CHICAGO -- The American Society of Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES) announces the appointment of Brett Higgins, CHESP, director of environmental services at Genesis Health System in Davenport, Iowa, and Bill Slezak, healthcare segment manager for Rubbermaid Commercial Products in Winchester, Va., to the ASHES board of directors. Higgins and Slezaks appointments are effective immediately; they will serve a one-year term that will run through 2008.
Higgins was appointed vice president of the ASHES board of directors and will also serve on the executive committee. Higgins has more than 20 years in healthcare environmental services. An ASHES member since 1998, Higgins has served two terms on the board, most recently as president and past president. His term as vice-president will be his last with the board.
Slezak will also be serving on the executive committee and as ASHES Industry Liaison. Slezaks appointment will fill a previous vacancy on the executive committee and will bring service experience and a passion for healthcare and environmental services to the board providing increased depth to the group.
ASHES, of the American Hospital Association, is the premier professional association for environmental services, housekeeping, waste management and textile care professionals in the healthcare industry. ASHES provides educational programs, opportunities to network with peers on a national level, recognition for personal and professional achievements, as well as affiliation and collaboration with the American Hospital Association on public policy and advocacy issues related to environmental services.
Source: ASHES
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.