Allison Hickey Presentation Title: Behavioral Programs Allison Hickey is the Executive Director for the American Diabetes Association of Orange County, California. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Allison attended California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo, and the University of Redlands where she received a degree in Business Administration. Allison has had a successful professional career across diverse industries, ranging from running a small promotional marketing company in Orange County to working as a business consultant for a national firm. Since being diagnosed as diabetic, Allison has been a tireless advocate for her own well being as well as for millions of others affected by diabetes. In her three years with the American Diabetes Association she has focused on disseminating information about how many people are affected by this disease and working to increase awareness of diabetes in the public sector. Allison resides in Aliso Viejo, California with her husband, John, and their two children: Brianna, 15, and Christian, 12.
		H. Vernon Roohk, PhD. Presentation Title: Diabetes and Medical Devices Vernon Roohk has over 30 years of experience as a biomedical and bioengineering researcher and consultant. An Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Surgery at University of California, Irvine Medical Center, he has published widely in his research specialties which include thyroid function and metabolism, hematology, septicemia, diabetes, and endocrinology control systems modeling. He holds several patents and has published more than 40 journal articles, abstracts, and presentations since 1971. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Bacteriology from the University of Southern California (USC). He has since then continued to pursue his graduate education and obtained his Ph.D. in Physiology with Biochemistry and Endocrinology from the University of California, Davis and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Bioengineering from USC and the University of California, Los Angeles. He is currently the Principal Scientist (Physiology) at American Immuno Tech, a company that specializes in the design and manufacture of state-of-the-art medical devices.
		Asad R. Zaidi, CEO, Epinex Diagnostics, Inc. Presentation Title: New Tests on the Horizon Asad R. Zaidi, a biochemist & biomedical engineer graduated from University of California, Irvine has been involved in biomedical science since the early development of artificial heart valves, artificial lungs (oxygenators), artificial kidneys (dialyzers), artificial coronary arteries and various in-vitro-diagnostic and biomedical devices. His undergraduate thesis dealt with hydrodynamic characteristics of heart valves. His decade of training took place at one of the pioneering biomedical company in Southern California called Shiley (Pfizer). His experience of over 30 years spans the growth of biomedical companies such as Shiley, C.R. Bard, Mitral Medical, Medtronic, Bicer Medical and many more. He has licensed and transferred device manufacturing technology from Latin America to Canada and to England. His areas of expertise range from developing products from concept to patenting and production. He has written and assisted in FDA submissions of 510ks, IDE, PMAs. He has conducted research, product development, marketing and corporate affairs in mergers and acquisitions for medical device and diagnostic industry. He has successfully submitted proposals for manufacturing in-vitro diagnostic devices to developing countries and conducted clinical trails for one of the first rapid HIV test across Canada. Currently he is the CEO of Epinex Diagnostics, Inc. (Irvine, California) a company he founded six years ago to advance point of care diagnostics. His research has been recognized by companies like Frost & Sullivan with an award for global excellence in research for diabetes. Also, Asad has been an advisor to medical device and biotechnology industry in the areas of product development, regulatory affairs and marketing strategy for various in-vitro diagnostic devices in USA, Canada and Latin America. Married to Azra S. Zaidi who is an accomplished research immunologist. They have two daughters. Asad is an avid reader and a community activist who has founded South Asian Network fifteen years ago, a non profit educational organization for community development. As alumni of UCI he has participated in various conferences on community issues and has been a guest lecturer at UCI and mentors students at his company in Irvine. Asad has earned a B.Sc. in Biochemistry, B.S. (Honors) in Biomedical Sciences, and MBA (Program in International Marketing and Finance). He has published several scientific papers and has filed patents. Asad lives in Irvine,California.