.