COVID SMART Advisory Group

COVID SMART Clinical Advisory Board

Angela VassalloMPH, MS, CIC, FAPIC-Chief Clinical Advisor

Angela Vassallo is a nationally recognized expert in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology. She is Co-Founder and CEO of The Safe Set, which is a team of epidemiologists, doctors, and television/film producers who provide guidance in bringing productions safely back to work. She is Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Advisor of COVID SMART, the first Infection Prevention online education program for the general public.

Ravina KullarPharmD, MPH, FIDSA

Dr. Ravina Kullar is an Infectious Diseases global expert and researcher, with nearly 15 years of research experience. She is actively leading strategies worldwide to educate the public about various infectious diseases topics, having collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Saskia PopescuPhD, MPH, MA, CIC

Saskia Popescu a Term Assistant Professor in the Biodefense program at George Mason University and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona. She is an infectious disease epidemiologist and infection preventionist with a focus on hospital biopreparedness and the role of infection prevention in health security efforts.

Terri RebmannPhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC

Dr. Terri Rebmann is the Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs, Director of the Institute for Biosecurity, and a Professor of Epidemiology in the Saint Louis University College for Public Health & Social Justice. She is a PhD Nurse researcher with an emphasis in infectious disease emergency preparedness. In addition, she is board certified in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology and an APIC Fellow.

Barbara SmithRN, BSN, MPA, CIC, FAPIC

Barbara A. Smith is a Nurse Epidemiologist at the Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West campuses in New York City. She is the infection prevention consultant for Mount Sinai International, currently advising Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital in Nanjing, China. She is an independent infection prevention consultant for multiple ambulatory practices including surgical, endoscopy, and dialysis centers in the metropolitan region.

Neil CowenPhD, MBA

Neil Cowen has a background in health service management, public health and immunology with over 40 years experience, including 19 years as CEO of health organisations. Following post-doctoral studies in the USA in immunology while training students in Master’s Programs, he returned to Australia, establishing biotechnology laboratories in the private sector. He trained in Europe in the latest vaccine technologies and subsequently in Health Economics and Health Law.

New Workplace Education Training Program COVID SMART™ Assembles Top Epidemiologists and Expert Medical Professionals for Clinical Advisory

Internationally Recognized Experts are Leading Worldwide Response to COVID-19

Los Angeles, CA – COVID SMART™ and Direct Education Worldwide (DEW) are announcing the formation of a Clinical Advisory Board to provide cutting-edge insight and medical guidance to their new COVID-19 workplace training effort as new research and treatment strategies emerge. COVID SMART also recently announced a partnership with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)*.

Robert Tercek, CEO of Direct Education Worldwide, said: “The Clinical Advisory Board will help us to deliver on our commitment to provide the most timely, accurate and reliable information in the COVID SMART training program. Chief Clinical Advisor Angela Vassallo has gathered a group of world class experts with deep knowledge of epidemiology, infectious diseases, biodefense policy, and public health. We are proud that they have joined us on our mission to provide the best worker training in the world.”

The Board will assist COVID SMART in evaluating guidelines for the safe operation of businesses, and alert COVID SMART when new research or treatment developments are confirmed. The composition of the board reflects the interdisciplinary expertise needed to make real time adjustments and updates to operational guidelines.

“The experts on COVID SMART’s Clinical Advisory Board are hard at work on the front lines in hospitals, clinics and public health organizations fighting to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They understand that an excellent training program is the most effective way to prevent people from getting infected. Quite simply, increased education means decreased sickness. Until there is a medical cure or a vaccine, information is our best weapon in this fight. Our team is fiercely proud to contribute their expertise and ensure that COVID SMART is the best weapon in the war on COVID-19,” said Chief Clinical Advisor Angela Vassallo.

COVID SMART teaches and tests knowledge of COVID-19 and basic infection prevention measures through short online modules and animated videos. The program will be distributed primarily to non-healthcare workplaces to ensure that schools, commercial offices, government agencies, retail stores, shopping centers, factories, and processing plants are ‘COVID Smart.’ Those who successfully complete the program receive a certificate of completion.

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