People

Elaine Harrow, the CEO of the Guidelines International Network has been at the helm of the organisation since 2012, during which time she has overseen the strategic development and professionalisation of the business management, as well as the growth of the role of the secretariat, in supporting the Board.

An experienced manager and qualified project manager, Elaine previously ran her own consultancy and interim management business for ten years, during which time she worked extensively with the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland in senior roles. Prior to setting up her own business, Elaine was a member of the management team for an American hi-tech multinational, where she was head of HR.

Elaine Harrow, the CEO of the Guidelines International Network has been at the helm of the organisation since 2012, during which time she has overseen the strategic development and professionalisation of the business management, as well as the growth of the role of the secretariat, in supporting the Board.

An experienced manager and qualified project manager, Elaine previously ran her own consultancy and interim management business for ten years, during which time she worked extensively with the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland in senior roles. Prior to setting up her own business, Elaine was a member of the management team for an American hi-tech multinational, where she was head of HR.

Holger Schünemann is professor in the Departments of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact and of Medicine at McMaster University, widely considered the birthplace of evidence-based health care, where he was department chair from 2009 to 2019. He graduated from the Medical School of Hannover (1993 & Dr. med. in 1994) and trained in lung biology, epidemiology, internal medicine and preventive medicine/public health at the University at Buffalo, State of New York (M.Sc. Epidemiology in 1997; Ph.D. Epidemiology & Community Medicine in 2000). Since 2000, he co-led the reshaping of methodology for guideline development spanning clinical medicine to public health. He was a key contributor to the revised methods for WHO guideline development and the Institute of Medicine statement on trustworthy guidelines. He has been advisor and chair of many guideline expert groups for WHO, the European Commission, ministries of health, other governmental organizations and professional societies. He is co-chair of the GRADE working group (www.gradeworkinggroup.org) and director of Cochrane Canada and the McMaster GRADE center. Maintaining an active internal medicine practice fulfils his passion for patient care and ensures his research is people-oriented. He is an author of over 700 peer-reviewed publications (h-index 160/101 google scholar/web of science) and among the 1500 most cited scientists of all times (www.webometrics.info).

Holger Schünemann is professor in the Departments of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact and of Medicine at McMaster University, widely considered the birthplace of evidence-based health care, where he was department chair from 2009 to 2019. He graduated from the Medical School of Hannover (1993 & Dr. med. in 1994) and trained in lung biology, epidemiology, internal medicine and preventive medicine/public health at the University at Buffalo, State of New York (M.Sc. Epidemiology in 1997; Ph.D. Epidemiology & Community Medicine in 2000). Since 2000, he co-led the reshaping of methodology for guideline development spanning clinical medicine to public health. He was a key contributor to the revised methods for WHO guideline development and the Institute of Medicine statement on trustworthy guidelines. He has been advisor and chair of many guideline expert groups for WHO, the European Commission, ministries of health, other governmental organizations and professional societies. He is co-chair of the GRADE working group (www.gradeworkinggroup.org) and director of Cochrane Canada and the McMaster GRADE center. Maintaining an active internal medicine practice fulfils his passion for patient care and ensures his research is people-oriented. He is an author of over 700 peer-reviewed publications (h-index 160/101 google scholar/web of science) and among the 1500 most cited scientists of all times (www.webometrics.info).

Dr. Yngve Falck-Ytter is Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland and Chief, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VA Northeast Ohio Health Care System. His research interest focuses on clinical trials as well as research methodology and evidence translation. He has previously held appointments as Associate Director at the German Cochrane Center and Institute for Biostatistics at the University of Freiburg, Germany. He is an AGA Fellow, previous chair of the AGA’s Clinical Guideline Committee, and recipient of the AGA’s Outstanding Service Award for rapid guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Additionally, he has been a member of the GRADE working group since 2002 and a GRADE guideline methodology consultant to numerous national and international organizations for over 20 years. He has been co-chairing internationally recognized guidelines, such as from the IDSA, the American Gastroenterology Association, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the World Health Organization. Dr. Falck-Ytter is a founding member of the U.S. GRADE Network and the Evidence Foundation.

Dr. Yngve Falck-Ytter is Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland and Chief, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VA Northeast Ohio Health Care System. His research interest focuses on clinical trials as well as research methodology and evidence translation. He has previously held appointments as Associate Director at the German Cochrane Center and Institute for Biostatistics at the University of Freiburg, Germany. He is an AGA Fellow, previous chair of the AGA’s Clinical Guideline Committee, and recipient of the AGA’s Outstanding Service Award for rapid guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Additionally, he has been a member of the GRADE working group since 2002 and a GRADE guideline methodology consultant to numerous national and international organizations for over 20 years. He has been co-chairing internationally recognized guidelines, such as from the IDSA, the American Gastroenterology Association, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the World Health Organization. Dr. Falck-Ytter is a founding member of the U.S. GRADE Network and the Evidence Foundation.

Ivan Florez is Pediatrician, with a Master in Clinical Epidemiology, and a Ph.D. in Health Research Methodology from McMaster University. He is an Associate Professor at the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Antioquia (Medellin, Colombia), Pediatrician in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Clinica Las Americas-AUNA, Medellin, Colombia, and Assistant Professor (Part-Time) at McMaster University (Canada). He is a former Deputy Director of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for the Health Technology Assessment Agency of Colombia (IETS). Dr. Ivan Florez is the current Leader of the AGREE Collaboration, is an Academic/Associate Editor for Systematic Reviews and PlosONE journals, and the Director of Cochrane Colombia. He is also member of the Cochrane’s Conflicts of Interests panel. His research has focused on CPG (development and implementation methods), Knowledge Synthesis (Systematic reviews and Network Meta-analysis), Pediatrics, and Childhood Gastroenteritis. Dr. Florez has participated in the development and implementation of many Clinical Practice Guidelines in Colombia, Latin America and North America. He has co-authored more than 100 journal articles in international journals and more than 20 book chapters about pediatrics, clinical epidemiology, clinical practice guidelines, and evidence synthesis.

