Healthcare Access, Inclusion and Representation

SHEA is committed to promoting accessible and safe healthcare for all. Through research, education, and collaboration, we work to address barriers to care and support initiatives that foster representation and inclusion across healthcare settings.

Our Commitment

SHEA is dedicated to providing fair opportunities and access to all individuals regardless of race, color, ethnic or national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, citizenship, or veteran status.

We are committed to cultivating leadership, membership, and programming that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. This includes representation within SHEA’s committees, conference speakers, and guidelines panels.

SHEA promotes research and practices that reduce inequities in care by addressing the effects of racism, discrimination, and marginalization within antimicrobial stewardship and healthcare epidemiology.

We promote a professional environment and code of conduct that includes equitable and nonjudgmental treatment of SHEA members and the communities they serve.

About the CHAIR Committee

The SHEA Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) committee is a critical driver in fostering real organizational change, establishing a dedicated focus on diversity and inclusion priorities, and promoting SHEA’s DEI program. The committee sets and reviews measurable DEI objectives and actively monitors progress by working with other committees, Journals, and the SHEA Board of Trustees. The committee’s workplan goals focus on organizational functions aligned with the SHEA strategic plan (membership, education, leadership, and research) and health determinants related to DEI in the communities served by our membership.

SHEA DEI goals as part of our strategic plan

  1. Identify goals for diversity, equity, and inclusion among SHEA volunteers, especially within speaker, author, and leadership roles.
  2. Identify and implement how SHEA will measure progress toward DEI goals.
  3. Segment and target SHEA communications to ensure our issues cover all SHEA membership groups with programs and services.
  4. Collaborate with like-minded organizations as appropriate.
  5. Encourage research that investigates disparities and inequities that exist in healthcare epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship practice.

DEI accomplishments

  • Completed a survey deployed to the SHEA membership to collect and establish baseline data to begin measuring progress toward achieving the DEI goals included in the SHEA strategic plan.
  • Developed a plan to improve member volunteer engagement from underrepresented demographic to create a more diverse and representative leadership body.
  • Identified parameters for committee leadership appointments to ensure a diverse and representative leadership body.
  • Delivered DEI training and assessment tools for SHEA leaders during the leadership onboarding process.
  • Developed an internal guide for adopting inclusive language in SHEA communication pieces.
  • Collaborated with Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology on a DEI special issue

SHEA health equity online programming

Select health equity journal articles

Konold VJL, Weissman SJ, Kronman MP, et al. Identifying and addressing social determinants of health in pediatric outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 2023;44(5):850-852. doi:10.1017/ice.2023.36

Soma M, Scebold J, Vasa A, et al. Resources needed by critical access hospitals to address identified infection prevention and control program gaps. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology. 2024;4(1):e34. doi:10.1017/ash.2024.32

Eustace MB, Hall L, Patel B, Wozniak TM. Responding to the AMR threat: data and information needs of stakeholders working in regional and remote Australia. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology. 2024;4(1):e94. doi:10.1017/ash.2024.87

Abdul-Mutakabbir JC, Tan KK, Johnson CL, McGrath CL, Zerr DM, Marcelin JR. Prioritizing Equity in Antimicrobial Stewardship Efforts (EASE): a framework for infectious diseases clinicians. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology. 2024;4(1):e74. doi:10.1017/ash.2024.69

Select health equity commentaries

Calfee DP. Putting the “all” in “safe health care for all.” Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 2024;45(4):420-421. doi:10.1017/ice.2024.33

Schrodt CA, Hart AM, Calanan RM, McLees AW, Perz JF, Perkins KM. Health equity: The missing data elements in healthcare outbreak response. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 2023;44(5):849-850. doi:10.1017/ice.2023.49

Marcelin JR, Hicks LA, Evans CD, Wiley Z, Kalu IC, Abdul-Mutakabbir JC. Advancing health equity through action in antimicrobial stewardship and healthcare epidemiology. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 2024;45(4):412-419. doi:10.1017/ice.2024.7

Abdul-Mutakabbir JC, Simiyu B. Exploring the intersection of racism, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccine equity. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology. 2022;2(1):e134. doi:10.1017/ash.2022.283

SHEA media releases related to health equity

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