Erika Wichro

*Ongoing technical consultations, capacity building, trainings and teaching engagements at various levels and areas such as civil protection, health, and more.
*Speaking engagements at international conferences.
*Peer reviewer & Editorial Board Member in various international journals.

Subject matter expert, facilitator and trainer as part of the extraordinary GEG team in the SHOP courses for BHA.

The Swiss funded project “Support to Health Emergency Service Preparedness and Response in Albania” as Short-Term Consultant:
• Technically supported the project Solidar – Together in Health Emergencies outcome 3 strengthening community engagement through enhancing institutional development and capacities of “Together for Life (TFL)”.
• Helped TFL improve its capacity to advocate for a strong emergency system, to empower patients and to contribute to the implementation of its… Mehr anzeigen

The Swiss funded project “Support to Health Emergency Service Preparedness and Response in Albania” as Short-Term Consultant:
• Technically supported the project Solidar – Together in Health Emergencies outcome 3 strengthening community engagement through enhancing institutional development and capacities of “Together for Life (TFL)”.
• Helped TFL improve its capacity to advocate for a strong emergency system, to empower patients and to contribute to the implementation of its strategy.
• Provided guidance and oversight of the OCA on which I created and implemented the needs-tailored institutional and capacity development workshops and trainings. Weniger anzeigen

Co-Developer, trainer and facilitator of the European Union Civil Protection Team Leader Course.

* Technically supported an European Commission funded project on specialised service providers with an international coverage network of medical facilities
* Technically supported the MedRa+ project in conducting a market survey and market survey consultations to identify specialised medical services available.
* Reviewed service specifications and tender criteria and coordinate with the legal experts as needed.
* Evaluated with the project team tender applications.

The Swiss funded project “Support to Health Emergency Service Preparedness and Response in Albania” as Short-Term Consultant:
• Technically supported the team leader in strengthening the country’s health system resilience and response to emergencies including international best practices.
• Worked with a variety of cross-sectoral stakeholders and assisted in assessments.
• Conducted key interviews, literature review and consultations with the technical team remotely and during… Mehr anzeigen

The Swiss funded project “Support to Health Emergency Service Preparedness and Response in Albania” as Short-Term Consultant:
• Technically supported the team leader in strengthening the country’s health system resilience and response to emergencies including international best practices.
• Worked with a variety of cross-sectoral stakeholders and assisted in assessments.
• Conducted key interviews, literature review and consultations with the technical team remotely and during in-country visits. Weniger anzeigen

Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) in Malawi:
*As part of the OBRA team technically supported the assessment of the ongoing polio outbreak response in four thematic areas: 1) coordination, planning, and the use of human and financial resources; 2) acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and environmental surveillance (ES) systems; 3) quality of supplementary immunization activities (SIAs); 4) population immunity from routine immunization - with focus on coordination, planning and surveillance… Mehr anzeigen

Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) in Malawi:
*As part of the OBRA team technically supported the assessment of the ongoing polio outbreak response in four thematic areas: 1) coordination, planning, and the use of human and financial resources; 2) acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and environmental surveillance (ES) systems; 3) quality of supplementary immunization activities (SIAs); 4) population immunity from routine immunization - with focus on coordination, planning and surveillance.
*Technically conducted a virtual desk review of key documents followed by field visits with key interviews in Malawi utilizing a mixed methods approach. The debrief presentations and final OBRA report contained specific recommendations agreed with the relevant stakeholders, a comprehensive workplan and timeline for the country's continued outbreak response efforts. Weniger anzeigen

*Technically supported the Vienna Health Authority Medical Crisis Management Team & the Austrian Corona Ample Commission in the COVID-19 management.
*Monitored & supported field epidemiological analyses utilizing developed digital health measures and tools; health system & health policy strengthening measures, strengthening contact tracing, disease surveillance engaging disease modelling for cautious pandemic development prediction, testing strategies, crisis communication, advocacy… Mehr anzeigen

*Technically supported the Vienna Health Authority Medical Crisis Management Team & the Austrian Corona Ample Commission in the COVID-19 management.
*Monitored & supported field epidemiological analyses utilizing developed digital health measures and tools; health system & health policy strengthening measures, strengthening contact tracing, disease surveillance engaging disease modelling for cautious pandemic development prediction, testing strategies, crisis communication, advocacy, training, documentation, and more to the medical crisis management team Vienna and the federal Corona Ample Commission.
*Technically advised the development of digital health products and continuously monitored data safety and security in the context of practical pandemic preparedness and response in Vienna, Austria.
*Technically supported the assessment of the pandemic preparedness and response status, the review of the health system, and the update of the stakeholder mapping.
*Successfully established a data competency center (with >150 employees), reviewed the pandemic plan, and amended it according to the ongoing COVID-19 lessons learned.
*Established harmonized processes and procedures with the continuously growing team of 190 national, local, and international medical students; streamlined communication paths and data flow. Weniger anzeigen

*Technically supported the development of an EMT-related USAID grant for 1 Million USD which was approved for its utilization over two years.
* Established an information management and documentation system and reporting mechanisms in the Pacific; initiated the same system with health strengthening integrated measures in the Western Pacific region after a comprehensive system's review and stakeholder mapping for potential funding.
*Chaired, co-chaired & facilitated sessions at the Global… Mehr anzeigen

