David Weber, MD, MPH, was elected as the incoming vice president of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) during the group’s meeting held in conjunction with Infectious Diseases Week, an international conference, in Washington, D.C., in October.
David Weber, MD, MPH, was elected as president of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) during the group’s meeting held in conjunction with Infectious Diseases Week, an international conference, in Washington, D.C., in October. Weber will first serve as vice president in 2023, then he will serve as president-elect in 2024, and president in 2025. SHEA is a professional society that improves public health by establishing infection prevention measures and supporting antibiotic stewardship among healthcare providers.
The SHEA president oversees the national organization’s board and executive committee meetings, acts as spokesperson for the organization, and works in partnership with the executive director to ensure board resolutions are carried out.
Weber is an associate chief medical officer and medical director of infection prevention at UNC Medical Center, and a professor of medicine, epidemiology, and pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He has been with UNC for nearly 40 years and a member of SHEA for 38 years.
“SHEA has long benefitted from Dr. Weber’s contributions in a variety of leadership positions. In particular, we look forward to capitalizing on his expertise as a spokesperson to advocate for the field as a part of his presidency,” said Kristy Weinshel, SHEA’s executive director. “Dr. Weber has the unique ability to understand the challenges of infection prevention and position SHEA resources to address these challenges in a way that benefits our membership of 2,700 professionals and makes their jobs easier.”
Weber is an internationally recognized infectious diseases expert. His research focuses on healthcare-associated infections and new and emerging diseases, including COVID-19. He recently reached a milestone of authoring 50 articles on COVID alone. Last year, he led the development of a multi-society statement on behalf of SHEA and several other associations on COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for healthcare personnel. The statement has been influential among healthcare facilities setting vaccination expectations for new and existing employees. Weber also serves as an expert on SHEA’s Town Hall, an ongoing webinar series started in 2020 that addresses members’ questions regarding COVID, monkeypox, and other rapidly evolving infection prevention-related issues. More than 80 SHEA Town Halls have been offered to date.
“It is a great honor to be elected by my peers as vice-president in 2023, ascending to president in 2025,” Weber said. “My three main goals for the next several years are to improve the ability of public health and healthcare facilities to respond both to endemic COVID-19 and emerging outbreaks and pandemics, such as Ebola and monkeypox. Another goal is to support SHEA in continuing to expand its diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives. I also hope to better incorporate young professionals interested in infection prevention or antibiotic stewardship into SHEA, especially as part of its many committees and two journals.”
“Dr. Weber’s contributions to the field of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology over the last four decades are beyond measure,” said Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, director of infection prevention for UNC Medical Center. “I look forward to seeing SHEA continue to flourish under his steady and thoughtful leadership.”