Chris Frith
BSN, RN, CRNI, VA-BC™
President
Christopher Frith RN, BSN, CRNI, VA-BC™ is the Director, Clinical Services at Parallon Business Solutions. Chris serves as the team leader for a group of advanced Vascular Access Nurses who perform vascular access procedures such as PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) insertions as well as other advanced infusion techniques for client hospitals. In this role, he integrates technology with evidence-based practice to improve the quality of vascular access procedures, standardize processes and reduce client costs. Chris works as a clinical operations consultant and helps develop interoperability with supplies and facility processes related to vascular access and other clinical services. He participates on committees as a resource to each client facility to improve patient care and help them meet their clinical and financial goals.
Chris completed his Bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Tennessee State University and served as President of the Nashville chapter for the Infusion Nursing Society (INS) during 2011-2012 and is an active member of the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Cindy Winfrey
MSN, RN, CIC, VA-BC™, IP-BC, CDONA, FACDONA
Presidential Advisor
Cindy Winfrey is a Registered Nurse with over 25 years of experience in Infection Prevention in acute care, ambulatory care, and long‐term care settings. She is currently the Manager of Global Clinical affairs for Pentax Medical. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Northwest Missouri State University and a Masters in Nursing from Walden University. Certified in Infection Control since 1992, she holds additional certifications in Vascular Access (VA‐BC™), Director of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care (CDONA™), Infection Preventionist Board Certified (IP‐BC™) and is a Fellow in the Academy of Certified Directors of Nursing Administration (FACDONA). She also holds certification as a Six Sigma green belt and is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Fellows Program in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. Cindy has been actively involved with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), throughout her infection prevention career. She has served as a member of the planning committee for the APIC Annual Conference, several task forces on the national
level in addition to being a board member, officer and committee member of her local APIC chapter.
Cindy has served as a past member of the test review committee for the Vascular Access Certification Corporation, a contributor to the AVA Consensus Document and is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Nursing Management. She has presented infection prevention educational programs at the local, regional, and national level. She previously was an adjunct faculty member at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Community College. Prior to working in Infection Prevention, Cindy worked as an emergency department Clinical Manager and as a staff and charge nurse in critical care settings. She is an active member in the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), Society for Gastroenterology Nurses (SGNA), Association for Vascular Access (AVA), and the National Association Directors of Nursing Administration in Long‐Term Care (NADONA/LTC).
Julie Bilbrey
RN, BScN, CVAA(c)
Treasurer
Julie Bilbrey graduated as a student athlete from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2004 with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Shortly thereafter, she joined a multicenter vascular access program, focused on peripheral and central access device insertion with ultrasound. Due to an interest in medical technologies, Julie moved to the medical device industry in vascular access, supporting facilities as a Clinical Specialist for Bard Access Systems, and later a Territory Manager. Julie’s primary priority is the patient, and maintaining a patient focus. Julie has worked with multiple vascular access programs across Canada supporting evidence based practice and clinical practice guidelines, while working on a PRN basis at local hospitals in the province of BC. Julie has partnered with facilities to grow their programs, measure current central and peripheral IV outcomes, and implement new technologies. As a certified member of CVAA (Canadian Vascular Access Association) Julie has enjoyed presenting at CVAA learning events. Julie achieved the Clinical Excellence Award in 2016 for outstanding facility support while working with Bard Access Systems.
Leigh Ann Bowe-Geddes
MSN, RN, VA-BC™
Secretary
Leigh Ann Bowe-Geddes, MSN, RN, VA-BC™ has over 30 years’ experience in vascular access. Ms. Bowe-Geddes has previously served on the board of directors for the Association for Vascular Access, in the role of director-at-large, Secretary, President-elect, President (2009-2011), and Past Presidential Advisor. She has recently served as chair of the AVA Awards Task Force and the AVA Board Development Committee.
Ms. Bowe-Geddes graduated in 2018 with an MSN in adult/geriatric acute care. In addition to her service to AVA, Ms. Bowe-Geddes previously served as board member for the Lexington Jaycees, an international leadership training organization. As Lexington Jaycees board member she served in many community development projects, and worked as Management Development Vice President, with oversight responsibility for all fundraising for the organization during her term. She has clinical management experience, including budgeting for resource expenditure to maximize return on investment for an international clinical education team.
