Presenters

Mark R. Schleiss | Organizer

schleiss@umn.edu ;
Dr. Schleiss is a Professor of Pediatrics and holds the American Legion and Auxiliary Endowed Research Chair at the University of Minnesota Medical School. His laboratory is supported by the NIH. He conducts research in small animal models testing vaccine strategies against congenital CMV infection. His laboratory is also engaged in the study of the epidemiology, pathogenesis and management of congenital and neonatal CMV infections.

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Jakub Tolar | Co-Presenter

msdean@umn.edu;
Dean of MN Medical School

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Senator Karin Housley | Co-Presenter

Assistant Minority Leader, Minnesota Senate District 33 Stillwater, Minnesota

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Kirsten Coverstone | Co-Presenter

kirsten.coverstone@state.mn.us;
Dr. Kirsten Coverstone is an audiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Newborn Screening Program. As a coordinator of Minnesota’s EHDI program, Kirsten has worked at the local, state, and national levels to support best practice for universal newborn screening, timely & complete audiologic follow-up for hearing, and early access to intervention. In addition, Kirsten implemented the statewide hearing instrument loaner program for infants and young children in Minnesota. Universal screening, education, and follow-up for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) has been a longstanding aspiration as cCMV is the leading cause of non-genetic hearing loss and is intricately related to EHDI. She has served as Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH), & Co-Chair of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) EHDI Data Committee.