April 16, 2015: New Structure for Epidemiology and Infection Control

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to share some important changes in the Johns Hopkins Health System's Office of Epidemiology and Infection Prevention.

It is with mixed emotions that we announce that Trish Perl, the Johns Hopkins Health System's senior epidemiologist, has decided to step down from her current position. She will be shifting her work focus toward our growing international work and enhancing our research in infection control and prevention. We are grateful that Trish will continue on with Johns Hopkins in a faculty appointment, where she will complete further research in this important area.

A globally recognized health care epidemiologist, Trish has extensive research experience in the field of health care-associated infections and resistance. Her ability to translate this knowledge into practical solutions for hospitals allowed her to successfully co-lead the health system's Ebola virus disease preparedness efforts. Her leadership has helped build the Johns Hopkins Health System's infection prevention program and improved patient safety and quality of care. Her continued research will further Johns Hopkins' infection prevention expertise abroad.

Lisa Maragakis, who has served for the past four years as the director of the Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, will now serve as the senior director of infection prevention for the Johns Hopkins Health System. Polly Trexler, the director of operations for the Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, will now serve as the director of infection prevention for the Johns Hopkins Health System. Under their guidance, the institution will continue to be a leader in health care epidemiology and infection prevention by promoting patient safety and reducing the risk of acquiring infections.

Lisa will also co-lead a new Health Care Epidemiology and Infection Control Clinical Community with Mark Landrum, section chief of medicine and infectious disease at Howard County General Hospital. Following the successful structure of other clinical communities, this peer-driven network will establish safety and quality priorities, set goals aimed at reducing the transmission of infections, and coordinate infection control efforts and safety protocols across the health system.

Aaron Milstone, the associate epidemiologist for The Johns Hopkins Hospital, will now serve as the pediatric infection prevention lead for the health system. In this role, he will work with the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality; Lisa and Mark in the new clinical community; and Marlene Miller, the vice chair for quality and safety for the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

We greatly appreciate all that Trish has and will continue to contribute to Johns Hopkins. Please join us in wishing her luck in her new position and in welcoming Lisa, Polly, Mark and Aaron to their new, critical roles. 

Sincerely,

Peter J. Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality
Senior Vice President for Patient Safety and Quality
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ronald R. Peterson
President, The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System
EVP, Johns Hopkins Medicine​