Concurrent Session 5A: Testing innovation and point-of-care pathways
Tracks
Track 1
| Friday, August 14, 2026 |
| 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM |
Speaker
VH2026
Welcome & Introduction
11:45 AM - 11:50 AMBiography
Mrs Kindness Bondezi
Clinical Nurse Consultant - Hepatology
Storr Liver Centre- Westmead Hospital
The Use of Interconnected Nurse Led Models of Care to Improve Treatment Uptake for Hepatitis C Elimination
11:50 AM - 12:05 PMBiography
Credentials: RN, MIPH, Dip PR
Hepatology Clinical Nurse Consultant at Storr Liver Centre Westmead Hospital.Kindness currently leads a team that is focused on testing, treating and managing the healthcare needs of people living with viral hepatitis, advanced liver disease, Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Cancer.
Ms Jana Van Der Jagt
Hepatology Nurse Practitioner
Mid North Coast Local Health District
Outcomes from six-years of NSW Hepatitis C Remote Prescribing Program
12:05 PM - 12:20 PMBiography
Jana Van der Jagt is a Hepatology Nurse Practitioner in the Mid North Coast Local Health District, NSW, with over 27-years experience in the field of Hepatology. Besides her family, her passions include education and in developing flexible models of care that meet the needs of people from marginalised groups.
Mr Corey Markus
Program Lead (Quality Assurance & Training)
Flinders University
Standardised point-of-care operator training is associated with embedded skills post implementation
12:20 PM - 12:25 PMBiography
Corey Markus is a senior medical scientist with over 20 years’ experience. He began his career in paediatrics and has recently moved into the areas of point-of-care testing for viral hepatitis at the Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing.
Mr Corey Markus
Program Lead (Quality Assurance & Training)
Flinders University
Detection and clinical management of low-level hepatitis C RNA following point-of-care HCV RNA testing.
12:25 PM - 12:30 PMBiography
Corey Markus is a senior medical scientist with over 20 years’ experience. He began his career in paediatrics and has recently moved into the areas of point-of-care testing for viral hepatitis at the Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing.
Dr Marianne Martinello
Senior Research Fellow / ID Physician
Kirby Institute / Prince of Wales Hospital
Comparative evaluation of point-of-care anti-HCV antibody tests for diagnosis of hepatitis C infection
12:30 PM - 12:35 PMBiography
Associate Professor Marianne Martinello is Deputy Program Head of the Therapeutic and Vaccines Research Program at the Kirby Institute, an Infectious Diseases Staff Specialist at Prince of Wales Hospital Sydney, and an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow. As a clinician-researcher, her work focuses on optimising the diagnosis, management, and prevention of infectious diseases, particularly blood-borne viruses, among key populations.
Ms Bridget Leppien
Hepatitis C Programme Manager
Tu Ora Compass Health
Ms Kate Allardice
Research Nurse
The Burnet Institute