Jack L. Johnson, M(ASCP), MS, MBA

President & Chief Executive Officer

Jack founded IHMA in 1992 after spending approximately 18 years in the pharmaceutical industry with Pfizer, Beecham Laboratories and G.D. Searle in various roles including, sales, marketing and management. During those years, he was responsible for the launch of cefoperazone, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, mupirocin and lomefloxacin. His responsibilities included both domestic and international assignments. Prior to joining the pharmaceutical industry, he spent a number of years in both hospital and private microbiology laboratories assuming various bench and management roles. Jack has degrees from Arizona State University and the University of Tennessee.

Daniel F. Sahm, PhD, D(ABMM), FAAM

VP Microbiology Services & Chief Scientific Officer

Dan has over 35 years of academic and industry experience focused on antimicrobial sciences and support of anti-infective research and product development. His experience spans the technical, clinical, regulatory, and business aspects required for all phases of product development. Dan has provided extensive expertise and has managed a wide array of laboratory services that have supported both small and large biopharmaceutical companies’ development of a wide variety of anti-infective products and strategies.

Dan received his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center and was a Postdoctoral Resident in Medical and Public Health Laboratory Microbiology at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Subsequently he held faculty and microbiology laboratory director positions at the University of Chicago and Washington University Medical Centers. Most recently Dan was the Chief Scientific Officer for Eurofins Global Central Laboratory. Over his career Dan has presented and published over 500 scientific communications, and has provided editorial and other societal services for the American Society for Microbiology.

Stephen Hawser, PhD

CEO, IHMA Europe Sàrl

Stephen has 30 years of anti-infective industrial experience and is CEO of IHMA Europe Sàrl since 2009. IHMA Europe has state-of-the-art laboratories and is based in Monthey, Switzerland. Prior to joining IHMA, Stephen held several key positions in the pharmaceutical industry spanning around 15 years with focus in antibacterial and antifungal research and development. His industry experience has come with his affiliations with Arpida (Switzerland), GlaxoWellcome (Italy), Hoechst Marion Roussel (France) and Marion Merrell Dow (Italy) and secondments to Hoechst (Frankfurt, Germany and Mumbai, India) and to University Hospitals / CWRU (Cleveland, OH, USA)

Prior to joining IHMA, Stephen earned his BSc (hons) in Microbiology (University of Aberdeen), PhD in biochemical toxicology (University of Dundee) and his post-doctorate on fungal catheter biofilms at the University of Glasgow. Stephen has regularly published at scientific conferences (>650 posters), in international peer-reviewed journals (>90 articles) and is co-inventor of a number of patents. In addition he is a reviewer for multiple journals and has actively participated at CLSI meetings since more than 15 years.

Tarun Mathur, MSc, PhD

CEO, IHMA India

Dr. Tarun Mathur has over 24 years of industry experience focused on new drug discovery, research and quality management. Before joining IHMA, Tarun’s experience spanned 16 years at Daiichi Sankyo and Ranbaxy Research Laboratories Ltd. where he initiated and led several research projects focused on antibacterial research and development. He also successfully oversaw the transition of compounds from early discovery to the clinical stage. More recently Tarun led the quality microbiology team at Sun Pharmaceuticals during which time major regulatory audits by the US FDA, MHRA, UKRAINE and WHO GMP were successfully completed.

Tarun holds an M.Sc. in Microbiology (Jiwaji University, Gwalior) and a Ph.D. in Microbiology (Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi). Tarun has more than 100 publications in international peer-reviewed journals, several presentations and a patent for novel antibacterial agents for treating and/or preventing infectious diseases.

Karla Jordan-Elbrecht

Chief Financial Officer

Karla Jordan-Elbrecht has been a transformative executive leader with experience guiding startups and legacy companies through extraordinary profit growth, market expansion and brand development. Karla, a DePaul University graduate, was the founder and CEO of a luxury brand located in Illinois, where she created and managed all aspects of both a brick-and-mortar and online store. She steered the company to success, developing strong brand recognition that led to expansive national presence in premier luxury and lifestyle magazines. Since 1997, Karla has been a leader at IHMA, Inc. where she has risen through the ranks to be the company’s CFO, this being accomplished through her ability to reconcile company vision with execution. Karla has proven an efficient financial and operational leader. She has consistently saved hundreds of thousands annually through exceptional contract negotiation, key relationship management and implementation of vital enterprise-wide training & development programs. For years, she has developed strategies and navigated the financial challenges and opportunities that a global enterprise experiences. Karla is a skilled leader who brings excellence and energy to the table and is prepared to tackle and successfully address a wide range of corporate challenges.

