Dear Colleagues,
We’re excited to partner once again with IDSA, PIDS, SIDP and HIVMA at IDWeek 2025 next month in Atlanta, Georgia. We’re looking forward to seeing many of you there, as we have a very exciting and robust program focused on infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship along with all the infectious diseases sessions. If you are able to make it to Atlanta, please join SHEA leaders at the SHEA Business Meeting on Monday, October 20, 7:00–8:30 A.M. EST at the Omni Atlanta. Enjoy breakfast with colleagues, celebrate 2025 accomplishments, hear financial and leadership updates, and connect with your SHEA community during IDWeek. RSVP today to save your seat. Additionally, on Tuesday, October 21 we have the SHEA Lectureship honoring Dr. Anthony Harris focused on the future ahead for research and mentorship. The SHEA Lectureship also includes the presentation of the SHEA career awards and I will also present on the state of infection prevention today. We hope to see many SHEA members in attendance there as well as throughout the conference.
I want to recognize that the past few months have been difficult for SHEA’s members. Many in our community have faced the loss of funding for critical research that supports innovation and progress. This has resulted in the loss of staffing and resources to support these efforts. At the same time, the cancellation of HICPAC and PACCARB has sent waves throughout our field, leaving many of members concerned about how future clinical guidance will be developed and disseminated. I have heard from many members who are watching as changes emerge from ACIP, uncertain if the outcomes continue to prioritize health and safety. And an even greater concern is the loss of life during the recent gun violence incident at CDC, fueled by misinformation and disinformation, that has left us all saddened and worried for the safety and security of our most trusted public servants.
Yet even in this moment of disruption and uncertainty, we remain a strong and resilient community. Our guiding principles, protecting patients, supporting healthcare personnel, and ultimately ‘safe care for all,’ have not changed. In fact, this environment only strengthens the case for prevention. The events that have led up to this moment in time demonstrate that we must continue to advocate for and communicate the importance of infection prevention, not just as a professional responsibility but as a critical safeguard for public health. The challenges are real, but so is our commitment to ensuring that prevention remains at the center of healthcare. SHEA is continuing to stay engaged in advocacy and collaborating with other groups to add our members’ voice to the chorus of many voices across the healthcare and medical research spectrum that are committed to ensuring our work continues. This includes several vaccine efforts to ensure that healthcare personnel are represented in guidance. If you have any questions about these updates or thoughts relevant to SHEA that you’d like to share, I encourage you to stop by the SHEA booth during IDWeek to talk to staff or email info@shea-online.org.
Sincerely (and see you in Atlanta!),
David J. Weber, MD, MPH, FIDSA, FSHEA, FRSM