In addition to being a member of AVA, Ms. Bowe-Geddes is also a member of the American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and the Association for Practitioners in Infection Control (APIC).
Ruth M. Carrico
PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FSHEA, CIC
Director At Large Public Member
Ruth M. Carrico is an Associate Professor and Family Nurse Practitioner with the University of Louisville School Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, and is the founding Associate Director of the School of Medicine Global Health Initiative. Dr. Carrico has received training specific for healthcare epidemiology at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in conjunction with the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).
At present, Dr. Carrico is responsible for the clinical operations at the University of Louisville’s Global Health Center focusing on practices and outcomes that represent risk for patients, healthcare personnel, and communities worldwide.
Dr. Carrico serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the University of Louisville Journal of Refugee and Global Health. In 2018, Dr. Carrico assumed the role of President-elect for the Kentucky Nurses Association and in 2019 will assume the role of President.
Joanne Dalusung
MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, VA-BC™
Director
Joanne has been a nurse for 27 years. Received Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Philippines. In 2014, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University with degree track on Acute Care Adult Gerontology. She has almost years of experience in vascular access, 3 years as an infusion therapy nurse inserting PICC lines and more than 6 years as vascular access specialist, APRN, doing CICC insertions, tunneled port removal, paracentesis and lumbar puncture. She is currently pursuing a Doctor in Nursing Practice degree at University of Texas at Arlington. She currently works as a proceduralist at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Lauren Elliott
NRP
Director
Lauren Elliott is a Nationally Board-Certified Paramedic and has over five years of experience in Prehospital Emergency Medicine in both a public Fire-Based EMS and also a private EMS service. Lauren is currently completing her Bachelor of Science Degree in preparation for application to Medical School as she prepares to become a specialized Orthopedic Surgeon with an emphasis in hand reconstruction. As a paramedic, vascular access is a large part of Lauren’s professional practice, especially in patients with serious medical conditions such as COVID-19, sepsis, and other infections. Lauren is part of a specialized COVID-19 interfacility transport unit providing lifesaving care for critically ill COVID-19 patients in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area. She is also a nationally certified instructor in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. Lauren has a passion for clinical excellence and delivering emergency care to patients in critical need of lifesaving interventions.
Brenda Gray
RN, BSN, CMSRN, VA-BC™
Director
Brenda Gray is Owner and Senior Consultant and Educator for Clinical Pharmacy Partners, Board member and Treasurer of Canadian Vascular Access Association, past Board of Director – Pharmacy for National Board Nutrition Support Certification, President of Florida Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and parenteral nutrition consumer that has practiced pharmacy since 1996 in many settings. She serves as a pharmacy and nursing accreditation surveyor, educator and consultant. Her extensive professional career in infusion pharmacy practices has been complimented by multiple publications and presentations nationally and internationally including a recent international publication on subcutaneous infusions. She has board certification in nutrition support (BCNSP, CNSC) ,vascular access (CVAAc, VA-BC) and sterile compounding (BCSCP). Eight years ago she also gained additional expertise as she became a parenteral nutrition consumer with long term central venous access and advocate for improving patient outcomes in vascular access and infusion therapies. She is a frequent speaker for understanding patient perspectives, patient education, and emergency preparedness. She also teaches in the areas of infusion practice and sterile compounding. Her extensive professional memberships include leadership positions in state, national and international organizations. She also served as a leader on the guideline development group for Infusion and Vascular Access Guidelines for Canada. She and her service dog have travelled the world teaching about vascular access and infusion therapy.
Antonia Fowler
BA, MSN, RN, VA-BC™
Director
Antonia Fowler, BA, MSN, VA-BC, RN, has been an RN for 37 years. Currently the Certification Coordinator for the Johns Hopkins Hospital Vascular Access Team, Antonia continues to work at the bedside as a member of the Vascular Access Team. In this role, Antonia strives to educate and enlighten her colleagues on the benefits of vein preservation and standardized IV insertion practices. An outspoken advocate for patient rights as well as Nurse’s rights, Antonia will advocate for better staffing, better equipment and more robust IV education. She will endorse evidence based practices which will enhance and promote the role(s) of Vascular Access teams, including establishing the value of creating and supporting the establishment and maintenance of existing Vascular Access Teams.