T-LINC

Alexander H. Vo, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Center for Telehealth Research and Policy at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Concurrently, he also serves as an IPA consultant and Contract Officer Representative for the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command – Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC). Prior to assuming the executive director position at the Center, he served as Science Director for the Henry Jackson Foundation-Comprehensive Neuroscience Program (CNP) in Bethesda, MD. Before becoming Science Director at the CNP, Dr. Vo served as an officer in the U.S. Army at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in the Division of Neuroscience. At the WRAIR, he also completed the Army’s Medical Research Fellowship. Dr. Vo has co-authored book chapters and a number of scientific manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals such as Neurosurgery, Journal of Trauma, Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Archives of General Psychiatry, Journal of Psychiatric Research, Movement Disorders, Journal of Neurocritical Care, Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, Headache and Pain, Neurology, Journal of Neurology, Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, Military Medicine, and Telemedicine and eHealth.

UTMB has a long-standing history of advancing the use of telecommunications technology for the purpose of improving healthcare delivery. From humble beginnings of providing limited services to prison populations, UTMB has grown and developed into a world leader in using technology to provide remote medical services. With a current average of over 60,000 telemedicine encounters per year over the past several years, UTMB is considered one of the largest operational telemedicine programs in the world.

Jenny Kattlove is the Director of Strategic Health Initiatives at The Children’s Partnership, where she manages its telehealth program. She is also responsible for coordinating and managing health policy projects related to ensuring access to affordable, comprehensive health insurance for all California children.

Before her position with The Children’s Partnership, Ms. Kattlove worked in Ohio, where she served as the Health Advocate for KidsOhio.org and the Children’s Defense Fund. In these roles, she led efforts to increase access to health care for low-income children and families through advocacy, coalition building, outreach and education.

Jenny received her undergraduate degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and has a Masters of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Jana Katz-Bell has an appointment in both the School of Medicine and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing as Assistant Dean, Interprofessional Programs. In this capacity, she has responsibility for the administrative infrastructure of the School of Nursing, partially funded by a $100 million commitment from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, a grant which Jana co-wrote. The Center for Health and Technology and the Center for Virtual Care also report up through her with her focus on state-wide initiatives to advance telehealth and medical education.

Prior to this role, Jana was the Assistant Dean for Administration for the School of Medicine, and served for 11 years as the Chief Administrative Officer for the UC Davis Center for Health and Technology. Under her leadership, the CHT won national and worldwide attention as one of the best telemedicine programs in the United States. During her past thirteen years with UC Davis Health System, Jana has also managed the Sacramento County Contract, a $25 million/year contract to provide services to medically indigent adults, managed the Heart Center, and worked on a number of other strategic initiatives.

Dr. Meyer is currently the co-director of the UCSD Stroke Center specializing in acute cerebrovascular disease therapies, evaluation and treatment techniques at UCSD Medical Center. He has also been appointed director of the newly established UCSD Stroke Unit.

His clinical research encompasses clinical stroke scale evaluations, acute and hyper-acute therapies for stroke and cerebral hemorrhage, and Internet applications of telemedicine technology for the evaluation and treatment of stroke patients.

Ms. Palumbo leads the CHT under the vision and direction of Dr. Tom Nesbitt. She oversees policy development, operations, specialty recruitment, and reimbursement. Ms. Palumbo's experience includes working with children and adults in acute home and community rehabilitation, transitional living, home health, skilled nursing, and school settings.

Mr. Sprang and Dr. Jicha will discuss the TACK program which provides assessment and diagnosis of patients with memory disorders via interactive videoconference technology. This innovative telehealth program provides support group services for family members and caregivers of rural patients while also providing education on telemedicine for community health professionals.

Starting in 1994, Jorge Cuadros developed several programs for remote clinical diagnosis and distance learning, including programs in India, China, and Latin America. He developed EyePACS, an open access system for clinical communication in eye care that has been used for telemedicine, retinopathy screening, home care, education, and research. Current work is supported by the California Health Care Foundation for the development of a state-wide diabetic retinopathy detection network using store-and-forward telemedicine. He is also co-editor of an international collaborative book, Teleophthalmology.

An overview of issues related to doctor-patient communication; a discussion of the differences, pitfalls, and opportunities for improving doctor-patient communication during telemedicine; how a telemedicine practitioner can improve relationship building and communication during telemedicine consultations; and how practitioners can prepare patients to effectively participate in a telemedicine consultation.