On April 30, 2002, Carl Flatley’s life changed. It was the day his daughter, Erin, died from septic shock, something Carl Flatley, DDS, MSD, a retired endodontist, had never heard of. After Erin’s death, Dr. Flatley learned everything he could about sepsis, and was astounded by what he – and millions of other Americans – didn’t know about the condition. He was shocked to learn that, at the time, sepsis killed well over 200,000 people in the U.S. every year and even survivors were often left with serious after-effects. In 2004, Dr. Flatley founded the American Sepsis Alliance, which became Sepsis Alliance in 2007. It became his mission to make sepsis as well-known as cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses. His catchphrase became “So More Survive,” encapsulating his commitment to seeing fewer lives and limbs lost to sepsis.  This unending devotion to Erin’s memory has had a significant impact on many people.

Jackie taught English with Montgomery County Public Schools for 9 years, and then dove into freelance writing in 2001. She wrote extensively for publications including The Washington Post, Woman's Day, Costco Connection, and other major outlets. Her writing career came to a screeching halt in 2012 when Crohn's Disease, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (P.O.T.S.), and Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos hEDS, got the best of her and she became fully disabled. Osteoporosis eventually got a grip as well. A colon perforation and septic shock almost took her life on May 22, 2021, and she was flown to Baltimore for emergency surgery that saved her life. She’s made dramatic improvements during her lengthy and ongoing recovery. She continues to grapple with disabilities but is feeling better than she has in years. She contacted a few former editors, and they welcomed her pitches. Her first national comeback article appeared in Costco Connection and more soon followed in The Washington Post, Reader’s Digest, and AARP. She is making the most of her second chance at life and getting back into serious journalism. What she had thought was her ending, was really another beginning.

Julia Fraser is a dynamic leader and advocate, currently serving as Mrs. Texas American 2024. A survivor of sepsis, Julia has channeled her experience into a powerful platform, championing sepsis awareness and prevention, while also passing city and state-wide proclamations. As an entrepreneur in the tech startup industry, she combines her passion for innovation with a dedication to making a difference in her community. Julia is also a loving wife to professional hockey player Cole Fraser, and together, they share their lives with their 2 dogs. Her journey reflects resilience, ambition, and a commitment to positively impacting those around her.

CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper joined the network in January 2013. Tapper currently anchors an award-winning two-hour weekday program, The Lead with Jake Tapper, which debuted in March 2013. He has hosted CNN’s Sunday morning show, State of the Union, since June 2015. In April 2021, he became the lead anchor for CNN for Washington, D.C. events.

In addition to his reporting, Tapper has also authored five books, including his debut novel The Hellfire Club, published in 2018, its sequel, The Devil May Dance, published in 2021, both of which were New York Times best-sellers. His non-fiction works include the best-seller The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, published in 2012, Down and Dirty: The Plot to Steal the Presidency, which was published in 2001, and Body Slam: The Jesse Ventura Story, which was published in 1999. The Outpost debuted in the top 10 on The New York Times best seller list, and Tapper was one of the executive producers of the critically acclaimed film version of The Outpost, directed by Rod Lurie and released in 2020. His next highly anticipated novel, All The Demons Are Here, was published in July 2023.

In addition to raising sepsis awareness, Tapper has been active in bringing attention and support for veterans’ issues. Since 2017 he has organized an annual celebrity eBay auction to build specially-designed mortgage-free houses for severely injured veterans of the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan via the top-rated charity Homes for Our Troops, a group for which he serves as an ambassador. In 2018, he was awarded a People’s Choice Vetty during the 3rd Annual Vetty Awards, an annual award ceremony presented by the Academy of United States Veterans. In 2014, Tapper’s book and his reporting on the veterans and troops were cited when the Congressional Medal of Honor Society awarded him the “Tex” McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from Dartmouth College in 1991 and lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, daughter and son.

Jennifer Tapper is an advocacy-based fundraising, organizing, and communications professional with more than 20 years of experience fighting for equality, equity, and basic human rights for women and children. In 2021, Jennifer’s daughter, Alice, was admitted to the hospital with appendicitis, but doctors missed the warning signs and Alice was initially misdiagnosed. By the time she was correctly diagnosed, her appendix had ruptured, and she became septic. You can read Alice’s full story here. Alice was ultimately able to make a full recovery and has become a national advocate for diagnostic change when it comes to appendicitis and sepsis. Jennifer and Alice are committed to modernizing the way emergency room doctors diagnose appendicitis. They both speak to medical students and health care providers to share Alice’s story and inform others of the dangers of not recognizing the signs of appendicitis, pre-sepsis, and sepsis. Jennifer lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, Jake Tapper, and her two children, Jack and Alice Tapper.