Brian M. Johnson

Vice President, Operations

Brian has been with IHMA since 1994. He has been on the forefront of the design and implementation of many of the programs that IHMA offers and instrumental in IHMA’s growth and expansion. Currently, he is responsible for the day to day operations of the Clinical and Surveillance Project Management teams, Shipping and Logistics Department, Building Maintenance and Contracts Department. Brian has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois.

Samuel K. Bouchillon, MD

Vice President & Medical Director

Dr. Bouchillon received his undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Tennessee Medical Units, Memphis. Dr. Bouchillon has received his board certifications in the United States in both Pediatrics and Anesthesiology.

Dr. Bouchillon is currently the Medical Director in the department of Medical Microbiology and Vice President of International Health Management Associates, Inc., a diversified contract research organization located in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Bouchillon has published over 300 papers and abstracts in the area of infectious disease, antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial surveillance. Current research interests include: molecular diagnostics, molecular basis of antimicrobial resistance, and the epidemiology of resistance in respiratory and hospital acquired pathogens.

Meredith M. Hackel, PhD, MPH

Director, IHMA Laboratories

Meredith was awarded her BS (Natural Resources), MPH (Hospital Epidemiology), and PhD (Molecular Epidemiology) from the University of Michigan before beginning her career at University Hospital in Ann Arbor.

Meredith has published and presented numerous papers and posters in the areas of infectious disease, molecular bacteriology and laboratory diagnostics. Current research interests include molecular diagnostics, and the epidemiology of antibiotic resistance in community and hospital acquired pathogens.

In 1985, Legionella hackeliae was named after Meredith who had isolated the organism during her work at University Hospital.

After working for over 15 years in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at University Hospital, as well as appointments in Washington state and Advocate Health Care Systems, she joined IHMA in 2002 as a Technical Specialist, moving to her present position as Laboratory Director and Laboratory Manager in 2006.

Darcie Carpenter, MS, PhD, CIC

Director Business Development

Darcie joined IHMA in 2018 and has over 20 years clinical and industry experience focused on antimicrobial susceptibility and IVD clinical trials. She has experience with technical, clinical, clinical trials, regulatory and business development. Darcie holds a M.S. & Ph.D. University of Washington – Pathobiology as well as certifications in Infection Control.

Previously work experience includes; 13 years with Beckman Coulter Microbiology – MicroScan product line (R&D and Clinical Trials), Anaerobe Systems (bacterial media manufacture) and Nevada Department of Public Health. Clinical work experience includes a total of six years with the following medical facilities: VA Medical Center Palo Alto, Stanford Medical Center and Barton Health.

Darcie is an active participant in Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), holding three positions: Chair of the Anaerobe Working Group, Liaison for Text and Tables Working Group and a member of the Bacterial Methods Working Group. She has published book chapters and several peer reviewed articles and abstracts. Darcie holds a M.S. & Ph.D. University of Washington, School of Public Heath – Pathobiology as well as certifications in Infection Control.

Krystyna M. Kazmierczak, PhD

Senior Scientist

Krystyna obtained her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Chicago. She held research positions at Eli Lilly, Indiana University and the University of Illinois before joining IHMA. She served as the Director of Molecular Services at IHMA from November 2013-September 2017 before moving to her present position as Senior Scientist, Scientific Affairs. Her responsibilities include data review, data analysis and scientific writing.

Krystyna’s research interests have included the molecular biology and biochemistry of bacteriophage RNA polymerases, physiology and pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae, bacterial stress responses to treatment with antibiotics that disrupt protein or cell wall biosynthesis, and regulation of outer membrane proteins. Her current focus is on the mechanisms and epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance.

Mark G. Wise, PhD

Senior Scientist

Mark received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia with a focus on molecular microbial ecology. He comes to IHMA with a strong background in the diagnostics industry, previously holding various scientific positions at the in vitro diagnostics manufacturer, bioMérieux. Mark has authored several peer-reviewed publications on diverse topics, including microbial population genetics and bacterial strain typing.

At IHMA, Mark oversees all laboratory services that involve molecular testing and analysis of target bacterial pathogens.