SHEA Announces Newest Delegation of the International Ambassador Program

Strong infection prevention practices are critical for healthcare institutions around the world. The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) has announced its 2016 International Ambassador Program delegation. This year’s delegation includes 18 outstanding individuals from six continents, all with extensive experience in healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention.

“In our global interconnected community, local and regional infection prevention issues can quickly escalate to become an international problem,” said Louise M. Dembry, MD, MBA, president of SHEA. “SHEA’s International Ambassadors Program fosters collaboration and education for global healthcare professionals and seeks to provide practical knowledge. An enduring impact on the Ambassadors’ patients and their countries is a goal of the program.”

Starting in 2009, SHEA has partnered with 3M on the International Ambassadors Program, which is dedicated to building collaborative relationships between U.S. and international healthcare professionals with expertise in healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention.  Each year, SHEA selects delegates from around the world to participate in advanced discussions on healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention, as well as engage with SHEA’s member experts.

The 2016 SHEA International Ambassadors include:
• Wensen Chen, MPH, MBBS, Jiangsu Province Hospital (China)
• Elie Kasindi Kabululu, RN, Centre Medical Evangelique De Nyankunde A Ben (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
• Vandana Kalwaje Eshwara, PGDEPI, MD, MBBS, Kasturba Medical College (India)
• Corey Forde, DM, MBBS, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Barbados)
• Jan Gralton, PhD, Clinical Excellence Commission (Australia)
• Ahmed Mohammed Hakawi, MD, CIC, MHA, King Fahad Medical City (Saudi Arabia)
• Joost Hopman, DTMH, MD, Radboud University Medical Center (Netherlands)
Aamer Ikram FRCPath(UK), FRCP(Edin), MCPS, FCPS(Microbiology), CEIO-UIOWA, RBP, MBBS, PhD, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (Pakistan)
• Susan Jain, MSN,  Prince of Wales Hospital (Australia)
• Uday Kelkar, Diploma in Management, MD, MBBS, Central Government Health Scheme, Govt of India. (India)
• Thana Khawcharoenporn, MSc, MD, Thammasat University (Thailand)
• Reginaldo Adalberto de Luz, MSN, RN, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo School of Medical Sciences (Brazil)
• Sujan Babu Marahatta, PhD, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (Nepal)
• Nathlee McMorris, MSc, DM, MD, MBBS, National Public Health Laboratory (Jamaica)
• Mbogori Maurice Murugu, BSN & PH, Infection Prevention Network Kenya (Kenya)
• Philip Olayiwola Oshun, FMCPath, MPH, MBBS, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (Nigeria)
• Fu Qiao, MD, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (China)
• Ratna Rao, MD, CIC, Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad (India)
“These healthcare professionals represent the best and brightest in dealing with the infection control challenges that their countries are facing. We are thrilled to invite them to engage with SHEA, to learn with us, and to teach one another. The International Ambassadors have historically provided invaluable feedback to SHEA as we work together to address healthcare-associated infections on the local, national, and global scale.” said Michael Klompas, MD, chair of SHEA’s External Affairs Committee.

SHEA works with new ambassadors and program alumnae to identify content and partnerships to support learning, policy development and the growth of regional networks. 

Source: SHEA