ILSC General Chair
Jamie King
Jamie King
About Jamie King
Jamie King is a Certified Laser Safety Officer with over 27 years of experience practicing laser safety. He has served as the LSO for NASA-Ames Research Center, Sandia National Labs (California), and is currently the laser safety subject matter expert for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory(LLNL). Jamie represents LLNL on the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) Z136 and also serves on the SSC-1 and SSC-8 subcommittees. He is the current chair of DOE’s Energy Facility Contractor’s Group (EFCOG) Laser Safety Task Group and authors the Laser Lessons Newsletter for LLNL with worldwide distribution. Jamie served as co-chair for the 2017 TPAS and has been on the planning committee for the past five DOE LSO Workshops.
Welcome to ILSC® 2025! We are pleased to announce that this most important conference will convene March 3-6 in Orlando, Florida. Should your interest be in medical, industrial, R&D, or biological effects, you will find something of interest for you here.
I was fortunate to be introduced to this field in the 1990s. Since then, advancement in the technology and application of lasers has been at an ever-accelerating pace. How have I been able to keep up? Attending ILSC is one of them. This biennial get-together of experts from around the world is the only conference of its kind. Whether you are new to the field or a longtime attendee and you want to keep up with the technology, this is a must attend event. See you in Orlando!
Advance Program
Check out the 2025 Digital Advance Program to get an in-depth look at the content and features of this year's ILSC conference in Orlando, Florida! Get an overview of the agenda, learn about the conference highlights, and more!
Laser Safety Scientific Sessions
Trevor Wheatley
Trevor Wheatley
About Trevor Wheatley
Dr Trevor Wheatley has a PhD in Quantum Optics and Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with honours; his work has been published in peer reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. Dr Wheatley is the Director of Opticum Laser Safety where he currently works as the head of laser protection and has been developing training, teaching, researching, and consulting in laser safety for over 18 years. He served as a member of ARPANSA's Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council from 2020-2022 and the International advisory board for the multiple ILSC. Dr Wheatley is the Head of the Australian delegation on IEC TC 76, co-convener of TC76 WG7, the Secretary of TC76 WG8, and chairs the Australian mirror committee SF019 to TC76. He worked for UNSW for 15 years, is a representative for academia to ASC Z136 and has received IEC 1906 award for his contributions to international laser safety standardisation. Dr Wheatley is an LIA life member, a Senior Member of the IEEE and a Certified Laser Safety Officer.
Ramona Gaza
Ramona Gaza
About Ramona Gaza
Dr. Ramona Gaza joined the Space Radiation Analysis Group at NASA Johnson Space Center in 2005 and currently serves as the Human Health and Performance (HH&P) Lead for the Non-Ionizing Radiation Team and the Deputy Radiation System Manager for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV).
Appointed Leidos Technical fellow since 2020, Dr. Gaza is supporting several NASA programs including the International Space Station, the Orion MPCV, the Commercial Crew (CCP), the Gateway, the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), the Human Landing System, and the Commercial LEO Development. Her research and operations work focus on crew protection from space NIR sources such as lasers, natural and artificial incoherent light sources, and radiofrequency emitters; safety hazard analyses for ionizing and non-ionizing radiation risks; crew protection from environmental ionizing radiation including radiation measurements and data analysis using active instruments (e.g., direct-ion storage devices, Timepix technology, etc.) and OSL/TL radiation detectors; contributions to research studies on radiation effects and mitigation for crew protection; space weather monitoring and real-time solar event contingency support to the NASA/JSC Flight Team.
