The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology has named Richard P. Wenzel, MD, MSc, as the 2011 recipient of the Elaine Larson Lectureship Award, presented annually by APIC's board of directors.
The award honors "the individual best able to present a lecture on the state of the science of infection prevention and control and/or healthcare epidemiology in the area for which he or she has been a major contributor over a lifetime of pursuit," according to a news release from APIC.
Dr. Wenzel of Richmond, Va., is considered one of the leading infectious diseases and healthcare epidemiologists, with his work focusing on infection prevention and control in hospitals. His research has focused on a number of areas including the epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections such as bloodstream infections, sepsis, surgical site infections and prevention of cross transmission by hand hygiene, and he is also an expert on antibiotic resistance and its impact.
He has help many positions including serving as chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., and president of the Medical College of Virginia Physicians. He is also the founding editor of two journals: Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and Clinical Performance and Quality Health Care..
"APIC is proud to honor Dr. Wenzel with this special award to recognize not only his important contribution to the field of infection control and epidemiology, but also his superb leadership and teaching," said APIC 2011 President Russell Olmsted, MPH, CIC, epidemiologist in Infection Prevention & Control Services, St. Joseph Mercy Health System, Ann Arbor, Mich., according to the news release. "Through his remarkable achievements and mentorship of others, he has had a significant and lasting impact on improving the safety and quality of patient care. Dr. Wenzel's invaluable scientific contributions to our field reflect well on the namesake for this lectureship and are in perfect alignment with the theme of APIC's 2011 Annual Conference, 'Translating Science—Sustainable Solutions.'"
Read the APIC news release about Dr. Richard Wenzel (pdf).
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