The Global Atos Learning Institute team​

Allana Kelley, Speech and Language Therapist

Allana Kelley has been a qualified Speech and Language Therapist for more than 20 years after achieving a Master of Science Degree and completing a fellowship year working in a large cancer center in the USA. Since then, Allana has worked as a specialist in the fields of laryngectomy and tracheostomy, across hospitals in America and the UK. She has worked for Atos for 6 years and was the Head of Clinical Education in the UK before taking on the role of VP Medical & Scientific Affairs in August 2022. ​

Allana has extensive experience as an educator and in providing advanced learning and clinical training for health care professionals as well as using her practical skillset in combination with evidence-based learning.

Kelly Jackson-Waite, Speech and Language Therapist

Kelly qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1996 after completing a Master of Science Degree at City University, London. She has worked in teaching hospitals across London and Northamptonshire, specialising in both Head and Neck Cancer and Critical Care. She recently joined Atos as the Global Laryngectomy Clinical Lead. ​

Kelly has 16 years experience of working with people who have had a laryngectomy, in both in and outpatient facilities. She is an expert in voice prosthesis management and pulmonary rehabilitation and understands the integral role evidence-based education and training plays in improving patient outcomes.

Sam Rigby, Physiotherapist

Sam qualified as a physiotherapist with a Master of Science Degree from Manchester Metropolitan University before quickly specialising in the field of respiratory therapy. He has worked in teaching hospitals across Manchester, within such fields as Intensive Care, Major Trauma and Neurosurgery, Respiratory and Long-Term Ventilation. As well as tracheostomy management, Sam has a special interest in cough augmentation and airway clearance, and always strives to ensure the current evidence is utilised to inform practice. ​

In 2021, Sam began working for Atos in the UK as the Tracheostomy Clinical Educator for the United Kingdom before moving into the role of Global Clinical Lead for Tracheostomy. He is keen to drive best practice within tracheostomy management by connecting clinicians across the globe, sharing knowledge and driving research within all areas of the field.

Ellie van Knegsel, Speech Language Pathologist

Ellie graduated in 1984 as a Speech Language Pathologist and worked until 2000 in a rehabilitation center, Groot Klimmendaal, and until 2014 at the ENT department of Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands. She has been working with different populations and specialized in treatment of pediatric tracheostomized patients.​

She did her master in clinical epidemiology, and got her master’degree in 2012. Ellie has extensive experience in clinical research as well as clinical education.​

In 2014 she joined Medical & Scientific Affairs of Atos Medical, being responsible for clinical research and clinical education in the field of total laryngectomy and tracheostomy. She has held various positions in this department since, and is now working as Senior Clinical Education Manager.

Ann Lundh Papiernik, Nurse

Ann Lundh Papiernik is a Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Provider-Nurse Practitioner with board certification in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care after receiving her Master of Science degree. Her prior healthcare experiences involved working as a critical care nurse and then nurse practitioner in the outpatient setting, all within the specialty of head and neck cancer. ​

Since joining Atos last year, Ann utilizes her medical expertise and previous adjunct role as a staff educator to continue to serve those living with a laryngectomy or tracheostomy through clinical education development and implementation.

Fay Ramessur, Speech and Language Therapist

Fay Ramessur qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in June 2001 and commenced working for the NHS as soon as she graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University. Fay remained within the NHS in Wales for 20 years, along with private practice, and during this time she had a very varied career working with patients with a laryngectomy and tracheostomy.

In 2019, Fay completed a Master of Science in Advanced Clinical
Practice which has enhanced her clinical practice and the ability to provide engaging evidence-based education sessions. In November 2020, Fay joined Atos Medical as a Clinical Educator for Laryngectomy and Tracheostomy at Atos UK, but also works together with the Global Clinical Team.