The CREF Team
The CREF Team — individuals who work behind the scenes to plan the international, interdisciplinary Cardiothoracic Surgery Symposium — includes CREF Co-Directors, CREF Program Committee members, and CREF support staff. Some have been involved with the conference since its inception in 1981!
CREF Founder
FOUNDER & PROGRAM DIRECTOR 1981 – 1999
Joe R. Utley MD
Dr. Joe Utley, an internationally respected cardiothoracic surgeon and world-renowned researcher and educator in the area of cardiopulmonary bypass, served as chief of cardiac surgery at the University of Kentucky and UC San Diego Medical Schools.
In 1980, he founded CREF to promote teaching and research related to cardiopulmonary bypass and extracorporeal perfusion.
Dr. Utley was also a licensed pilot and accomplished trumpet player. Following a long battle with cancer, Dr. Utley passed away in 2001.
CREF Program Directors
PROGRAM DIRECTOR 2017 – 2018
Joanna Chikwe MD
PROGRAM DIRECTOR 2018 – 2023
C. David Mazer MD
Dr. Mazer is a Professor in the Departments of Anesthesia and Physiology at the University of Toronto. His research interests include cardiac physiology and perioperative blood conservation and organ protection. Dr. Mazer has co-authored 100+ peer-reviewed publications, including practice guidelines and position statements related to perioperative transfusion and hemostasis from the STS, SCVA, and the CCS. Dr. Mazer, a lead investigator in the BART trial, is the principal investigator for TRICS III, a global study of transfusion triggers in cardiac surgery.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR 2013 – 2023
Alfred H. Stammers MSA PBMS CCP (emeritus)
Since 2013, Al Stammers has acted as the CREF Course Co-Director, guiding the program content and ensuring quality, balance, and objectivity. He currently serves as Director of Clinical Quality & Outcomes Research at SpecialtyCare. Prior to this, he worked as a perfusionist at ESSA Heart and Vascular Institute and Director of Perfusion Services at Geisinger Health Systems. Past president of AmSECT and former editor-in-chief of JECT, Mr. Stammers has authored 300+ publications on perfusion-related topics and is an internationally renowned speaker in this area.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR 1999 – 2016
Julie A. Swain MD
Dr. Julie Swain currently serves as Vice Chair for Clinical Performance for Mount Sinai Health System and Director of the Center for Medical Devices (CMeD) at Mount Sinai Heart. She is also Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery and Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Swain practiced cardiac surgery and served as an FDA advisor for more than 20 years.
CREF Program Committee
PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
Jeremiah R. Brown PhD
Dr. Jeremiah Brown, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Clinical Practice at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, is trained in the disciplines of epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy reform, shared decision-making, and quality improvement of healthcare. Dr. Brown’s research focuses on prevention of acute kidney injury in cardiac surgery and percutaneous coronary interventions.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
Joanna Chikwe MD
PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
George J. Despotis MD
Dr. George Despotis is Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Immunology, & Pathology and is Associate Medical Director of Transfusion Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Despotis’s practice consists of alternating months as a staff Anesthesiologist for Cardiothoracic Operations and as Medical Director of Transfusion Medicine. Dr. Despotis has served on the CREF Program Committee since 2012.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
Rebecca S. Gottesman MD PhD
Dr. Rebecca Gottesman, a vascular neurologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, holds joint appointments as an Associate Professor in Neurology and Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Gottesman's research focuses on stroke and other neurologic complications after cardiac surgery, as well as causes of hypoperfusion to the brain. She is also interested in short- and long-term cognitive dysfunction resulting from stroke.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
Serdar Gunaydin MD PhD
Dr. Serdar Gunaydin, a cardiac surgeon, serves as Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery at the Numune Training and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey. Dr. Gunaydin’s research interests include the clinical evaluation and biomaterial confirmation of novel CPB-related technologies designed to prevent the inflammatory response. He is also on the Steering Committee for MiECTiS, an organization dedicated to promoting minimally invasive perfusion. Dr. Gunaydin has served on the CREF Program Committee since 2012.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
Robert S. Kramer MD FACS
Dr. Robert Kramer, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, has served as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the Director of Cardiac Surgery Research and Quality Improvement at Maine Medical Center. Dr. Kramer's research interests include transfusion medicine, glucose management, reperfusion injury, acute kidney injury, fluid management, multidisciplinary critical care management, neurocognitive outcomes, and postoperative dysrhythmias. Dr. Kramer has been a member of the CREF team since 2012.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
Richard F. Newland BSc CCP (Aust)
Australian Richard Newland is a lecturer at Flinders University and senior perfusionist on the staff of clinical perfusion at Flinders University Medical Center in South Australia. He is also involved in the Cardiac Surgery Research Group at Flinders and has participated in numerous clinical research projects. His research interests include evidence-based medicine, perfusion registries, and outcomes improvement. Mr. Newland has served on the CREF Program Committee since 2012.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
Joyce A. Wahr MD FAHA
Dr. Joyce Wahr, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Michigan, has served as director of the ICU rotation for residents, director of cardiac anesthesiology, and director of the cardiac research program. Dr. Wahr is the first author on the American Heart Association Scientific Statement “Patient Safety in the Cardiac Operating Room: Teamwork and Human Factors.”
CREF Team: Support Staff
EXHIBITS COORDINATOR
Michelle Freeland BA CMP
Michelle coordinates all details for CREF exhibitors, sponsors, and industry partners. A meeting professional with more than 20 years of experience, she recently received from Convene magazine a “Best in Show” award for making live events successful. Michelle has worked with CREF for many years, providing valuable ideas and impeccable organization to our industry partners.
EVENT PLANNER
Karen S. Morgan
In 1980, Karen partnered with Dr. Joe Utley to develop the first annual Cardiothoracic Surgery Symposium: Pathophysiology & Techniques of Cardiopulmonary Bypass. In the 37 years since then, she has provided logistical and administrative support by working with the Program Committee and other CREF staff to ensure a consistent, successful event.
EVENT PLANNER
James D. Westwood CMP
Since 1997, Jim has served as a CREF team member, providing logistical and administrative support to industry partners of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Symposium. A certified meeting professional, Jim also assists on site, helping attendees and exhibitors have the best possible event experience, and provides marketing support for digital and print communications.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Susan W. Westwood MA
As a CREF team member, Susan oversees CREF'S educational program, working closely with the Program Committee members to create a scientific agenda that meets the various educational needs of our attendees, while adhering to specific guidelines established by the ACCME, the ABCP, the California Board of Registered Nursing, AdvaMed, MedTech Europe, and others.