Sepsis remains a leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals and delayed or missed diagnosis continues to drive poor outcomes. Mortality increases by 4–9% for every hour treatment is delayed, yet missed infections, most commonly those that progress to sepsis, remain a leading source of diagnostic error. Rapid recognition and timely treatment can save up to 80% of patients with septic shock.
Advances in molecular diagnostics, host-response biomarkers, and AI-enabled decision support offer new opportunities to improve early sepsis recognition. Diagnostic stewardship, which includes ensuring appropriate test selection, interpretation, and action, is an essential but underutilized strategy to maximize the impact of these innovations.
The Sepsis Alliance Symposium: Diagnostics and Diagnostic Stewardship will convene clinicians, laboratorians, pharmacists, researchers, and healthcare leaders to address critical gaps in diagnostic accuracy and implementation. This virtual program will highlight emerging technologies, real-world case examples, and practical strategies to strengthen diagnostic stewardship and improve patient outcomes.
Agenda
March 11, 2026
| Time (ET) | Session Title | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00-10:20 | Opening Remarks | |
| 10:25-11:10 | Keynote | Steven Q. Simpson, MD Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine University of Kansas |
| 11:15-12:15 | Sepsis Signals: Applying CDC Diagnostic Stewardship to Drive Value-Based Sepsis Care | J. Hudson Garrett Jr., Ph.D., MSN, MPH, MBA, IP-BC, PLNC, CFER, AS-BC, VA-BC, CAIP, CMRP, HACP, HACP-IC, HACP-PE, LTC-CIP, CIC, DICO-C, HEM, CPPS, CPHFH, CCHR-S, CPHQ, CVAHP, CPXP, CDIPC, CPHRM, CHIPP-B, FACDONA, FAAPM, eFACHDM, FAPIC, FAOM, FRSPH, FRSM, FNAP, FAHVAP, FACHE, FSHEA, FIDSA Executive Director and Executive Vice President, Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP) Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine Ruth Carrico, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CIC, FSHEA, FNAP, FAAN Senior Consultant, Carrico & Ramierz, PLLC Professor – Adjunct Faculty, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine |
| 12:20-12:35 | Break | Vitaly Herasevich, MD, PhD Professor of Anesthesiology and Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Mayo Clinic |
| 12:35-1:05 | More info to come | |
| 1:10-1:40 | Advancing Diagnostic Stewardship: Case Studies in Optimizing Sepsis Care | Edward Septimus, MD, FIDSA, FACP, FSHEA Advisory Panel Member, Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Sepsis Advisory Panel; Professor, Texas A&M College of Medicine; Senior Lecturer, Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School; Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute |
| 1:45-2:15 | Faster Together: Collaborative Models for Turning Sepsis Diagnosis into Action | Daniel A. Green, MD Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons |
| 2:20-2:30 | Closing Remarks |
Sepsis Alliance gratefully acknowledges the monetary support provided by Beckman Coulter for Day 1 of the Sepsis Alliance Symposium: Diagnostics and Diagnostic Stewardship.
March 12, 2026
| Time (ET) | Session Title | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00-10:20 | Opening Remarks | |
| 10:25-10:55 | Keynote | |
| 11:00-11:30 | More info to come | |
| 11:35-11:55 | Break | |
| 11:55-12:25 | More info to come | |
| 12:30-1:00 | More info to come | |
| 1:05-1:35 | More info to come | |
| 1:35-1:55 | Break | |
| 1:55-2:25 | More info to come | |
| 2:30-3:00 | More info to come | |
| 3:05-3:15 | Closing Remarks |
Sepsis Alliance Institute events have transitioned to a new platform! You will be required to create a new account on this new platform for the event. Please email us at institute@sepsis.org with any questions.
FREE CME and Nursing CE Credits Offered!
Continuing medical education credits and nursing education credits will be available, as will post-event access to resources, ideas, and innovations to improve diagnostic stewardship.
Sepsis Alliance is a Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068.
Sepsis Alliance is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Attending Sepsis Alliance Summit? Help us Kickstart the impact!
As you prepare to join us at Sepsis Alliance Symposium: Diagnostics and Diagnostic Stewardship, we’re inviting you to help Sepsis Alliance continue producing critical sepsis education for healthcare professionals. Your gift today will ensure all healthcare professionals have access to timely, life-saving sepsis education.