ASHE/AAP Podcast

Project Firstline, CDC’s national training collaborative for infection prevention and control, is committed to preparing front-line health care workers and the public health workforce to protect themselves, their patients and their communities from infectious disease threats. ASHE is pleased to contribute to this critical education and training opportunity and offer resources aimed at optimizing environments of care. 

In this AAP podcast episode Alex R. Kemper, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP, shares a research roundup from the October edition of the journal Pediatrics. Hosts David Hill, MD, FAAP, and Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, FAAP, also talk to Kara Brooks, MS, LEED AP BD+C, and Jonathan Flannery, MHSA, FACHE, FASHE, from the American Society for Health Care Engineering of the American Hospital Association about ways to improve ventilation in clinical settings to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Featured Guests Include

Alex R. Kemper, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP

Dr. Kemper is the Division Chief of Primary Care Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Professor of Pediatrics at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Kemper serves as the Chair of the Evidence Review Workgroup for the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children and is the Deputy Editor of PEDIATRICS.

Kara Brooks, MS, LEED AP BD+C

As Sustainability Program Manager for the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE), a Professional Membership Group of the American Hospital Association, Kara Brooks manages the sustainability programs and goals for the association, including the Energy to Care Program. Kara has 20 years of energy engineering and sustainability experience providing professional services and program management. Throughout her career she has helped facility leaders develop and promote sustainability programs. Kara has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Business Management both from Colorado State University. Kara is an active member of ASHRAE, serving on several standards committees. Additionally, Kara serves on the US Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Alliance Healthcare Steering Committee.

Jonathan J. Flannery, MHSA, FACHE, FASHE

As the Senior Associate Director of Advocacy, American Society for Health Care Engineering of the American Hospital Association, Jonathan manages ASHE’s advocacy relations to federal agencies, code development organizations, and national professional associations that affect the physical environment through healthcare facility design, construction, and operation. Jonathan provides testimony, engages in deliberation, and develops public comments on proposed regulations to the benefit of ASHE and AHA members. Jonathan has more than 30 years of health care engineering experience and has served previously as the Executive Director of Engineering and Operations at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Acting Administrative Officer at Gallup Indian Medical Center. Jonathan also serves as ASHE faculty, teaching national programs on healthcare construction, managing life safety, and fundamentals of healthcare engineering.