Laboratory accreditation workshop

Faisal Ibrahim, MBA, MT (ASCP)
Director of Quality Assurance, NRL

Mr. Ibrahim obtained his Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences from the University of Illinois in Chicago and his MBA in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA and he has worked in many hospitals in Chicago and the Miami area.Mr. Ibrahim’s experience also includes working as the QA/QC Manager (contractor) for the U.S Naval Medical Research Unit #3, QA/QC Manager for the U.S National Institute of Health, and International Program Manager with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).In 2010, the American Society for Clinical Pathology appointed Mr. Ibrahim as the ASCP Lead Ambassador to the Middle East and Africa.

Dr James G. Donnelly
Technical Director, NRL

Dr. James Donnelly is an expert in laboratory operations with experience in academic,corporate, and clinical laboratory settings.After completing his PhD in Pharmacology from George Washington University, US, Dr.James obtained his MBA in General Management from the University of Ottawa, Canada.He has held various professional and academic posts in the US, Canada andSwitzerland; including Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Chemistry, MolecularVirology and Toxicology, at New York University’s School of Medicine. Prior to joiningNRL, Dr. James served as Scientific Advisory Board Member, Chief Scientific Officer andVice President of Laboratory Operations at Babson Diagnostics Inc. Austin, Texas, US.In addition to being a prolific researcher, Dr. James is currently on the editorial boardsof Clinical Biochemistry, and Clinica Chimica Acta. He is a fellow of both the CanadianAcademy of Clinical Biochemistry and the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry(USA). He is certified by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and holds theNew York State Department of Health Certificate of Qualification as Laboratory Director.

Dr. Laila Abdel Wareth
Deputy CEO and Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Laila Abdel Wareth brings a wealth of experience to NRL, having spent more than 30years working in the healthcare sector. She is a board-certified UAE national pathologist and physician executive with a special interest in capacity building, quality assurance and healthcare administration. Prior to joining NRL, Dr. Laila served as the Chief of Clinical Pathology at the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute at Cleveland ClinicAbu Dhabi.

Dr. Laila’s major contributions in the UAE laboratory diagnostic field include:

• The introduction of the first national newborn screening program in 1998 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health
• The re-activation of the National Tissue Typing Laboratory to support solid organ and bone marrow transplantation
• The introduction of Total Laboratory Automation
• The introduction of laboratory accreditation by the College of American Pathologists, as well as the American Association of Blood Banks in Abu Dhabi

Dr. Laila earned her medical degree from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt andcompleted her postgraduate training at the University of British Columbia, Canada, inthe specialty of Medical Biochemistry and Clinical Pathology. She is an active member invarious scientific societies and has several publications to her credit in the field ofLaboratory Medicine.

Patrick Mateta
Vice President, Global Health Partnerships, CLSI

Mr. Patrick Mateta is a medical scientist by profession who has had more than 25 years of working experience in medical laboratory field with increasing responsibility. Fifteen (15) of these years have been in laboratory strengthening activities from start-up research laboratories, fully-fledged multi-disciplinary research laboratories conducting clinical trials and medical laboratories implementing quality management systems to levels of accreditation to international standards. Mr. Mateta is a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe (Medical Technology), Nottingham Trent University (MBA) and University of Portsmouth (MSc in Strategic Quality Management). He is also a Certified Quality Auditor with American Society for Quality. Mr. Mateta has also studied Lean Six Sigma concepts and principles at Villanova University. Mr. Mateta has an in-depth understanding of ISO standards (mainly ISO 15189; 15190; 22870; 17011; 17043; 17025 and 9001), auditing and mentoring skills that are vital in assisting medical laboratories to implement quality management systems. He has mentored and conducted laboratory audits in more than 22 countries spread across four continents and has also facilitated in workshops that have trained 1000+ laboratory professionals. Mr. Mateta currently serves as the Vice President for Global Health Partnerships at CLSI where he oversees laboratory strengthening activities in more than 12 countries in four continents. He currently serves as a board member for African Society for Laboratory Medicine.

Dr. Emily Ellen Volk
President, College of American Pathologists

Dr. Volk, president of the College of American Pathologists since September 2021, has been active on the CAP Board of Governors since 2013 and in the CAP at large for two decades. She has led numerous CAP committees and councils, including the Council on Government and Professional Affairs, and the Ad Hoc Committee for the Pathologists Quality Registry. Additionally, Dr. Volk served on the PathPAC Board of Directors, and the CAP’s House of Delegates representing both Michigan and Texas. 

She recently joined the faculty of the University of Louisville School of Medicine and she serves as the chief medical officer at Baptist Health Floyd. Prior to moving to the Louisville metropolitan area, Dr. Volk worked as the senior vice president of clinical services and faculty pathologist at University Health System in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Volk received her undergraduate degree and medical degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City and her MBA from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She completed an anatomic and clinical pathology residency from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and a cytopathology fellowship from the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. 

Daniel David Mais
Professor of Pathology, University of Louisville 

Dr. Mais is board certified in Anatomic and Clinical pathology.  He graduated from Baylor College of Medicine and completed a residency in pathology at Madigan Army Medical Center where he also served as chief resident.  Prior to coming to Louisville, Dr. Mais served as Director of Surgical Pathology and directed the Surgical Pathology Fellowship at the University of Texas in San Antonio.  Dr. Mais has research interest in breast, liver, gastrointestinal, and infectious disease pathology.  He has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers, in addition to several textbooks and book chapters.  He has served on the board of the American Society of Clinical Pathology as well as several national committees on behalf of the College of American Pathologists. 

Dr. Gregory Arthur Gagnon
Patholigist, College of American Pathologists

Dr. Gagnon is a pathologist with over 30 years experience.  His practice has included hematopathology, lab directorships, general anatomic and clinical pathology and education of medical students, residents and technologists.  Involvement with CAP Lab accreditation program began in the 1980's, and to date Dr. Gagnon has performed over 200 inspections.  He has served and chaired numerous administrative committees and councils for the LAP.