SNTC Staff
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE AND TRAINING HEADQUARTERS
Michael Lauzardo, MD
Donna Hope Wegener, MA
Karen Simpson, MSHSE
Denise Dodge, RN, BA
Rebecca Gilbert
Paula C. Hamsho Diaz, MD
Margaret Hatch, PHT
Suzette Johnston
Ellen Murray, RN, BSN
Kristina Ottenwess, MPH
Juli Brasington Tedeschi, BBA
CLINICAL TRAINING CAMPUS A.G. HOLLEY TB HOSPITAL
David Ashkin, MD
Karen L. Farrell, RN, BSN, RM
Maria Gomez
Elena Hollender, MD
JoAnne Shannon Julien, MD
Affette (Melody) McIntosh
Jesus Ortiz, MD
Jerry Jean Stambaugh, PharmD
Kimberly Tendrich, Esq.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE AND TRAINING HEADQUARTERS
Michael Lauzardo, MD Principal Investigator
lauzam@medicine.ufl.edu
Dr. Michael Lauzardo is the Principal Investigator of the Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center (SNTC) based at the University of Floridas College of Medicine. In addition to his leadership role with the SNTC, he is the Deputy TB Controller for the Florida Department of Health, Division of Tuberculosis and Refugee Health. Dr. Lauzardo also serves as the primary consultant and TB physician treating patients in rural and urban areas throughout the northern and central counties in Florida. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of Floridas College of Medicine.
Dr. Lauzardo has been involved with public health in Latin America and the Caribbean for more than 15 years. Current research interests include the epidemiology of tuberculosis in Florida and tuberculosis among the foreign-born.
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Donna Hope Wegener, MA Executive Director
donna.wegener@medicine.ufl.edu
Donna is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the SNTC, including the development, administration, and management of all aspects of the RTMCC. She oversees all fiscal activities, personnel, sub-contracts, other service providers, and serves on the SNTC’s Executive Advisory Group. Donna is a graduate of the University of Chicago’s Public Policy Program with an emphasis in health policy. She brings a wealth of research, policy analysis, and administrative experience to the SNTC team.
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Karen D. Simpson, MSHSE Director of Education and Training
karen.simpson@medicine.ufl.edu
With more than 18 years of health education and public health experience, Karen directs the Centers educational and training activities and is responsible for the development and coordination of all initiatives related to training and education. She previously served as Director of the Florida/Caribbean AIDS Education and Training Center at the University of Florida. Karen has degrees from the University of Florida in Health Science Education and strong skills in outcomes-based training and program impact evaluation, longitudinal evaluation and needs assessment.
With membership in the American Correctional Health Services Association, the Society of Government meeting Professionals, the Florida Public Health Association, and the Florida Health Fraud Task Force, Karen helps connect the SNTC to other significant organizations.
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Denise Dodge, RN, BA Training Specialist
denise.dodge@medicine.ufl.edu
Denise recently joined the SNTC as a Nurse Training Specialist. She also serves as a nurse consultant for our medical consultation activities. Denise has been a nurse over 30 years and has worked for the Florida Department of Health since 1990. Denises public health background has been in the trenches as a health department generalist, TB nurse case manager/coordinator/supervisor and finally as the TB Program manager in Hillsborough County. She brings a wealth of practical and programmatic knowledge to the training team. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Health at the University of South Florida.
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Rebecca Gilbert - Program Assistant
rebecca.gilbert@medicine.ufl.edu
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Paula C. Hamsho-Diaz, MD Graduate Research Assistant
paula.hamshodiaz@medicine.ufl.edu
Currently, Dr. Paula Hamsho-Diaz is attending the University of Florida working on her master’s degree at the Center for Latin American Studies with a concentration in anthropology. She provides critical support to Kristina in activities involving Puerto Rico and other Spanish-speaking initiatives. Dr. Hamsho-Diaz is studying to be a certified translator and is assisting the SNTC in the translation of various CDC and other materials requested by Puerto Rico. She is a graduate of the Universidad Veracruzana’s Medical School.
Dr. Hamsho-Diaz’s research interests include identifying the socio-cultural characteristics affecting the adherence to the TB treatment plan in the population of Puerto Rico.
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Margaret Hatch, PHT Office Manager
margaret.hatch@medicine.ufl.edu
Margaret is responsible for certification requirements and is the in-house editor and creative designer of documents, forms, and power point presentations, maintaining the SNTC professional image and feel. After several years in Minnesota working for General Mills and Pillsbury, she returned to the University of Florida in 2005. While at General Mills, Margaret produced the divisions daily news via closed circuit television. She brings to the SNTC a wealth of experience in document preparation, computer software application, and administration.
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Suzette Johnston Senior Secretary
suzette.johnston@medicine.ufl.edu
Sue recently joined the SNTC and provides staff support to the medical consultation services provided by the SNTC. Sue has worked with Dr. Lauzardo and the Florida TB Physicians Network for nine years and has extensive experience with TB services and the educational training needs of healthcare providers and TB program staff.
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Ellen Murray, RN, BSN Training Specialist
ellen.murray@medicine.ufl.edu
Ellen has been a nurse for more than 20 years, working primarily in correctional settings with leadership roles in nursing administration, infection control, education and quality improvement. She is currently developing SNTC’s training agenda for corrections, including contact investigations and discharge planning. She also serves as a nurse consultant for our medical consultation activities. Prior to joining the SNTC team, Ellen worked as a nurse consultant for the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of TB and Refugee Health, where she coordinated education, training, and communication activities between public health and correctional settings.
