What You Can’t See Can Kill You – Understanding Biofilms

Speakers

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  Dr. Rodney E. Rohde Chair & Regents' Professor, Texas State University
  

  Dr. Rodney E. Rohde

  Chair & Regents' Professor, Texas State University

  Dr. Rodney E Rohde, Regents’ Professor, Texas State University System; University Distinguished Chair & Professor Medical Laboratory Science [MLS] Program, College of Health Professions

  Dr. Rohde is a Regents’ Professor for the Texas State University System. He is a University Distinguished Professor and Chair for the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program and serves as Associate Director for Translational Health Research Center for Texas State University. He is a Global Fellow, Fellow of the Association of Clinical Scientists, Honorary Professor of International studies, and an ASCP board certified Specialist in Virology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology. He served as a public health microbiologist and molecular epidemiologist with the Texas Department of State Bureau of Labs and Zoonosis Control prior to academia, including two terms as a CDC visiting scientist. His research interests include Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs), antimicrobial resistance, and clinical / public health microbiology.

  He is an Associate Adjunct Professor of Biology at Austin Community College (30 years) where he teaches microbiology. He has published 150+ research articles, abstracts, chapters, two books, and is a keynote presenter with 250+ presentations at all levels. His books focus on MRSA and Clinical Considerations in Rabies. He is a globally viral author, popular keynote speaker, and expert utilizing invited articles, TEDx talks, podcasts, and interviews for science communication and translational health research literacy. The pandemic made Doc R the #1 quoted Texas State expert conducting over 200 interviews, webinars and workshops at the international and national level. He hosts his own podcast for Contagion Live’s “From Pathogen to Infectious Disease Diagnosis,” is an ASM contributing author, and has his own column for Healthcare Hygiene Magazine.

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  Dr. Greg Whiteley Associate Professor, Executive Chairman, Whiteley Corporation
  

  Dr. Greg Whiteley

  Associate Professor, Executive Chairman, Whiteley Corporation

  Associate Professor Dr. Greg Whiteley is the Executive Chairman of Whiteley Corporation. Dr. Whiteley is an extensive collaborator and supervises research projects on surface & instrument hygiene, dry surface biofilms and biofilm mediated infections. Dr. Whiteley is an Adjunct Professor at Newcastle University, and Sydney University and Western Sydney University, in parallel with his active research projects.

  Dr. Whiteley has served on various Australian Standards committees, and is a consultant to the Australian Dental Associations, National Infection Control Committee. He also serves on various industry boards and committees, both in Australia and the USA.

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  Linda Lybert Executive Director, Healthcare Surfaces Institute (HSI)
  

  Linda Lybert

  Executive Director, Healthcare Surfaces Institute (HSI)

  Linda Lybert is the Founder and Executive Director of the Healthcare Surfaces Institute (HSI), now a division of ISSA, where she also leads the newly established ISSA Healthcare Division. With 27 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Linda is a nationally recognized expert in infection prevention, with a specialized focus on the role surfaces play in the transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

  She developed the Seven Aspects of Surface Selection©, a groundbreaking framework that addresses the complex factors influencing surface safety and hygiene in healthcare environments. Her work has consistently emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach, uniting professionals from infection prevention, materials science, design, and healthcare operations.

  To address the fragmented efforts across the industry, Linda founded HSI with a board of global experts, creating the first collaborative dedicated solely to surface-related challenges in healthcare. Under her leadership, the Institute has become a hub for research, education, and innovation aimed at reducing HAIs through improved surface design, selection, and maintenance.

  In 2024, HSI merged with ISSA, and Linda is now spearheading the development of the ISSA Healthcare Division, which provides strategic guidance, training, and resources to healthcare professionals, manufacturers, and building service providers focused on healthcare environmental hygiene.