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Speakers
We are excited to bring you a great line up of global and local experts who are at the forefront of cystic fibrosis care, research, and innovation.
Our speakers come from diverse disciplines, bringing a wealth of knowledge and insights that will shape the future of CF treatment and care. From clinical trials to cutting-edge research, these thought leaders will share their expertise, explore emerging challenges, and offer insights so we can improve health outcomes and quality of life for those living with cystic fibrosis.
Professor Elizabeth Tullis
As the founding Director of the Toronto Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at St. Michael’s Hospital, Dr. Tullis is responsible for the care of more than 600 adults with CF. Dr. Tullis is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and an Adjunct Scientist at the Keenan Research Centre of Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute. Dr. Tullis has published over 180 articles and book chapters and has lectured nationally and internationally on issues related to CF in adults. She has trained 30 CF fellows who are now working in CF clinics around the world.
Professor Scott Bell
Professor Scott Bell is the Chief Executive of the Translational Research Institute and a Senior Physician of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane where he has worked since 1996. He was Director between 1996-2015. As a clinician scientist, he leads the Lung Bacteria Laboratory at The University of Queensland. Professor Scott Bell is the Chief Executive of the Translational Research Institute and a Senior Physician of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane where he has worked since 1996. He was Director between 1996-2015. As a clinician scientist, he leads the Lung Bacteria Laboratory at The University of Queensland. Scott has >300 peer-reviewed publications and has received grant support of more than $24 million over the past 10 years. His research interests include acquisition and transmission pathways for human infection and his multi-disciplinary research has resulted in significant changes to clinical practice and policy implementation globally. He has been principal investigator on numerous pivotal CFTR modulator trials. He was the Editor of the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis from 2013 until 2020 and co-led the Lancet Commission on the future of CF care which was published in 2020.
Maggie Harrigan
Maggie worked as a social worker within senior clinical, research and consultant roles over the past 12 years. In 2019, after many years as a respiratory hospital social worker at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (Perth, Western Australia), she commenced PhD research exploring social connectedness and self-identity for adults living with CF. Alongside her PhD, she provides consultancy and research services in regard to health services and systems, models of care, and medical education. Her passion lays within person-centred care, the importance of clinician-patient relationships, and the power of communication skills.
Dr Yelizaveta Sher
Dr. Yelizaveta (Liza) Sher is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and Director of Psychological and Psychiatric Services at the Stanford Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center. She earned her MD from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis as an Olin Fellow and completed her Psychiatry Residency and Psychosomatic Medicine Fellowship at Stanford. Dr. Sher is a leader in medical psychiatry, serving as Deputy Chief of the Division of Medical Psychiatry, Medical Director of Transplant Psychiatry, and ICU Psychiatry Attending. Her research focuses on mental health interventions for individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), including CF-specific Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, funded by the CF Foundation. A widely published expert, Dr. Sher has co-edited five books and received multiple awards for clinical innovation, teaching, and national leadership, including the CFRI Professional of the Year Award. She has been elected a Fellow of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and recognized for her contributions to transplant psychiatry and CF mental health. Through her research, teaching, and clinical leadership, Dr. Sher is dedicated to advancing integrated psychiatric care for patients with complex medical conditions.
Associate Professor Tonia Douglas
A/Prof Tonia Douglas is a senior paediatric respiratory physician and co-director of the Queensland Children’s Cystic Fibrosis centre, Australia. She is recognised as a clinical leader in CF nationally and held recent tenures as paediatric chair of the CF specialist interest group for the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (2020-22), chair of the Australian Centre Directors Group (2020-22) and is leading the development of the revised Australian National CF standards of Care. She is a member of the Australian CF Data Registry Steering Committee and has an established record of accomplishment in local, state, and national CF clinical policy and care guidelines. Tonia is leading a multidisciplinary research group examining the psychosocial experiences and determinants of health among people with cystic fibrosis. She is a passionate educator and advocate for clinical excellence.
