Madelyn Baez-Santiago, PhD, is a microbiologist and the project lead for the Rapid Test Continuous Quality Improvement (RTCQI) initiative at the International Laboratory Branch (ILB) within CDC HQ.

She holds a doctorate in neurobiology and brings a multidisciplinary background that bridges basic science and applied public health. Her work focuses on strengthening HIV diagnostic quality through the implementation of sustainable quality assurance systems in resource-limited settings.

With extensive experience in laboratory systems, infectious disease diagnostics, and global health programs, Dr. Baez-Santiago plays a key role in advancing the accuracy and reliability of rapid testing services worldwide, contributing to critical public health research and quality improvement efforts in HIV diagnostics and testing.

David Barnabas B.MLS, MSPH, AMLSCN, is a Laboratory System Strengthening Specialist with over 15 years of experience developing and implementing indigenous-led health systems in Nigeria focusing on deploying CQI models, including Rapid Test Continuous Quality Improvement (RTCQI), to increase access to quality diagnosis and improve prompt patient care.

He is a Board Member and the Director, Laboratory and Biosafety Services at the Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP), providing strategic leadership to teams operating in a network of 129 laboratories and 285 rapid testing points of service on a PEPFAR/CDC-funded project in Nigeria. A member of several national technical working groups—including the RTCQI Task Team—shaping diagnostics strategies and implementation.

He has presented quality models and approaches at various national and international platforms, including conferences/summits and the 2024 PEPFAR/CDC RTCQI Best Practices Workshops, reaching audiences across Africa and the Western Hemisphere. He holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of Suffolk, UK

Jeni Vuong is a committed public health microbiologist with over a decade of experience in infectious disease diagnostics.

Based at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA, she has provided essential expertise in bacterial meningitis and HIV. Jeni has contributed significantly to both domestic and global health efforts, including laboratory capacity strengthening, surveillance, and outbreak response for meningitis pathogens, as well as advancing innovative approaches to improve HIV diagnostic quality.

Her work has supported major global initiatives such as the Global Health Security Agenda and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).