Med Director Infection Prevention
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
I am currently serving as the Market Medical Director Infection Prevention and Health System Epidemiology for the Atrium Health North Central/Western North Carolina Region. I oversee the Infection Prevention programs of an 885 bed tertiary care academic medical center, four affiliated hospitals ranging from 50 beds to 350 beds, and over 400 ambulatory care settings. In my role, I have implemented and assessed the impact of a variety of prevention programs ranging from hand hygiene campaigns, healthcare associated infection prevention initiatives, new isolation approaches, diagnostic stewardship, and patient engagement projects.
With the academic background of a medical degree from Germany, board certification in Hygiene and Environmental Medicine (Germany), a Masters in Clinical Epidemiology from Wake Forest University, and a PhD in Epidemiology from UNC Chapel Hill, my work focuses on the practical aspects of Infection Prevention to protect patients, staff, and visitors. I am particularly interested in the transmission dynamics of pathogens. Recent examples of my projects include how SARS-CoV-2, Influenza and other viruses are spread within and between patient rooms and the interruption of airborne transmission of these viruses using face masks and other protective devices. Having provided Infectious Disease, microbiology, and antimicrobial counseling in Germany, I have over three decades of combined experience with the last two decades primarily focusing on Infection Prevention and Epidemiology in the clinical and research environment.