*Technically supported the development of an EMT-related USAID grant for 1 Million USD which was approved for its utilization over two years.
* Established an information management and documentation system and reporting mechanisms in the Pacific; initiated the same system with health strengthening integrated measures in the Western Pacific region after a comprehensive system's review and stakeholder mapping for potential funding.
*Chaired, co-chaired & facilitated sessions at the Global Emergency Medical Team Meeting in Bankok, June 2019, the EMT Team Member Training in Vanuatu in May 2019, the high-level EMTCC training in Darwin, Australia in July 2019.
*Drafted and finalized technical documents, including a 10-year plan for the EMT Initiative, and followed up on the implementation status and progress of agreements.
*Initiated an EMT baseline equipment (cache) draft for the Pacific to be utilized and further advanced.
*Reviewed legal documents such as contracts for national EMT Focal Persons and supply chain-related documents. Weniger anzeigen

Project manager of the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases research of BioPersMed (EU-project); developed ethical project requests, cohorts and cooperation contracts; monitored huge data bases to ensure high quality data; presented Biobank in guiding tours as well as trainer in EU-projects like DALI, related workshops & medical students; capacity building & knowledge transfer among colleagues and students. Granted leave of absence for international missions from Jan'14-June'15.

Under the WHO surge capacity and as selected UCP expert and member of the UNDAC team technically supported the FMT Coordination Cell establishment at UNMEER in Accra (medical operations), and guided WHO's FMT coordination in Sierra Leone.

Technically supported and coordinated the Polio Outbreak Response and PEI related activities from Gaziantep in a highly complex and sensitive environment; continuous capacity building and coordination among all relevant stakeholders.

Participated in, assessed, monitored and evaluated the current procedures of extramural health and care as well as available resources in Graz, Styria; supervised health workers and auxiliary staff; built capacity among colleagues and others.
This allowed me, in agreement with all relevant institutions, to progress at Med Uni Graz and to be available for consultancy assignments. Leave of absence granted from NGO and from University Clinic Graz from 2006 - 2010.

In coordination with WHO WPRO and all relevant authorities, supported and monitored the Measles campaign in all provinces and at the federal level; built capacity among local staff members; provided updates and trainings on AFP surveillance and other priority diseases to medical professionals and health care providers throughout various levels.

Assessed available resources and interlinked relevant stakeholders; developed a provincial plan based on the national guidelines for implementation; participated in the crisis management team during the bird flu outbreak in animals in Styria and developed along with the concerned authorities media material; participated in the established hotline for the public and all relevant coordination duties.

Responded and observed critically ill patients with emphasize on care of organ recipients as well as on invasive heart surgery procedures performed in adults and children of any age; guided young nurses and students to improve their knowledge and skills, and evaluated and monitored their progress.
Working at the ICU enabled me to apply gained knowledge, while progressing at medical school and increasing personal capability in various areas such as administration, management, business English… Mehr anzeigen

Responded and observed critically ill patients with emphasize on care of organ recipients as well as on invasive heart surgery procedures performed in adults and children of any age; guided young nurses and students to improve their knowledge and skills, and evaluated and monitored their progress.
Working at the ICU enabled me to apply gained knowledge, while progressing at medical school and increasing personal capability in various areas such as administration, management, business English and French.
All relevant institutions granted the leave of absence for international training and public health assignments. Weniger anzeigen

In coordination with WHO AFRO and all relevant authorities, assessed the performance of AFP surveillance as well as on other priority diseases such as measles, meningitis, yellow fewer and neonatal tetanus in the Western Region of Ghana; facilitated supervision and capacity-strengthening and problem-solving strategies between practitioners and their partners; conducted supervisory visits and trainings in all health facilities (public and private) and quasi governmental settings.

Guided and mentored a refugee woman from Afghanistan during the dental assistant program at IRC Boston.

RN-ICU: Department of Medicine, ICU: Nov.1992 - July2001:
Responded and observed critically ill patients with emphasize on dialysis and respirator therapy as well as on multiple-organ-failure diagnosed patients; guided young nurses and students to improve their knowledge and skills, and evaluated and monitored their progress.

RN: Department of Cardiology: Oct.1990-Oct.1992:
Recorded, conducted, observed and assessed the procedures of invasive and non-invasive treatment and care… Mehr anzeigen

RN-ICU: Department of Medicine, ICU: Nov.1992 - July2001:
Responded and observed critically ill patients with emphasize on dialysis and respirator therapy as well as on multiple-organ-failure diagnosed patients; guided young nurses and students to improve their knowledge and skills, and evaluated and monitored their progress.

RN: Department of Cardiology: Oct.1990-Oct.1992:
Recorded, conducted, observed and assessed the procedures of invasive and non-invasive treatment and care for cardiac patients; guided young nurses and students to improve their knowledge and skills, and evaluated and monitored their progress. Weniger anzeigen

Trained EMT-students in basic and advanced life support including ECG-interpretation, intra-bone-needle usage, chest-trauma response, and other procedures; taught topics such as hygiene, and others; along with the training team, examined and evaluated the students' knowledge and skills.