Heide Ames, BS, CCSVP, is a product manager with 28 years of healthcare and/or laboratory experience in various roles including as a researcher, author, instructor, tutor and presenter for numerous topics including: biology, microbiology, sterilization validations, medical device processing, sterility assurance uses and applications, and failure investigations. She is also an expert in microbiological techniques; sterilization research; product development; decontamination, disinfection (including high-level disinfection); device packaging; high and low-temperature sterilization; quality management systems and risk assessment.