Dr. Gaza currently serves as the Health Physics Society NIR Section President and is author/co-author for 100+ peer-reviewed publications and presentations and received a series of awards for her contributions to space exploration, most recent include: the Leidos Spot Award for sustained efforts in leading the JSC’s Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR) crew protection across multiple programs such as the ISS, MPCV, Commercial Crew, Gateway and Human Landing System; the JSC Group Achievement Award for exemplary technical excellence in providing human system requirements and gap analysis to achieve a successful HALO PDR (2021); the Oklahoma State University Distinguished Alumni Award (2021); the NASA Group Achievement Award for SpaceX Demo-2 (2020); the NASA Award for Technical Excellence in Enabling the Successful Execution of the Orion MPCV Exploration Mission 2 Critical Design Review (2019); the NASA Group Achievement Award for significant contributions to the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) Project (2018); and the NASA CCP Team JSC Director's Innovation Team Award (2017).
She earned a B.Sc. in Physics from the West University of Timisoara, Romania, and a Ph.D. in Physics from Oklahoma State University, USA.
The Laser Safety Scientific Sessions provide the platform for a truly outstanding assortment of presentations from all fields of laser safety— from bioeffects research to probabilistic risk assessment, from safety management programs to regulations. LSSS are particularly strong on product safety standards and the design of safe consumer products, reflecting that laser technology permeates into various types of consumer products, where safety by design is imperative.
Technical Practical Applications Seminar
Ken Barat
Ken Barat
About Ken Barat
Served as LSO for Lawrence Berkeley Nat Lab and National Ignition Facility Directorate. Author of 12 textbooks on laser safety. Developer and chair for first seven DOE LSO Workshops. Ask the Expert Contributor for LIA and HPS. Rockwell award winner, LIA Fellow, SPIE & IEEE Senior member. ANSI committee Member. Author of Photonic Spectra’s quarterly laser safety column. Has served as Laser Safety Adviser for a variety of organizations i.e. LIGO, ELI Beamlines, KLA, KECK, Allen Institute, Lockheed Martin, HILASE, among others.
Hayden Johnson
Hayden Johnson
About Hayden Johnson
Hayden Johnson is a Certified Laser Safety Officer at LLNL. Hayden obtained a Bachelor of Science in physics and mathematics, a Master of Science in occupational safety and health with an emphasis in industrial hygiene, and has five years of experience practicing laser safety. Hayden is currently the Vice Chair of the Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) Laser Safety Community of Practice, the back-up representative for LLNL on the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) Z136, as well as a member of the SSC-1, SSC-8, TSC-4, and TSC-5 subcommittees. Hayden has contributed significantly to the planning of the 2022 and 2024 DOE Laser Safety Officer Workshops and was selected as the 2025 ILSC TPAS Co-Chair. On the rare occasion Hayden is found not working, he enjoys participating in STEM outreach, hiking, painting, cooking, wood and metal working, and is also an amateur gardener and mushroom hunter.
The Technical Practical Applications Seminar (TPAS) is designed for Laser Safety Officers (LSOs) and Professionals who manage lasers across a broad spectrum of power levels, from milliwatts to petawatts, and who oversee a range of users from small teams to large-scale operations with hundreds of users. Join your peers and experts from academia, industry, and national research labs to explore the latest insights into the technical and practical aspects of laser safety. Gain valuable perspectives on tackling laser safety challenges, learn how others manage, innovate and discover new strategies for addressing evolving safety challenges. Whether you’re working in cutting-edge research or applied industry settings, this track will provide a unique and rare opportunity to connect, share experiences, and enhance your expertise. Don’t miss the chance to network with leading laser safety professionals and gain actionable knowledge that can directly improve safety protocols and risk management in your workplace.
Medical Practical Applications Seminar
Penny Smalley
Penny Smalley
About Penny Smalley
Penny J. Smalley, RN, CMLSO, MACORN, is an independent nurse consultant and certified medical laser safety officer, with a focus on perioperative safety when working with energy based surgical technologies. Her work includes legislative and regulatory advocacy and consultation on the management of surgical plume, hazard identification and risk assessment, education and training, legal consultation safety audits for compliance with standards, policy development and documentation in healthcare facilities, and extensive participation on national and international consensus standards bodies.