Dr Julianna Bailey
Julianna Bailey, PhD, RD is the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Respiratory Clinical Lead Dietitian at Alfred Health. Dr. Bailey has 14+ years of clinical experience working with CF and Lung Transplant populations. In 2021, she received her PhD with a focus on the nutritional and metabolic effects of CFTR Modulation Therapy. In addition to her research and clinical expertise, Dr. Bailey has also designed and led multi-site Quality Improvement Initiatives aimed at optimizing nutrition status, quality of life, and co-production of CF care. Research interests include the personalized behavioural nutrition interventions in people with CF, Implementation Science, and impact of social determinants of health in respiratory conditions.
Jenny Hauser
Jenny Hauser, is the president and founder of CFPhysio.com Inc, and a senior physiotherapist working with adults impacted by CF in the Tasmanian Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit, with over 20 years-experience working in CF. Jen has been involved in CF research with topics focusing on exercise (including ActionPACT, Beam Feel Good), digital symptom monitoring, health coaching and more; and has contributed to national/international standards of care/clinical guidelines. Jenny is on the REACH for CF committee (Research Education and Collaboration Hub for CF). She is an accredited airway clearance instructor through the ECFS, PhySIIG, and is currently working on projects to harmonise physiotherapy outcome measures globally in CF and enhance healthcare communication. Jen is passionate about developing strong clinical partnerships to empower individuals with CF and enhance their healthcare journey.
Jane Willis
Ms Jane Willis is a Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Nurse Consultant Co-ordinator (“CF CNC”) at Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria. Jane graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing (hons) from La Trobe University and commenced working at Monash Health in 2000, in paediatric surgical and adolescent medicine. In 2017, Jane moved to the Cystic Fibrosis unit to work full-time as the CF CNC coordinator. The CF CNC role involves the coordination of the multi-disiplinary CF team, organising meetings, providing care for patients and families, educating health-care workers and the community. Jane developed a nurse led clinic in 2018 to complete patients nursing procedures, coordinates the complex medications, and was the chief initiator of the 2019 Professional Development day for educators across Victoria and Australia. She co-leads the Australia New Zealand CF Nurses group. Her interests include health promotion and improvement, education, research and the complexities of cystic fibrosis.
Dr Mark O'Carroll
Dr. O’Carroll is a distinguished Respiratory Physician at Auckland City Hospital and the Green Lane Clinical Centre, with a special interest in Cystic Fibrosis, Lung Transplantation, airway diseases (including Bronchiectasis), Tuberculosis, and Interventional Bronchoscopy. A graduate of Auckland Medical School in 1996, he began his journey in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Green Lane Hospital, later advancing his expertise as a Cystic Fibrosis Fellow at the Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane. Beyond his clinical excellence, Dr. O’Carroll has been a driving force in medical education. Since 2003, he has served as the Director of Physician Education at Auckland City Hospital and has contributed significantly to the field as a member of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Specialist Advisory Committee in Sleep and Respiratory Medicine since 2004.
Professor Cass Byrnes
Cass Byrnes is a Professor of Paediatric Population Health, in the Paediatric Department at the University of Auckland and a Paediatric Respiratory Specialist at the Starship Children & Kidz First Hospitals. Cass leads research in prevention of disease and disease progression that occurs with acute respiratory tract infection in early childhood. She seeks to improve health equity especially for Māori and Pasifika children. Her clinical care is focussed in acute respiratory infections, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis and asthma.
Associate Professor
Rasa Ruseckaite
Rasa Ruseckaite is an Associate Professor and Deputy Head with the Clinical Outcomes Data Reporting and Research Program at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. With an undergraduate degree in Science, Rasa has a Master of Science and two PhDs; one in Applied Computer Science and the other in Neuroscience. As Deputy Academic Lead of the Australian Cystic Fibrosis Data Registry (ACFDR) Rasa is responsible for all aspects of the registry data management including acquisition of a good quality data, analysis, interpretation and reporting. A/Prof Ruseckaite has published over 90 peer-reviewed journals and four book chapters. Rasa has always maintained a strong interest in human health, patient outcomes and clinical registries. Rasa has also a strong interest in quality of life research and patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). A/Prof Ruseckaite has been involved in a large number of qualitative and quantitative studies on PROMs in patients with cancer, dementia, venous leg ulcers, cystic fibrosis and pelvic floor disorders. A/Prof Ruseckaite is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Patient Reported Outcomes and Editorial Board member of Scientific Reports, Quality Management in Healthcare and Predictive Analytics in Healthcare journals.