Dear Colleagues,
It is hard to believe that my year as SHEA President is nearing its close. Serving you and SHEA has been an extraordinary privilege and one of the great honors of my professional career. I continue to be inspired by the dedication, innovation, and generosity of our members and volunteers, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to support and amplify the remarkable work you do every day.
As we approach the end of 2025, I would like to highlight a few examples of what SHEA has accomplished over the past year and share some of what we can look forward to in 2026.
ASHE marked a strong year of progress across its strategic priorities, beginning with the achievement of a 1.8 Impact Factor. SHEA also launched a comprehensive membership survey to inform us of improvements planned for 2026. In research, SHEA produced two white papers on de-implementation science and advanced the 2024–2025 SHEA Research Network (SRN) cycle, which included 11 published studies, 10 newly initiated projects, and participation from 118 facilities across the U.S., Canada, and eight additional countries.
Policy and advocacy efforts remained robust, with timely responses to legislative and regulatory developments, resulting in more than 44 meetings on Capitol Hill, and engagement from over 226 advocates resulting in more than 750 online actions.
SHEA also delivered influential guidance documents, including the Infection Prevention in Nursing Homes guideline released in October, chaired by Drs. Rekha Murthy and Lona Mody, the April guideline on Sterilization and High-Level Disinfection, chaired by Drs. Erica Shenoy and David Weber, alongside reviews of multiple partner organizations’ guidelines.
Educational programs saw notable growth, with a 26% increase in participation overall. The group also relaunched the SHEA Town Halls to address ongoing issues in infection prevention, launched the CDC-partnered Penicillin Allergy Management initiative, and a robust LearningCE portfolio featuring six Converse & Convene sessions, four standalone webinars, and five multi-session webinar series comprising 14 total sessions.
Looking into 2026, we have an exciting year. There are a lot of great sessions planned for the 2026 SHEA Spring Conference in Chicago this April and IDWeek 2026 in Washington, DC, this October. Several major guidance documents and white papers are scheduled for publication, and LearningCE will debut expanded offerings including scenario-based simulations, interdisciplinary roundtables, and new microlearning modules. We also look forward to continuing to support the SHEA Education & Research Foundation to best position SHEA to support innovative scholarships and advance our vision of safe healthcare for all.
Most importantly, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your expertise, creativity, and unwavering commitment. Your work protects our patients, colleagues, and communities, and it is critical to the strength and resilience of our healthcare system. SHEA remains committed to elevating your voices, advocating for the resources you need, and ensuring that the essential role of infection prevention and stewardship is recognized and supported.
Thank you again for the privilege of serving as your 2025 President. I greatly appreciate the hard work and dedication of the SHEA staff, especially our Executive Director Kristy Weinshel. Never have so few, done so much. I am excited to see what we will accomplish together in the years ahead. Please join me in warmly welcoming SHEA’s 2026 President, Dr. Lisa Maragakis!
With appreciation,
David J. Weber, MD, MPH, FIDSA, FSHEA, FRSM