Dear SHEA Colleagues,
Last month, I mentioned the considerable energy SHEA has given to educational programs. I’m pleased to announce that SHEA has launched the online continuing medical education Antimicrobial Stewardship program. Three multidisciplinary programs emphasize practical steps to implement and manage stewardship initiatives and are relevant to all healthcare settings. SHEA also partnered with the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) to create a session focused on pediatric antimicrobial stewardship. Take a moment to look at this program and share it with your colleagues and others who could benefit.
SHEA will soon open registration for SHEA 2012, Advancing Healthcare Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship (April 13-16, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida). This outstanding four-day program has something for everyone – the basics in healthcare epidemiology training, a new advanced epidemiology and research methods track, research and operational troubleshooting sessions with key experts, an update and planning meeting of the SHEA Research Network and a multidisciplinary leadership forum on Antimicrobial Stewardship.
Most exciting is a competition calling for novel research proposals from fellows and young investigators. This unique program will seek abstracts of proposed research that will be reviewed by an expert judging panel. The top 50 proposals will be displayed at the meeting and finalists will be judged by attendees for a “People’s Choice” award and have the opportunity to present their proposal. The chosen winner will receive a monetary award toward completion of the research project and the opportunity to utilize the SHEA Research Network. This meeting affords SHEA members the valued opportunity to network and engage some of the leading issues in our field. I hope you and your colleagues will join us in Jacksonville!
For those of you involved in our global community, SHEA is accepting International Ambassador Program applications through September 30, 2011. Spread the word about this program and consider encouraging or mentoring someone to apply.
Lastly, I know that you will join me in thinking about those who have been impacted by dramatic weather of the season. Between earthquakes and hurricanes, it has been an eventful end to the summer.