Dear Colleague,
It was great to see many SHEA members at IDWeek in Atlanta recently. As we enter the final months of the year and of my role as President, I’m pleased to share several exciting initiatives and collaborations that continue to strengthen SHEA’s role as a leader in infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. Our society remains deeply committed to advancing science, supporting our members, and promoting global partnerships that enhance healthcare epidemiology across all settings.
One of our current priorities is collaborating with colleagues on vaccine efforts especially as they relate to healthcare personnel (HCP) vaccinations. We have been involved with several efforts to ensure that guidance remains clear and evidence based. The Board is currently finalizing a commentary on HCP vaccinations that solidifies our current guidance across vaccines. In parallel, we are working to establish stronger connections with the Vaccine Integrity Project, which will allow us to contribute our expertise to efforts that promote vaccine confidence and counter misinformation.
SHEA is also actively engaged with APIC in developing a Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group (HIPAG). This collaborative effort will address infection prevention related to urgent issues of national importance. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to enhancing transparency, inclusivity, and scientific rigor. APIC and SHEA believe that this group with invited representative experts across key medical societies and patient groups will be essential to address today’s healthcare challenges including potential emerging threats. More to come as we finalize the scope of this effort with our partners.
Additionally, our global collaborations continue to expand as well. SHEA is finalizing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Clean Hospitals initiative and several international partners, including agreements with infection prevention colleagues in Greece and Japan. These partnerships will help us share best practices, promote educational exchanges, and enhance infection prevention standards worldwide.
Finally, I’d like to highlight the recent SHEA Lectureship delivered by Dr. Anthony Harris, which was an inspiring reminder of the power of mentorship in shaping our field delivered at IDWeek 2025. Dr. Harris emphasized how mentorship has influenced his own professional growth, from the perspective of both a mentee and mentor, and challenged us all to invest in developing the next generation of healthcare epidemiologists. His reflections underscored that mentorship is not only central to our personal journeys but also essential to the vitality and future of SHEA. And after almost a year in the role of SHEA President, I couldn’t agree more.
As SHEA renewals hit your inbox and mailbox, I hope you are as inspired as I am to continue the journey with SHEA into 2026.
Sincerely,
David Weber