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Karen Stassi, RN, MS
Pandemic Flu Coordinator, State of Louisiana
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Karen Stassi is currently employed by the Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals and the Louisiana Hospital Association and serves as the State Hospital Pandemic Influenza Coordinator. She is responsible for developing a state plan for hospitals to response to pandemic events and provides technical assistance to other healthcare facilities within the state. She serves as the Chairperson of the State’s Pan Flu Clinical Forum Advisory Committee and acts as liaison between LHA and Dept of Health & Hospitals, Office of Public Health and other state agencies.
Karen started her career as a Licensed Practical Nurse and went on to receive her Registered Nursing degree in 1973. She later received a Master’s Degree in Health Service Administration in 1986. Ms. Stassi worked in critical care for a number of years (CCU being her specialty). Her career path changed and she became a public health nurse. She worked at several different jobs within the Office of Public Health including a nurse epidemiologist, nurse consultant, and the Program Manager of the Infectious |
| Disease Epidemiology Section. During her tenure at OPH, she developed the first parish level epidemiology program, developed and initiated the Influenza Immunization Program for High Risk population (the annual flu vaccination program), established a statewide influenza surveillance program, created and trained regional Rapid Response Teams to investigate infectious disease outbreaks and developed an Infectious Disease Epidemiology Manual for healthcare professionals.
Ms. Stassi served as Co-Editor of the Louisiana Morbidity Report and has authored or co-authored numerous articles on infectious diseases and retired from the Office of Public Health after 29 years. Lucky for the state, she was willing to come back and work with emergency preparedness groups on pandemic influenza preparations. |
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Upcoming Dates
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New Orleans - July 12-13, 2011 |
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| Past Attendees Have Said: |
"The mass casualty conference was an enlightening and refreshing experience. The quality of the speakers was excellent. The sponsored lunches and dinner events provided outstanding food and atmosphere for conference members to interact, exchange ideas, and communicate challenges we have faced during mass casualty experiences in our own cities. Congratulations once again for your leadership in running a successful conference."
- Alfredo Estrada, Deputy Fire Marshal, Imperial County Fire Prevention Bureau
"I attended Homeland Security Outlook's Mass Casualty Conference in San Diego and found it to be very informative, well organized, and a great networking opportunity with others in emergency management. There was an impressive group of presenters, truly experts in their fields. I look forward to attending future conference offerings by Homeland Security Outlook."
- John Alden, R.S., Public Health Emergency Preparedness Manager, Yuma County Public Health Services District
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