Rebecca Kay Rush
3530 South Shobe Road
Bryant, Arkansas 72022
Phone: (501)425-6525
e-mail: rkrush@ualr.edu
Goals and Objectives
To contribute to the workforce by utilizing my education and experience.
Personal Information
Birthday: 5/21/1965
Birthplace: Gainesville, Florida
Siblings: 3
Hobbies: Racquetball, gardening, home restoration, reading
Education
High School Diploma 1983: Sylvan Hills High School, Sherwood, AR
B.S. Microbiology 1988: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
M.S. Occupational and Environmental Health 1998: University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences, Little Rock
M.A. Professional and Technical Writing: University of Arkansas at Little RockCurrent student
12 Hour UALR IT Certificate
Training/Skills/Certification
OSHA 40 Hour Hazardous Waste Certification
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 2 week Risk Assessment
Class
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epi-in Action 2 week Class
Typing Speed: 60 wpm
Computer Programs: Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Epi-Info, WANG, StarLims,
Access, Dreamweaver
FDA Certified Milk and Dairy Analyst
DOJ ID: C-RR-023847 [Approval for Access to Select Agent(s) and/or Toxin(s)]
2006 Drug Testing Participation and Clearance
Work History
July 2011-August 2012 Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Arkansas Department of
Health, Laboratory Supervisor; Principle Investigator for Bioterrorism
Trained new personnel in laboratory procedures
Performed monthly reports
Researched new testing methodologies
Hired new personnel
Performed competence assessments
Performed annual employee evaluations
College of American Pathologists Inspector Certification
Performed CAP inspections
January 2006 Clinical Microbiology/Bioterrorism Laboratory, Arkansas Department
of Health, Microbiologist II
Group B Streptococcus screening in pregnant women
Special Bacteriology: identification of referred bacteriological cultures
Laboratory Response Network Procedures for Bioterrorism (training and
certification)
TRF for Ricin Toxin in environmental samples
Proficiency testing
Suspect Powder(s) work-up to include: Bacillus anthracis, ricin toxin,
Brucella species, Francisella tularensis, and Burkholderia species
Shigatoxin ELISA validation study and testing
Special Bacteriology Technical Supervisor (2008)
Salmonella serotyping
Methods development
Standard Operating Procedures development
Interim Supervisor of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory (October 2010-July
2011)
August 2002-December 2005 Milk Bacteriology Laboratory, Arkansas Department
of Health, Microbiologist II
Routine testing of raw and bottled milk samples for Arkansas milk producers
to include: bacteriological count, adder water, %butterfat, aflatoxin,
inhibitors, somatic cell count, sulfonamide testing
QA/QC according to FDA 2400 series
FDA proficiency testing
Certified Milk and Dairy Analyst
December 1998-August 2002 Epidemiology, Arkansas Department of Health, Senior
Epidemiologist
Environmental Epidemiology
Performed Risk Assessments for concerned communities (those
surrounding hazardous waste/Superfund sites)
Presented/participated in community meetings
Prepared Health Consultations for ATSDR
Worked with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine
community exposure to environmental contaminants
Evaluated/summarized environmental sampling data
Assisted in meeting goals and objectives of grant proposals
Transferred to learn new skills
Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Communicable disease surveillance (gathered, summarized, and
disseminated communicable disease data)
Entered reportable disease data into the NETSS system (national
electronic telecommunication system for surveillance) and
communicated findings with the CDC
Prepared daily/weekly/monthly/yearly communicable disease
reports
Assisted in outbreak investigations
Transferred to learn new skills
Medical Waste Coordinator
Enforced the medical waste regulations for the state of Arkansas
Collected fees from medical waste transporters
Licensed new medical waste transporters
Performed inspections of medical waste facilities
Made recommendations and/or fined for medical waste violations
Worked with local and state authorities to control transportation
violations
Transferred for promotion
August 1996-December 1998 Serology Lab, Arkansas Department of Health;
Microbiologist II
Routine Syphilis screening by VDRL (venereal disease research laboratory)
procedure and confirmation my MHA-TP
Dried blood spot testing for HIV by ELISA procedure with Western Blot
confirmation
Stat testing at STD clinic: RPR, Wet-prep/KOH, Gram stains, Dark fields
ordering reagents/supplies
SOP development
QA/QC
Training of new personnel
Proficiency testing
Transferred for promotion
February 1989-August 1996 Clinical Bacteriology Lab, Arkansas Department of
Health; Microbiologist Intern/Microbiologist I
Bacteriological media preparation and quality control
Routine screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae by culture procedure
Identification/confirmation of enteric pathogens in feces or referred culture:
Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter
Routine screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia by DNA
hybridization
Methodology comparisons (Culture vs. Gen Probe)
Identification/confirmation of anaerobic cultures by biochemical analysis
and gas chromatography
Identification/confirmation of bacteriological samples by culture and
biochemical analysis (to include unusually pathogenic Gram Negative Rods)
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) development
Perform/document quality control procedures
Training of new personnel
Proficiency testing (College of American Pathologists-CAPs)
Transferred for promotion
References
Randy Stegall
Serology Laboratory Supervisor, Arkansas Department of Health
(501)661-2000