International Ambassadors Program

The International Ambassadors Program (IAP) was launched in 2009 to benefit the international community of healthcare professionals dedicated to infection prevention. The program is dedicated to building collaborative relationships between U.S. and international healthcare professionals with expertise in healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention.

Response to the IAP has been noteworthy since its inception: over 650 applicants from around the world have sought a place in this elite group. SHEA has welcomed 150 Ambassadors representing fifty-three countries:  Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic of Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, St. Kitts, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. For more information, please email ambassadors@shea-online.org.

The impact of this program within the Ambassadors’ regions as well as for SHEA’s international network is significant and continues to evolve. Ambassadors have organized training courses and educational meetings addressing infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship in India, China, Brazil, and the Philippines. Ambassadors have collaborated on a variety of projects, including outbreak investigation (India), educational programs (India; Philippines), development of professional networks within a country (Kenya), and research. Several ambassadors were even highlighted in a textbook, Best Practices in Infection Prevention and Control: An International Perspective, Second Edition, published jointly by SHEA and Joint Commission International.

International Ambassadors Program Goals

• Expand international representation of emerging leaders with potential for influence in epidemiology in order to positively impact infection prevention on a global scale.
• Build collaborative relationships between SHEA members and professionals in infection prevention and healthcare epidemiology that are sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships.
• Expose participants to the latest scientific content, research, and expertise related to infection prevention.
• Introduce ambassadors to leading industry vendors that serve this market in order to facilitate access to suppliers and partners to ultimately improve the quality of care.