Tan, Kennard

Portrait photo of Kennard  Tan

Dr.

Tan, Kennard

BSc, MD

Academic Ranks(s):

Clinical Assistant Professor, Medical Microbiologist, and Medical Lead of Analytics

Affiliations(s):

Royal Jubilee Hospital

Short Bio
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I’m a medical microbiologist who is involved in using health informatics and data analytics to improve the delivery, efficiency and quality of laboratory diagnostics. Currently, I am the Medical Lead of Analytics for BC’s Agency of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, which is within PHSA, and also work as a medical microbiologist at Fraser Health. I completed my Medical Degree at the University of Alberta, my medical microbiology residency at UBC, and post-residency fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. I worked for Island Health in Victoria from 2012 to 2017 as a medical microbiologist and as the Physician Lead for Clinical Analytics for the IHealth project. While in Victoria, I completed a Masters in Health Information Science at the University of Victoria, with a thesis is on the use of computerized clinical decision support tools for infection control. Presently, I am involved in multiple projects related to robotics, health informatics and data analytics. I cannot imagine a more exciting time to be working, as all these fields will change the way we diagnose and manage infections. Outside of work, I enjoy the challenges of being a new father as my children do not follow a predictable algorithm or sensible logic as my work.

Academic
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Academic Background

  • MSc (Health Information Science), University of Victoria. 2011 – present
  • Fellowship. Research-fellowship in Medical Microbiology. Johns Hopkins Hospital. 2011 – 2012
  • Residency. Post-Grad training for Medical Microbiology. University of British Columbia. 2006 – 2011
  • MD (Doctor of Medicine), University of Alberta. 2002 – 2006
  • BSc (Life Sciences, Molecular Biology (via Integrated Sciences Program)), The University of British Columbia. 1996 – 2000

Professional Qualifications

  • FRCPC – Medical Microbiology. 2011
  • Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology. 2010

Awards and Recognition

  • Johns Hopkins Pathology: Pathology Young Investigators’ Day Award in Clinical Research. May 2012
  • Infectious Disease Society of America: Travel grant for poster presentation at conference. Oct 2010
  • European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases: Registration grant for poster presentation at conference. Apr 2010

Publications

  • Prospective Evaluation of a Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry System in a Hospital Clinical Microbiology Laboratory for Identification of Bacteria and Yeasts: a Bench-by-Bench Study forAssessing the Impact on Time to Identification and Cost-Effectiveness. Tan KE, Ellis BC, Lee R, Stamper PD, Zhang SX, Carroll KC. (J Clin Microbiol. 2012 Oct;50(10):3301-8).
  • Cryptococcus gattii infections with cutaneous involvement. Mistry N, Tan K, Shokravi M, Hoang L. (Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery 2011 Jul-Aug; 15(4): 236-7).
  • Mumps virus detection during an outbreak in a highly unvaccinated population in British Columbia. Tan KE, Anderson M, Krajden M, Petric M, Mak A, Naus M. (Canadian Journal of Public Health 2011 Jan-Feb; 102(1): 47-50).
  • Toxoplasmosis. Wright AJ, Tan KE, Alghamdi FA, Mackenzie IR, Isaac-Renton J, Morshed M. (ASCP Check Sample 2011, In Press).
  • Trichosporon species: Classification, Identification, and Clinical Relevance. Tan K, Grant J. (American Society for Clinical Pathology – Check Sample: Microbiology 2010 Aug; 53(6): 61-71).
  • Answer to case of the month #114 intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia (IPDH). Tan KE, Marshall GB, Burrowes P, Gray R. (Canadian Association of Radiologist Journal 2006 Dec; 57(5): 303-5).
  • Carboplatin and Vinblastine for the Treatment of Metastatic Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urothelial Tract. Al-Karim HA, Tan KE, Chi KN, Bryce CJ, Murray NR, Coppin C. (American Journal of Clinical Oncology 2002 Oct; 25(5): 515-9).
Research
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Research Interest

  • Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases – including Infection Control & Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Advanced Diagnostic Methods – MALDI-TOF MS & Molecular Methods
  • Health Informatics

Current Projects In My Lab Include

Teaching
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Teaching Interest