#United States #Infection Control #Shahbaz Salehi #Foothill Regional #Tustin

Celebrating a Leader in Infection Control

In a significant recognition of excellence within the field of infection prevention, Shahbaz Salehi, the Director of Infection Control at Foothill Regional Medical Center, has been honored as the 2024 Educator of the Year by Infection Control Today. This prestigious accolade speaks to Salehi's exceptional commitment to education and his critical role in empowering others to achieve meaningful outcomes in infection control.

An Esteemed Award

According to Tori Whitacre Martonicz, Senior Editor at Infection Control Today, this award is bestowed upon individuals demonstrating unmatched passion and dedication. “The evaluation committee, consisting of industry experts and leaders, unanimously recognized Salehi as a standout candidate among many outstanding nominations received from across the nation,” she explained.

Araceli Lonergan, the CEO of Foothill Regional Medical Center, expressed her pride in Salehi’s accomplishment. “His unwavering commitment reflects our organization’s core values and sets a benchmark for excellence in infection control practices.”

Contributions to Infection Education

Salehi's vast contributions to the field extend beyond his leadership role at Foothill Regional. He is an influential educator, teaching the course "Infection Control in a Hospital Setting" at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Extension, which is recognized as one of the few certification programs in the U.S. for infection control. Additionally, he serves as a subject matter expert, offering insights to universities reviewing public health courses and refining their training on sepsis—a severe response to infection.

Moreover, Salehi has played a pivotal role in analyzing certification exam questions for the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), ensuring that the standards for infection control education are rigorous and effective.

In accepting the award, Salehi reflected on the importance of education: “Receiving this award is a true honor. Education is the cornerstone of impactful change, and I consider it a privilege to equip others to lead initiatives in public health and infection control.”

A Beacon of Success

Under Salehi’s stewardship, Foothill Regional Medical Center has achieved stellar recognition, including being one of the top 10% of hospitals in the U.S. to report a zero-infection rate for Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Notably, Foothill is the only full-service acute care hospital in Orange County to report no cases of this serious healthcare-associated infection in the latest CMS survey.

About Foothill Regional Medical Center

Foothill Regional Medical Center, located in Tustin, California, is an acute care facility housing 177 beds including a pediatric subacute unit. The hospital is committed to offering a wide spectrum of high-quality medical services, including general and specialized surgery, a state-of-the-art orthopedics and spine program, and a nationally accredited weight management program. Foothill Regional is part of Prospect Medical, which oversees medical groups and 16 hospitals across six states.

For more information on their programs and initiatives, you can visit FoothillRegionalMedicalCenter.com or call 714-619-7700.

Infection Control Today is also a leader in the industry, providing valuable insights, breaking news, and expert-driven content to professionals focused on infection prevention. This platform is vital for those involved in reducing infection rates, setting the standard for credible information in the field.

This honor bestowed upon Shahbaz Salehi not only highlights individual achievement but also shines a light on the critical and ongoing efforts within the medical community to enhance patient care and safety through education and effective infection control practices.