System Epidemiologist, Medical Director, Infection Prevention & Control (EHC)

The System Epidemiologist, Medical Director, Infection Prevention & Control, Emory Healthcare (EHC) is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing and advancing the system- wide infection control and prevention program. This leader will ensure the highest standards of safety and quality of care for patients, staff, and visitors across Emory’s hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.

Reporting to the Chief Quality Officer, EHC, this role requires a visionary leader with a deep understanding of infectious diseases, infection control best practices, and the ability to drive strategic initiatives that align with the EHC mission and vision. The person will also have an academic appointment at Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease with clinical responsibilities and a reporting line to the Director of the Division of Infectious Disease in the Department of Medicine.

1. Leadership and Program Development:

• Partner with the Corporate Director, Infection Control, EHC to drive strategy and best practices across the system
• Develop, implement, and oversee EHC comprehensive infection prevention and control program
• Establish and monitor adherence to system-wide infection prevention standards that comply with CDC, APIC, SHEA and other national guidelines
• Collaborate with leaders across clinical, nursing, and operational areas to drive a culture of safety and accountability for infection control practices
• Lead and provide direction to the OU entity hospital epidemiologist to implement best practices and attain standardization
• Provides clinical guidance and leadership to EHC Hospital Epidemiologists and Infection Prevention Managers

2. System-Wide Infection Control Oversight:

• Serve as the expert on infection control and prevention, providing leadership during infection outbreaks and emerging health threats
• Conduct root cause analyses and risk assessments to address and mitigate infection risks throughout the Emory Healthcare system
• Develop the necessary protocols and support resources for all EHC facilities (both inpatient and outpatient) to respond effectively to infectious diseases outbreaks
• Collaborates with Clinical Microbiology Laboratory leadership regarding the appropriate use of laboratory tests, antibiotic susceptibility reports, and assessment and implementation of new laboratory technologies as related to Infection Prevention
• Provide oversight and direction of the antimicrobial stewardship for appropriate use and healthcare associated infection to eliminate healthcare associated infections
• Catalyzes innovation and builds supporting capabilities

3. Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance:

• Lead efforts to meet or exceed all regulatory requirements and standards related to infection control from agencies such as CMS, The Joint Commission, OSHA, and state health departments
• Develop and implement internal audit processes to monitor compliance and address any gaps in infection control and prevention practices
• Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory bodies on infection control matters, advocating for EHC practices and compliance
• Provides oversight, updates and approves all hospital policies pertinent to Infection Control and Prevention
• Provides oversight of surveillance activities and investigations as well as serves as a liaison to regulatory agencies as well as local, state and national public health officials and agencies

4. Education and Training:

• In collaboration with the corporate director of IPC, provide training and education to clinical and non-clinical staff on infection prevention and control best practices, emerging infectious diseases, and safe practices to prevent transmission
• Serves as a subject matter advisor regarding Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention-related issues related to patient and employee safety, quality, critical care, special populations, and emergency management
• Collaborate with the Emory University academic and research departments to foster innovation in infection control and prevention practices
• Lead the curriculum and educational initiatives that foster a culture of continuous improvement and safety across all levels of the healthcare system
• Contribute to innovation to advance infection prevention and control
• Stay abreast of advances in infection prevention and control, sharing new insights with EHC staff through structured training and education sessions
• Be involved in the mentoring and training of the next generation of hospital epidemiologists/infection control practitioners

5. Data Analytics and Reporting:

• Collaborate with clinical data analytics to provide guidance on data collection, analysis, and reporting related to infection control and prevention metrics, using data to drive decision-making and improvement initiatives
• Collaborate with key stakeholders develop and implement systems for real-time tracking and monitoring of infection-related data to support early detection and proactive interventions
• Present regular reports on infection trends, outcomes, and areas for improvement to senior leadership, ensuring transparency and accountability in infection control practices

6. Collaboration and Crisis Management:

• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including nursing, quality, safety, and risk management, to integrate infection prevention into all aspects of patient care and facility operations
• Act as a critical leader in EHC response to infectious disease crises, including public health emergencies and outbreaks, coordinating response efforts across facilities
• Participates in emergency preparedness and response planning as well as incident command functions and facility response to emergent events
• Collaborates with Employee Health Services regarding challenging pre- and post-exposure cases, development of pre- and post-exposure management protocols, and participate in planning and roll out of vaccination campaigns

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: MD, DO, or equivalent with board certification in Infectious Disease, Preventive Medicine, or a related specialty
• Experience: Minimum of 8 years of clinical experience in infectious disease or infection prevention, including at least 5 years in a leadership role within a healthcare system
• Preferred: Additional certification in Infection Control (CIC) or training in hospital epidemiology (i.e. SHEA course) or completion of additional training in infection prevention and epidemiology during or after training specific to infection prevention and epidemiology

Knowledge & Skills:

• Expertise in infection prevention practices, epidemiology, and public health principles
• Strong working knowledge of regulatory compliance in infection control within healthcare settings
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and educate diverse teams and stakeholders
• Proven ability to lead during crises and make sound, evidence-based decisions
• Proficiency in data analytics to interpret and leverage infection control metrics for quality improvement

Key Competencies:

Leadership and strategic vision; In-depth knowledge of infection prevention and epidemiology; Regulatory expertise and quality assurance; Collaboration and team development; Data-driven decision-making