A gold champion's trophy

Nasia Safdar, MD, PhD, Professor in the Division of Infectious Disease within the Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, will be honored with the 2020 Distinguished Scientist Award from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).  

The award recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to the science of infection prevention and control. Recipients are selected by the APIC Research Committee.  

“We are proud to recognize Dr. Safdar’s research and contributions to the prevention of healthcare-associated infections,” says 2020 APIC President Connie Steed. “Her work is of paramount importance to reduce the burden of infections on patients and the healthcare system.”

Safdar is a professor in the Division of Infectious Disease within the Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and holds affiliate appointments in the Department of Population Health and the Division of Geriatrics, as well as the Division of Industrial and Systems Engineering. She is also vice chair for Research in the Department of Medicine and the Medical Director of Infection Control at UW Hospital and Clinics. Dr. Safdar is currently a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Safdar’s research focuses on identifying, testing, and implementing novel interventions to reduce and prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), such as the use of probiotics for reducing colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile. She leads the fecal bacteriotherapy program at UW Hospital and is the principal investigator for several ongoing trials assessing fecal microbiota transplantation as an intervention to reduce HAIs. Dr. Safdar has authored articles for more than 200 medical journals.

Among the awards she has received in recognition of her professional accomplishments are the John Q. Sherman Award for Excellence in Patient Engagement (2014) and the President’s Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2017).