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Kristina Ottenwess, MPH Training Specialist (Spanish-speaking)
kristina.ottenwess@medicine.ufl.edu
Kristina is currently developing curriculum and products in the area of cultural competency as well as a TB Program manager’s course, modeled after the CDC’s course. Kristina is bi-lingual and works closely with our partners in Puerto Rico and other states as the SNTC’s Spanish-speaking training specialist. Prior to joining SNTC, Kristina was a training and evaluation coordinator for the Suwannee River Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Alachua, Florida.
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Juli Brasington Tedeschi, BBA Senior Accountant
juli.tedeschi@medicine.ufl.edu
Juli joined the SNTC in early 2006 and assists the SNTC Executive Director in managing the budget and other contracts. She graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting. While living in the Atlanta area, Juli gained 20 years of diversified business and accounting experience, returning to her hometown of Gainesville, Florida in 2001. She brings a wide variety of hands-on experience in cost controls and financial management to our SNTC team.
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CLINICAL TRAINING CAMPUS A.G. HOLLEY TB HOSPITAL
David Ashkin, MD Medical Director and Co-PI
david_ashkin@doh.state.fl.us
Dr. David Ashkin, Medical Director and Co-PI of the SNTC, brings a wealth of clinical management, research and educational experience to the organization. He directs our 24-hour Medical Consultation Service and has been the creative force behind the Medical Consultation Database developed for the SNTC. As Medical Executive Director at A.G. Holley TB Hospital in Lantana, Florida, Dr. Ashkin is actively involved in providing care to some of the most difficult tuberculosis cases in the state. He also is involved in research on new treatment options for multi-drug resistant cases.
Dr. Ashkin is currently on the faculty of the pulmonary departments at the University of Miami, University of Florida, as well as NOVA/Southeastern Medical Institution.
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Karen L. Farrell, RN, BSN, RM Coordinator, Training
karen_farrell@doh.state.fl.us
For more than 11 years, Karen has served as the Executive Nursing Director and Director of Education at A.G. Holley TB Hospital in Lantana, Florida. With a 30-year nursing history, Karen has worked in many specialty areas including critical care, nursing administration, infection control as well as employee health. As the Training Coordinator, Director of Education and Education Consultant for the SNTC Clinical Training Campus at A.G. Holley TB Hospital, her responsibilities include preparation, production, implementation and evaluation of quarterly grand rounds, the Comprehensive Clinical Tuberculosis Course, SNTC mini-fellowships, and Tuberculin Skin Test Train-the-Trainer courses.
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Maria Gomez AGH/SNTC Liaison
maria_gomez@doh.state.fl.us
Maria provides administrative support for the SNTC-AGH Clinical Campus. In this capacity, she facilitates the day-to-day operations for the project.
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Elena Hollender, MD Director, Clinical Services and Florida Deputy State TB Health Officer
elena_hollender@doh.state.fl.us
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JoAnne Shannon Julien, MD TB Physician, Palm Beach County Health Department, and Florida Deputy State TB Health Officer
joanne_julien@doh.state.fl.us
Dr. Joanne Julien is the SNTC’s Medical Consultant. In addition to her clinical role with the SNTC, Dr. Julien is the Deputy TB Health Officer for the Florida Bureau of TB and Refugee Health and is part of the Florida’s TB Physician’s Network. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine. Dr. Julien is a Pulmonologist by training, receiving her M.D. degree from McGill University in Montreal.
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Affette (Melody) McIntosh
affette_mcintosh@doh.state.fl.us
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Jesus Ortiz, MD Director, Behavioral Medicine
jesus_ortiz@doh.state.fl.us
Dr. Jesus Ortiz is a clinical consultant for the SNTC. He is the Director of the Behavioral Medicine Department at A. G. Holley TB Hospital. He is an adjunct faculty with a courtesy appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Floridas College of Medicine. He is also adjunct faculty at the University of South Florida College of Public Health and University of Miami Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences as Assistant Clinical Professor. Dr. Ortiz completed his training in Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. He also has past experience in working as a general practitioner and in pediatrics. He has been working at A.G. Holley since 1998. Dr. Ortiz and the Behavioral Medicine Department complement the treatment of tuberculosis by addressing the multiple possible psychosocial issues that often complicate the treatment of TB, thus contributing to the provision of a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to evaluating and managing this challenging illness and assuring the cure.
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Jerry Jean Stambaugh, PharmD Director, Pharmacy
jerry_stambaugh@doh.state.fl.us
Jerry Jean’s current duties include monitoring patients’ drug therapy, performing pharmacokinetic studies on the interactions between TB and HIV drugs, lecturing on TB drugs for the Comprehensive Clinical Tuberculosis Course, as well as providing consultation services to healthcare professionals on the use of medications in TB and TB/HIV patients. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor for both the University of Florida and NOVA-Southeastern Colleges of Pharmacy and also serves as a pharmacy consultant to several local substance abuse and treatment programs. Prior to joining A.G. Holley TB Hospital in 1994, Jerry Jean was the Pharmacy Director for Palm Beach County, a position she held for 26 years.
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Kimberly Tendrich, Esq. Chief Legal Counsel, A.G. Holley TB Hospital and the Florida Bureau of TB and Refugee Health
kim_tendrich@doh.state.fl.us
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