She served as the Director of Regulatory Affairs and Education, for the International Council on Surgical Plume (ICSP) 2015-2024, and was a founding member of the executive committee of the Surgical Plume Alliance in collaboration with the Association for Perioperative Practice in the United Kingdom.
Current appointments include:
Vice Chair - ANSI Z136.3 (American National Standard - Laser Safety in Healthcare)
Representative for ACORN to AS/NZ 4173 (Healthcare Laser safety in Australia)
(task force for Surgical Plume Evacuation guidelines, Ministry of Health and
WorkSafe Australia)
Member of IEC (TC76) Laser Standards (project lead on revision of 60825-TR8)
Canadian delegate to: ISO (TC121-SC6 Surgical Plume, SC8, SC2 Anaesthesia)
Chair, Canadian Standards Association (CSA) – Safe Use of Energy Based Medical
and Surgical Devices CSAZ70001:2024
Ms. Smalley has been a contributing member of international laser and nursing organizations since the 1980s, including ISLSM (first medical/surgical laser society), APALMS, IALMS, AfPP, ACORN, ORNAC, EORNA, IFPN, and AORN. She is listed in Who’s Who in American Nursing, has published numerous articles and text book chapters, and has taught concepts in laser technology, managing exposure to surgical plume, and development of standards for safety in healthcare, throughout the world.
Patti Owens
Patti Owens
About Patti Owens
With over three decades of experience in the medical and aesthetic industry, Patti Owens, MHA, BSN, RN, CMLSO, CNOR, is the business owner of AsetheticMed Consulting International LLC. She offers consultation services and laser education, specializing in medical and aesthetic safety programs. Patti's expertise in the theory and clinical aspects of laser safety, coupled with her proficiency in a variety of laser and light-based treatments, provides clients with a comprehensive understanding of the current standards of practice in the medical field.
Patti has been an active member of AORN for 29 years and in 2015, became recertified as CNOR. Presently, Patti is serving as the Past-President of the eChapter for the 2024 – 2025 term. She has served as the Education Committee's chairman, Secretary and President for the eChapter. In addition, Patti is the AORN representative on the ANSI SSC-3 “Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care”. She was also selected as a Subject Matter Expert for the 2021 new AORN “Guideline for Laser Safety”. In addition, Patti is the recipient of the 2020 AORN Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Clinical Nursing Practice award. She has co-lectured the in 2018, 2019, and 2021 at AORN Expo on laser safety and compliance.
Patti has been a repeated guest lecturer and the Nursing/Allied Health Chairperson of ASLMS for multiple terms. In 1999 and 2014 received the Nurse Excellence Award from ASLMS. She served multiple three-year positions as the ASLMS Nursing-Allied Health Representative to the board and Laser Safety Director for 2019-2022. She is presently a national consultant for various laser companies and organizations, including Rockwell Laser Industries, for medical and aesthetic applications. She has been active in the past with a variety of professional organizations and societies, including Dermatology Nurses Association (DNA), American Spa Association (AMSPA), Society of Plastic Surgical Skin Care Specialists (SPSSCS) and the International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses (ISPAN).
Patti is a national consultant for various laser companies and professional organizations, including appointments as the principal medical and aesthetic instructor for Rockwell Laser Industries. She is an active member of the ANSI Z136.3 committee, where she has been appointed acting secretary since 2009. She also serves as a member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) TC 76 WG4 and ISO/WG12 committees. In 2019, she received the distinguished IEC 1906 Award for her work in international laser safety standards.
Patti Owens presently works with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon as the Administrative Advisor. She has been employed in clinical, aesthetic, and compliance and has been an administrative assistant at Rancho Mirage, CA. Patti’s previous employment for 11 years was in a Dermatology practice in Olympia, WA. Patti’s experience also includes 13 years’ of experience as a Laser Manager at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Her responsibilities included program development, education and supervision of 13 laser systems, implementation of the laser perioperative role, development of a multi-system laser in-house and mobile program, and enforcement of safety policies as the facility’s acting Laser Safety Officer.
