Leading Infectious Diseases Groups Launch IDWeek 2012

Four of the leading infectious diseases organizations have come together to announce IDWeek 2012, their first-ever combined meeting. This new venture of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) promises a learning experience enriched by opportunities to address cross-cutting issues and meet with the fields leading authorities from around the world.

The inaugural IDWeek meeting will take place October 1721, 2012, in San Diego. With the theme "Advancing Science, Improving Care," IDWeek will feature the latest scientific findings and approaches to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of infectious diseases, including HIV infection. IDWeek will offer healthcare professionals in infectious diseases and healthcare epidemiology unparalleled access to credible research and innovative practitioners.

"This is an exciting development for the field," says IDSA president James M. Hughes, MD, FIDSA. "The synergy of bringing together so many top researchers, clinicians, public health, and patient safety experts for one meeting will make IDWeek the premier event where infectious diseases professionals of varied backgrounds can meet, share experiences, and develop collaborations."

With a diverse range of programs, speakers, and participants, IDWeek will be a must-attend meeting for professionals who want to stay current, apply state-of-the-art science to clinical care, and excel in their own careers.

"By joining forces with our IDWeek partners, we can offer our respective members an unparalleled educational opportunity," says SHEAs president-elect Jan E. Patterson, MD, MS, FIDSA, FSHEA. "With so many common issues and cross-cutting challenges, the efforts of SHEAs members to prevent and control healthcare-associated infections will be enhanced by the opportunity to collaborate with other infectious diseases professionals."

IDWeek programming will present advances in basic, translational, and clinical research in infectious diseases, including HIV infection and healthcare epidemiology. Meeting sessions will cover bench-to-bedside advances in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of infectious diseases for pediatric, adult, and HIV populations.

"By including research and information from across the lifespan," says PIDS president, Penelope H. Dennehy, MD, FIDSA, "IDWeek will be relevant to PIDS members who work with infants, children, and adolescents, while also providing them with a venue in which to share insights and experiences with colleagues whose work is geared toward adults."

Researchers, clinicians, quality and patient safety practitioners, epidemiologists, and public health officials will all benefit from the educational content and the chance to share new ideas. The program tracks will be determined in the months ahead by a program committee comprising chairs and representatives of all four organizations.

The meeting is aiming for inclusion and breadth. Thus, IDWeek will offer access to internationally recognized leaders and the opportunity to network with researchers and clinicians in infectious diseases, healthcare epidemiology, and HIV medicine in pediatric and adult populations.

According to HIVMA chair-elect Judith A. Aberg, MD, FIDSA, "IDWeek represents a tremendous opportunity for HIV medical providers to share their knowledge with, and to learn from, a wide spectrum of infectious diseases specialists."

IDWeek is a joint meeting of IDSA, SHEA, HIVMA, and PIDS. The meeting convenes leading researchers and practitioners from around the world to showcase the latest developments in the field. Sessions present advances in basic, translational, and clinical research in infectious diseases, including HIV infection, and healthcare epidemiology, and provide state-of-the-art updates on key topics and issues.