IHIF - About MHSCC

About the 2011 Midwest Healthcare Supply Chain Conference - An Invitation from the Conference Co-Chairs

The critical success factors for healthcare supply chains frequently include elements and players that aren’t easily aligned. Supply chain professionals are asked to deal with dilemmas like, “should we be highest compliance or lowest cost” or “how much extra do we spend on capacity when demands are impossible to predict” and “are our resources better spent on IT systems or human capability development”. The portfolio of new medicines, vaccines, and devices is evolving and includes an increasing number of temperature-sensitive products.

The 2011 Midwest Healthcare Supply Chain Conference will provide opportunities to be engaged in learning how to balance all of the conflicting requirements and create success for any type of healthcare organization. The two day program includes keynote presentations, case studies and round table discussions and focuses, in part, on how to handle, store, and distribute cold chain products.

Presentations from manufacturers, healthcare providers, academicians, regulators and service providers will offer information to the delegates in large and small group settings. At the conclusion, participants will emerge with better ideas for dealing with the life-cycle demands of temperature-labile products in ways that result in business success.

Now entering it's third year, the Midwest Healthcare Supply Chain Conference is increasingly recognized for it's excellence in peer-to-peer networking, affordable pricing, and outstanding content. In 2010, the conference attracted over 200 participants and showed over 30% growth in audience and sponsor particition over the previous year. Similar growth is expected for 2011.

The 2011 Midwest Healthcare Supply Chain Conference, to be held May 18 and 19 in Indianapolis, will bring together supply chain professionals from diverse backgrounds who are navigating these challenges in active dialogs to share what works, and as importantly, what doesn’t. We look forward to welcoming you in person in Indianapolis.

Rafik H. Bishara, Ph.D. Ken Thomas, President

Conference Co-Chair The Taith Group

Conference Co-Chair

About the Organizers

	The diverse members of the Indiana Health Industry Forum generate the collective voice of the state’s health and life science industry. The Forum connects key stakeholders to enhance business networks, advocate for member interests, develop workforce skills, and provide strategic vision in the interest of growing the state’s health industry economy and reputation. IHIF is the Indiana affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).
	Managing the flows of product, information and cash in a way that provides increased profitability is essential for every business. Taith Group will bring insight and implementation experience to every situation, partnering to “pull the right levers” for each unique business situation. This application of Supply Chain Management strategies and change management techniques will turn opportunity into competitive advantage.
	Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is located 16 minutes west of downtown Indianapolis. The airport averages 150 daily flights to 35 nonstop destinations on nine major airlines. IND also offers some of the lowest airfares in the nation. In 2009, just under 8 million passengers were served at IND. A destination and launching pad for both commerce and community, IND is strategically located just minutes from major U.S. interstates including I-65, I-865, I-69, I-70, and I-74, all of which connect to the city's I-465 beltway. It is also within minutes of U.S. 40, U.S. 31, and U.S. 52. The eighth largest cargo center in the U.S., it is home of the second-largest FedEx Express operation in the world. More than 2.2 billion pounds of cargo were managed at IND in 2008. It is an important catalyst for economic development in central Indiana and the Midwestern region. One of the first new airports to open in the U.S. since Sept. 11, 2001, Indianapolis cut the ribbon to its 1.2 million square foot airport complex off I-70 on November 11, 2008.
	Rafik H. Bishara, Ph.D. Dr. Bishara has become one of the most respected figures in the pharmaceutical cold chain distribution sector, following a distinguished 35 year career with Eli Lilly & Co. as Director, Quality Knowledge Management and Technical Support. During his tenure at Eli Lilly and Company, Dr. Bishara was responsible for Quality Knowledge Management, Global Compendial Affairs, Stability and Distribution Excellence, Global Product Protection, Special Security Substances and Controlled Substances Administration. Dr. Bishara is the current Chair of the Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Interest Group (PCCIG) within the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA). In his role as chair of the PCCIG, Dr. Bishara has worked consistently towards harmonization of the many global regulations and guidelines for the transportation of pharmaceutical and biotech products and frequently chairs and presents at industry leading conferences. Dr. Bishara received his Ph.D. from Purdue University, Indiana, USA, adding to his B.S. Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Chemistry and an M.S. Phytochemistry from Butler University, Indianapolis, USA Boards and Recognitions Dr. Bishara served on the Board of Directors of Sensitech, Inc., Kodiak Thermal Technologies, Inc., and Board of Advisors of Entropy Solutions, Inc. He is a Temporary Adviser to the World Health Organization (WHO) since July, 2007. He has been acting as mentor & training adviser to the WHO/PDA ‘‘Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Management on Wheels.” Dr. Bishara is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Pharmaceutical Outsourcing Journal and the Board of Advisors of BioConvergence, LLC. Dr. Bishara is the recipient of the PDA’s 2007 Distinguished Service Award, IQPC’s 2008 ‘Most Significant Contribution to Cold Chain Excellence’ and the 2008 School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, Distinguished Alumnus Award. Dr. Bishara has authored numerous articles, and technically advised several organizations on Good Cold Chain and Temperature – Controlled Management.