Core Team
Our team of seasoned emergency response, logistics and laboratory specialists have decades of global health experience in Africa, Asia and South America. Core team members are fluent in French, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic and Spanish and have worked in multiple languages including Khmer.
Members of our extensive network of subject matter experts have undertaken long-term overseas missions. We also work in transitional and post-conflict states. Our pool of talented, multilingual consultants has expertise in the full range of biomedical disciplines.
Paula Fernandes, MBA, PhD
Founder & CEO
Paula Fernandes has spent much of her career identifying, evaluating and increasing access to high-quality, well-established and novel diagnostics. A biomedical scientist with over 20 years of clinical, research, and public health experience, Dr. Fernandes works on medical diagnostic and quality assurance challenges specific to resource-limited, conflict and post-conflict settings. With a PhD in Genetics from Cambridge University and an MBA in international business, she leads scientific direction and ensures streamlined business practices to maximize efficiency at GSSHealth.
Delia Powers
Logistics Project Coordinator
With a background in office management and customer service, Delia has 25 years of experience supporting all aspects of business operation. Her expertise is in office management, customer service, human resource management, and procurement. Delia has an educational background in business.
Katya Milgotina, MS, PhD
Senior Technical Program Manager
Ekaterina Milgotina possesses over 20 years of experience in biological sciences and laboratory quality assurance. Her expertise includes diagnostics product development for blood diseases, infectious disease research, and the development and establishment of QA programs for clinical malaria microscopy laboratories. Dr. Milgotina has Master's degrees in biotechnology and bioscience regulatory affairs and a PhD in bioorganic chemistry. She is also fluent in Russian.
Michele Merkel, MS
Senior Program Manager
Michele Merkel is a laboratory professional with deep experience operating and strengthening laboratories in low-resource settings. She brings expertise implementing quality management systems in clinical laboratories, conducting research, developing lab and clinical trials networks, and managing clinical trials in the fields of HIV, oncology and cardiology. At GSSHealth, Ms. Merkel oversees the implementation, tracking and completion of core programs, including providing technical assistance to deliver high quality program results. She has a master's degree in biotech from Johns Hopkins University. She is fluent in Spanish.
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Pierre Fwelo, MPH, PhD
Epidemiologist
Pierre Fwelo is a public health professional with extensive experience in research, disease surveillance, and program implementation. He holds a PhD in Epidemiology and a Master of Public Health. With over 10 years of expertise in the fields of infectious diseases, oncology, and cardiovascular diseases, he has made significant contributions to academia, clinical research, and public health initiatives. Pierre currently serves as an epidemiologist, leveraging his deep knowledge to enhance health outcomes through evidence-based strategies. He is a native French speaker.
Susan Grieco,
BA
Office Manager
Susan Grieco has 30 years of experience in administration and client relations. At GSSHealth, Ms. Grieco supports core team member travel and other personnel needs. She is responsible for maintaining accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and acquisitions book-keeping. Ms. Grieco is trained on the GSA Federal Travel Regulations and DCAA booking and timekeeping practices.
Jorge Martins,
BA
Project Manager
Jorge Martins is passionate about global health and brings significant experience in international healthcare, customer relationship management, project coordination, interpreting, and translation. At GSSHealth, he coordinates the administrative, logistical, and operational support of an international HIV education program that extends clinical training to rural and underserved populations, and provides support for Portuguese language projects. Mr. Martins holds a BA in Mass Communication and is a certified healthcare interpreter and translator. He is a native Portuguese speaker.
Marlyse Kotcho,
BS
Project Coordinator
Marlyse Kotcho is an experienced public health professional passionate about international health. At GSSHealth, she assists with coordination of an international HIV education program. She provides meeting coordination and documentation, decision tracking, and facilitates program logistics. She also provides French language interpretation when needed. Ms. Kotcho holds a BS in Public Health and is currently getting her master’s in public health and healthcare informatics. She is a native French speaker.
Martin Adams,
MS
Senior Biosecurity Specialist
Martin Adams brings a wealth of expertise in biosafety, biosecurity, mobile outbreak response and laboratory capacity building. He has an extensive molecular biology laboratory skill set drawn from time working in research, diagnostic and industry environments. He holds a Master’s Degree in Forensic Science from King’s College in London. At GSSHealth, he coordinates with partners and clients to ensure the detection and safe management of infectious diseases of international concern. Mr. Adams has a working knowledge of French.
Rosalie Whedbee, MPH
Research Specialist Lead
Rosalie Whedbee is a public health professional with experience in monitoring and evaluation, advocacy and stakeholder management, and program administration. Her responsibilities at GSSHealth include ensuring the timely implementation of project activities, developing operational documents for program implementation, conducting research and analysis on markets for new diagnostics and public health interventions, and writing grant proposals. Ms. Whedbee is proficient in French.
Program Manager
Astrid Fanguinoveny is an international health professional with a background in medical microbiology and global health. She has over a decade of experience managing international initiatives related to HIV/AIDS, blood transfusion, and health research. With GSSHealth, Astrid oversees multiple HIV and military health projects, providing strategic planning and management. She holds a Master of Public Health degree in Global Health from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA. Astrid is fluent in English and is a native French speaker.
Rémi Charlebois, MS
Technical Specialist
Rémi Charlebois has significant technical experience as a biosafety and biosecurity lead. Mr. Charlebois has worked as a laboratory specialist and biosafety advocate in North America and the Asia Pacific region. He holds a master degree in Microbiology from Laval University, Quebec City, and Fellowship in Biosecurity from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. At GSSHealth, Mr. Charlebois oversees a multi-country laboratory quality improvement program across a dozen African countries. He is a native French speaker and is proficient in Spanish.
Mona Kiriakos, MS, MBA
Administrative Director
Mona Kiriakos, a professional administrator with strong management and finance skills, has 25 years of experience in health program administration including financial reporting, human resource and medical practice management. She has spent the last seven years overseeing the administrative functions of U.S. Federal Government-funded programs at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine including financial reporting, payroll, human resources, preparation and the management of cooperative agreements and grants. Ms. Kiriakos is fluent in Arabic and French.
Elizabeth Elliott, MS
Technical Specialist
Elizabeth Elliott is an experienced technical professional with a background in clinical, research, and forensic laboratories. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and a Masters degree in Forensic Science from Stevenson University. In 2015, Ms. Elliott was in Liberia to provide laboratory support and capacity building during the West Africa Ebola outbreak. She subsequently returned to Liberia to train laboratory staff in support of various Ebola clinical trials , for which she was responsible for coordinating the timely collection of data for analysis and reporting. She has traveled to other West African countries to deliver trainings to laboratory personnel on biosafety procedures, molecular techniques, and laboratory strengthening.
Rachel Crane, MSW, PMP
Senior Project Manager
With a background in International Relations and French, Rachel Crane has 10 years of experience managing global health projects. At GSSHealth, she tracks project process and keeps regular communication with clients to ensure the advancement of goals and objectives. Ms. Crane also supports operational, communications and marketing activities, co-developing GSSHealth processes, policies and content. Ms. Crane is fluent in French.