Ivan Florez is Pediatrician, with a Master in Clinical Epidemiology, and a Ph.D. in Health Research Methodology from McMaster University. He is an Associate Professor at the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Antioquia (Medellin, Colombia), Pediatrician in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Clinica Las Americas-AUNA, Medellin, Colombia, and Assistant Professor (Part-Time) at McMaster University (Canada). He is a former Deputy Director of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for the Health Technology Assessment Agency of Colombia (IETS). Dr. Ivan Florez is the current Leader of the AGREE Collaboration, is an Academic/Associate Editor for Systematic Reviews and PlosONE journals, and the Director of Cochrane Colombia. He is also member of the Cochrane’s Conflicts of Interests panel. His research has focused on CPG (development and implementation methods), Knowledge Synthesis (Systematic reviews and Network Meta-analysis), Pediatrics, and Childhood Gastroenteritis. Dr. Florez has participated in the development and implementation of many Clinical Practice Guidelines in Colombia, Latin America and North America. He has co-authored more than 100 journal articles in international journals and more than 20 book chapters about pediatrics, clinical epidemiology, clinical practice guidelines, and evidence synthesis.

Dr Mouna Jameleddine is the Director of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) department at the Tunisian agency (INEAS). She is playing the leading role in HTA institutionalization in Tunisia including the development of guidelines and policies. Dr Jameleddine has worked in different environments for over 15 years. She collaborated in 2014, within the cabinet of the Minister of Health, on defining policies related to health technologies. Within INEAS, Dr. Jameleddine gained practical experience in evaluating technologies, that she shared conducting capacity building activities for authorities and universities in Tunisia and other emerging countries. She is active in many international networks; She was elected in 2018 as a member of the INAHTA board and serves since 2021 as INAHTA Vice President. She is also acting as the co-chair of GINAHTA and as the chair of ISPOR HTA roundtable for Middle East and Africa. She is member of several WHO global experts groups such as HTA and benefit packages, cost effectiveness data across settings and 2021 pricing policies’ TAG. Moreover, she contributed to several WHO guidelines.

Dr Mouna Jameleddine is the Director of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) department at the Tunisian agency (INEAS). She is playing the leading role in HTA institutionalization in Tunisia including the development of guidelines and policies. Dr Jameleddine has worked in different environments for over 15 years. She collaborated in 2014, within the cabinet of the Minister of Health, on defining policies related to health technologies. Within INEAS, Dr. Jameleddine gained practical experience in evaluating technologies, that she shared conducting capacity building activities for authorities and universities in Tunisia and other emerging countries. She is active in many international networks; She was elected in 2018 as a member of the INAHTA board and serves since 2021 as INAHTA Vice President. She is also acting as the co-chair of GINAHTA and as the chair of ISPOR HTA roundtable for Middle East and Africa. She is member of several WHO global experts groups such as HTA and benefit packages, cost effectiveness data across settings and 2021 pricing policies’ TAG. Moreover, she contributed to several WHO guidelines.

Tamara Kredo is a medical doctor and specialist in clinical pharmacology and holds the position of Deputy Director and Chief Specialist Scientist at Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council. She is an Associate Professor Extraordinary at Stellenbosch University in both the Department of Medicine (clinical pharmacology) and Department of Global Health (epidemiology and biostatistics) and an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town’s, School of Public Health and Family Medicine. She works in the field of evidence-based healthcare practice and training, rational therapeutics, and clinical practice guidelines. Her research explores the methods, quality and content of clinical practice guidelines in southern Africa. She is involved in conducting reviews on Essential Medicines including COVID-19 treatments and vaccines informing national guidelines for the South African Department of Health. She holds several leadership roles including co-directing Cochrane Africa, and co-lead of the South African GRADE Network, and was previously Chair of the Organizing Committee for the inaugural Global Evidence Summit in 2017. She has been on a number of strategic and advisory committees including being a member of the South African National Essential Medicines List Committee, and Vaccines Ministerial Advisory Committee for Covid-19. In 2020 she was elected as a Board member to Cochrane’s Governing Board.

Tamara Kredo is a medical doctor and specialist in clinical pharmacology and holds the position of Deputy Director and Chief Specialist Scientist at Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council. She is an Associate Professor Extraordinary at Stellenbosch University in both the Department of Medicine (clinical pharmacology) and Department of Global Health (epidemiology and biostatistics) and an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town’s, School of Public Health and Family Medicine. She works in the field of evidence-based healthcare practice and training, rational therapeutics, and clinical practice guidelines. Her research explores the methods, quality and content of clinical practice guidelines in southern Africa. She is involved in conducting reviews on Essential Medicines including COVID-19 treatments and vaccines informing national guidelines for the South African Department of Health. She holds several leadership roles including co-directing Cochrane Africa, and co-lead of the South African GRADE Network, and was previously Chair of the Organizing Committee for the inaugural Global Evidence Summit in 2017. She has been on a number of strategic and advisory committees including being a member of the South African National Essential Medicines List Committee, and Vaccines Ministerial Advisory Committee for Covid-19. In 2020 she was elected as a Board member to Cochrane’s Governing Board.