Sepsis Alliance Symposium: Healthcare-Associated Infections 2025

Cindy Hou, DO, MA, MBA, CIC, CPHQ, FACOI, FACP, FIDSA, FAPIC, is the Infection Control Officer and Medical Director of Research for Jefferson Health – New Jersey and an Infectious Diseases specialist. She has expertise in sepsis, antibiotic stewardship, infection control, patient safety, clinical quality, equity, and language access.

Dr. Hou is the Chief Medical Officer of Sepsis Alliance and a member of its Board of Directors. She earned her M.B.A. and M.A. from Boston University, a D.O. from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, and her B.S. from Yale University.

Dr. Hou is the principal investigator for an Office of Minority Health grant to reduce inequities in those with limited English proficiency. She is the co-editor of the book, “COVID-19 Viral Sepsis: Impact on Disparities, Disability, and Health Outcomes.”

Dr. Hou has a Certification in Infection Prevention and Control, is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, and is a Certified Professional in Patient Safety. Dr. Hou is a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

Karen D. Estela, MPH, RN, CIC, FAPIC, is a distinguished healthcare leader at the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, with extensive expertise in quality, clinical nursing, and health equity. Board certified in Infection Prevention and Control and a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), Karen has made significant strides in reducing hospital-acquired infections through active surveillance, analysis, and education. She has held prominent leadership positions, including President of the APIC River Region Chapter, and serves on APIC’s Practice Guidance Committee, helping to shape standards in infection control. Karen’s work includes presenting at national conferences and publishing research, such as her study in PLoS ONE on SARS-Cov-2 B.1.1.529 infections and recent writing in Prevention Strategist about digital quality measures for hospital-onset bacteremia and fungemia. Her achievements have been recognized with honors including the 2022 Celebrate Nursing Award, the 2022 Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana Honor, and the 2025 Nightingale Award for Outstanding Community Achievement by a Nurse. Through her leadership and advocacy, Karen continues to drive improvements and promote inclusiveness in healthcare.

Paul Feuerstadt MD, FACG, AGAF, FRCPE, is a gastroenterologist practicing at the PACT-Gastroenterology Center and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine.

Dr. Feuerstadt’s focus includes the microbiota, C. difficile infection, eosinophilic disorders, intestinal ischemia, and acute and chronic changes in bowel habits. He has been a principal investigator on numerous clinical trials in these spaces. Within his practice, he is very active in teaching and volunteer work, locally and nationally for disease and discipline-specific initiatives.

Dr. Feuerstadt has authored and co-authored many manuscripts and textbook chapters. Another passion of Dr. Feuerstadt’s is teaching, frequently giving lectures locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. He works extensively with the gastroenterology fellows in the Division of Digestive Disease at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

His clinical practice at the PACT Gastroenterology Center is his ultimate passion, filling the majority of his work time.

Darlene K. Jubah, DNP, MPH, RN, CIC, NEA-BC, is a nurse with over 20 years of healthcare experience. As of 2022, she works as the Regional Manager, Infection Prevention at Inspira Health Network in New Jersey. Previously, she worked as an Infection Preventionist at other acute care facilities in the Philadelphia and New Jersey areas. She also currently serves as the president-elect for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology-APIC, Chapter 011- New Jersey.

Dr. Jubah is the owner and consultant at Keita Public Health Consulting. She offers expert advisory on healthcare, community and acute care prevention, and control practices as well as health promotion and disease prevention to community and organization leaders and executives.

Through her passion for education and coaching, Dr. Jubah serves as a part-time Clinical Adjunct Instructor. She is very passionate about empowering others through lived experiences and a shared vision of nursing empowerment and health equity.

Dr. Jubah is double board certified in Infection Control (CIC) and Nurse Executive Advanced (NEA-BC) and is a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. She holds a doctorate in Nursing Practice and a Master’s in Public Health.

Fizza Manzoor, MD, is a research fellow in the Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute. Her work focuses on advancing surveillance methods for healthcare-associated infections with a focus on hospital-onset sepsis. She received her medical degree and completed internal medicine residency at the University of Toronto, followed by infectious diseases fellowship training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Caitlin McGrath, MD, MS, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally from the Midwest, she completed medical school at UCLA, followed by a pediatrics residency and pediatric infectious diseases fellowship at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Dr. McGrath serves as Associate Medical Director for Infection Prevention for St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Her research interests include CLABSI prevention, and the intersection of HAIs with health equity. She cares for patients on the inpatient infectious diseases consult service and in general infectious diseases outpatient clinic. She enjoys partnering with patients, families, and care teams throughout the hospital to work collaboratively to prevent and treat infections. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her two young daughters, and exploring local parks and kid-friendly destinations.

Chanu Rhee, MD, MPH, is an Associate Professor of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an infectious disease and critical care physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital.  He is internationally recognized for his contributions and expertise in the epidemiology, surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, and management of sepsis and infections in critically ill patients. He conducts clinical and epidemiologic research with a particular focus on harnessing electronic health record data to generate insights that advance clinical practice, quality improvement, public health strategy, and healthcare policy. Dr. Rhee has been a leader in sepsis quality improvement efforts within the Mass General Brigham system and has participated in many national committees focused on improving sepsis care and outcomes, including in his current role as Chair of the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Sepsis Advisory Panel.

Dr. Rhee is an associate editor for Clinical Infectious Diseases, a member of the editorial boards for Critical Care Medicine and Critical Care Explorations, and a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and the American College of Critical Care Medicine.

Alex graduated from the University of California, Davis with a B.A. in Communication. After spending her senior year as Fundraising Chair for the women’s rugby team, Alex returned home to San Diego to plan events for military housing and then work as an Independent Contractor in marketing and event planning.

Alex started with Sepsis Alliance as the Events Coordinator in 2017. She then supported events, operations, and stewardship before moving to Communications and Marketing. She has a passion for sharing accurate, engaging information to help raise sepsis awareness.

Now located in the Bay Area, Alex keeps active by chasing her son and dog around.

Katie V. Taylor, MD, is the Medical Director of Infection Prevention at Our Lady of the Lake Health and is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC). She received her BS in Biochemistry from Louisiana State University and her MD from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Taylor completed her Internal Medicine residency at LSUHSC in Baton Rouge followed by Infectious Diseases fellowship at University of Florida. During medical school and residency, she was awarded for excellence in teaching by her peers. Her clinical duties include supervising LSU Infectious Diseases service at Our Lady of the Lake Health. She is the principal investigator for the research article published in PLos ONEon the clinical characteristics and outcomes of SARS-Cov-2 B.1.1.529 infection. She has presented oral abstract and posters on reducing hospital-acquired infections and infectious prevention.

Glenn Werneburg, MD, PhD, is a physician-scientist and urologist in neuro-urology and pelvic reconstruction at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on urologic infection and bridges basic science, translational medicine, and emerging technologies.  Dr. Werneburg serves in leadership roles across international societies, including the International Neurourology Society and the International Consultation on Incontinence–Research Society, where he has led global sessions on infection and lower urinary tract dysfunction. He has published over 60 manuscripts, is the recipient of the Diokno-Lapides Award, and has received research funding from the NIH, industry, and urologic societies.  In addition to his academic work, he consults with medical technology companies on device innovation, clinical trial design, and regulatory strategy.