Patti received her BSN from the University of Colorado in 1976 and graduated with her master’s degree in health administration from Chapman University in 1996. Patti Owens is well-published in numerous clinical journals. Her co-authored book with Pamela Hill, Milady’s Aesthetician Series, Laser and Light Therapy, was published in 2009 by Cengage Learning.
Vangie Dennis
Vangie Dennis
About Vangie Dennis
Vangie Dennis is an independent consultant on perioperative services. Professional organizations include the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), American Association for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Laser Institute of America, AORN Specialty Assemblies, and the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery.
She is on the editorial board for the Journal for Clinical Laser Medicine and Surgery, OR Today and Outpatient Surgery. Vangie has been published and cited in publications such as “OR Nurse, American Health, Laparoscopic Update, Surgical Services Management, Infection Control Today, OR Manager, Today’s OR, Outpatient Surgery, and Same Day Surgery. She is also the author for the “Medcom Module: Laparoscopic Approach for Treatment of Urinary Stress Incontinence", referenced in “The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goals”, co-published the nursing Chapter 9, “The Team-Nursing’s Perspective” in the book Principles of Laparoscopic Surgery, Chapter 20 Laser Risks and Perioperative Safety: Donna Watson's Perioperative Safety, expert reviewer of the 2011 & 2018 AORN Recommended Practices for Lasers, author for the AORN Laser Study Guide, Module, and video. Published Chapter 14 Lasers in Radiology Nursing: Advanced Practice and Leadership in Radiology Nursing and Chapter 14, Understanding Laser Safety in Dentistry.
Ms. Dennis has given lectures on lasers and nursing practice. Vangie has lectured nationally and internationally for AORN, AORN Chapters, Advanced Technology Specialty Assembly, American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery, The International Laser Safety Conference, Canadian Nurses Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, American Association Gynecological Laparoscopists, MedSun CODA Conference, and Medical Societies and facilities.
Vangie is on the Board of Commission for the Board of Laser Safety, the chair for the National Certification on Lasers, Nominating Committee Advisor for AORN National, Past President of the NW AORN Chapter, Past Treasurer for the Georgia Council of Nurses, Board of Directors for Gwinnett Technical School, and committee representative for the American National Standards Institute. She is the Past President for AORN National 2022-2023 and served multiple terms on the National AORN Board of Directors.
She is a recipient named in Strathmore’s WHO’s WHO, the recipient of the 1996 Nursing Excellence Award from the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery, awarded the 2011 R. James Rockwell Jr. Educational Achievement Award, and the 2011 AORN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Clinical Nursing Education. She is the recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Nurse of the Year for the Georgia March of Dimes and 2019 Manager of the year for OR Manager. Vangie was also awarded Perioperative nurse of the year for the Georgia Council of Perioperative Nurses and for the AORN Northwest Chapter. She is the Past President for National AORN 2022-2023 and is a member of Emory Alpha Epsilon Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
The Medical Practical Applications Seminar (MPAS) is an essential two-day conference for all professionals working with medical laser devices. This program is designed to meet the various educational needs of the Medical Laser Safety Officer along with that personnel working in operating rooms, surgical centers, aesthetic clinics, veterinary clinics, medical research labs, mobile laser companies, and medi-spas. Cognitive gaps do exist related to national governmental regulations, state statutes, and evidence-based practices regarding what is essential for a facility-based laser safety program. This conference is constructed to bring all attendees the most current safety regulations and practice standards.
International Advisory Board
Special thanks to our International Advisory Board for assisting in the planning of this year's program.
Josh Hadler, NIST Neil Haigh, Blueside Photonics Ltd | Ramona Gaza, NASA Scott Wohlstein, The Photonics Group | Nick Hopps, AWE Aldermaston Annie Mercier, Université Laval |