Gary Garber, MD, FRCPC, FACP, FIDSA, CCPE, is an infectious diseases physician based at The Ottawa Hospital where he focuses on infections in the immunocompromised host, HIV, and viral hepatitis. He currently is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto. Dr. Garber was previously the Chief of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Department at Public Health Ontario where he provided medical and scientific leadership on infection control and antimicrobial stewardship. He received his BSc from McGill University, and his medical degree from the University of Calgary. He trained in Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto and Infectious Diseases at the University of British Columbia. His research has been in appropriate use of antibiotics and novel compounds, sepsis, pathogenesis of Trichomonas vaginalis and infection prevention, and control interventions to reduce nosocomial infections and improve patient safety.

Eileen Bridges, MD, CCFP, MSc, Dip Sport Med., completed her medical degree at the University of Ottawa. She gained her certification in family medicine and earned a fellowship in sports medicine and a Masters in Exercise Physiology at McGill University. Dr. Bridges practiced emergency and sports medicine at McGill University where she was an assistant professor and has served in many capacities in medical education at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. Nationally, she has served with the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP), the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM), and the Medical Council of Canada.

Amy Stephens is the Assistant Vice President of Quality and Compliance and Chief Compliance Officer at Memorial Hospital of Union County in Marysville, Ohio. With over a decade of service at Memorial Hospital, Amy has been instrumental in elevating clinical quality and care standards. Her commitment to ensuring regulatory and accreditation excellence is evident through her oversight of diverse teams within Case Management, Quality, and Infection Control. Amy's clinical background and previous experience as a surveyor with the Ohio Department of Health provided her with a robust foundation for her current regulatory oversight responsibilities and a passion for patient safety and process improvement. Holding an MBA in Healthcare Management, Associate of Science/Registered Nurse (RN), certifications as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC), a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt for Healthcare, and as an ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Amy’s leadership and expertise continue to drive Memorial Hospital toward achieving and sustaining the highest standards of healthcare excellence.

Robin Regula, RN, is the Clinical Quality Specialist at Memorial Hospital of Union County in Marysville, Ohio. She is the hospital’s de facto Sepsis Coordinator and has been abstracting for the Sepsis Core Measure since its implementation in 2015. Robin's extensive background in clinical nursing, emergency nursing, occupational health, and quality uniquely positions her to drive quality and process improvement initiatives at the hospital. Her dedication to enhancing patient care and outcomes led her to join the Quality team in 2015, where she continues to make a significant impact.

James Graham is the Chief Executive Officer of Recce Pharmaceuticals. He was formerly Executive Director and has extensive experience in marketing, business development, and commercialization of early-stage technologies with global potential. Mr. Graham serves on Recce’s Board of Directors and has invested in almost every capital raise to date with a focus on expanding Recce’s commercial opportunities and clinical initiatives.

Andrew Shorr, MD, is a distinguished American physician and professor, recognized for his significant contributions in the field of pulmonary and critical care medicine. He has been actively involved in clinical research, focusing on respiratory infections, sepsis, and antibiotic resistance. Dr. Shorr has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and has been a prominent figure in advancing understanding and treatment of critical illnesses in the intensive care unit. Additionally, he has held leadership roles in various medical institutions and professional organizations, enhancing both clinical practice and medical education.

Evangelos Giamarellos-Bourboulis, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He was trained in the immunology of infections at the Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease of Radboud University in the Netherlands. In 2012 and 2013, he served as Guest Professor of the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Jena University Hospital in Germany. Dr. Giamarellos-Bourboulis’ research focuses on immunomodulation in sepsis and in auto-inflammatory disorders for which he was awarded the Young Investigator Research Award by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. He has 538 publications in international peer-reviewed journals with more than 35,000 citations. He has contributed in the development of clarithromycin for immunomodulatory treatment of septic shock, the recognition of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) as an auto-inflammatory disorder, and in the licensing of adalimumab for treatment of (HS). He is the current chairman of the European Sepsis Alliance. His main achievement is the approval of anakinra for COVID-19 pneumonia in adults by the European Medicines Agency and the Food and Drug Administration through the phase 2 and 3 trials SAVE and SAVE-MORE that he designed and conducted.

Patrick Pestalozzi is a former management consultant and Silicon Valley executive who is actively involved in the creation, financing, and development of multiple deep-tech startups. As a mentor, adviser, and coach to early-stage and mature organizations, he helps founders in the areas of growth strategies, product management, organizational design, international development, and sales performance. As a dual Swiss/US citizen who speaks English, French, and German, he maintains global insight and cultural sensitivity from extensive travel/work in 60+ countries.

Christopher F. Chesley, MD, MSCE. is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is an adult pulmonologist, intensivist, and health equity researcher whose research work evaluates structural mechanisms for critical care disparities and develops health system initiatives to mitigate them.