Muhammad Salman Ashraf, MBBS, associate professor in the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases, has been appointed to the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
His term on the committee begins immediately and runs through June 30, 2028.
Dr. Ashraf said he was honored and humbled be invited by the CDC to serve on the HICPAC.
“I am passionate about tracking and preventing health care-associated infections, and I focus heavily on helping Nebraska health care facilities strengthen their infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship programs,” Dr. Ashraf said. “This appointment will provide me with an opportunity to represent UNMC at the national level and participate in the development of various guidelines, policy statements and surveillance methods.”
The work he will be involved in, he said, will inform infection control practices along with surveillance, prevention and control efforts for health care-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance in U.S. health care facilities.
“I take this responsibility very seriously,” Dr. Ashraf said. “I am looking forward to working alongside other committee members on these important projects for the duration of my term.”
Mark Rupp, MD, interim chair of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine, said the appointment highlights Dr. Ashraf’s stature in the field.
“The CDC Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee is a very important federal advisory committee that provides advice and guidance to HHS and CDC regarding surveillance and prevention of health care associated infections, antimicrobial resistance and related topics for all health care settings in the United States,” Dr. Rupp said. “The members of HICPAC are subject matter experts who are appointed by the secretary of HHS after a thorough application and nomination process. Dr. Ashraf’s appointment to HICPAC is a tremendous acknowledgment of his profession expertise and national reputation.”
David Warren, MD, chief of the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases, said:
“The selection of Dr. Ashraf to serve as an expert on HICPAC is a testament to his expertise and a reflection of the work he has done in the Nebraska to protect our patients and healthcare personnel.”
Dr. Ashraf joined UNMC in 2016 as the medical director for Nebraska Infection Control Assessment and Promotion program, which has expanded significantly under his leadership, now considered an essential infection prevention and control resource for the state of Nebraska. During the pandemic, the program helped health care facilities across Nebraska, especially long-term care facilities, in their COVID-19 outbreaks prevention and containment efforts, with Dr. Ashraf contributing to the development of many tools, templates and guidance. These resources and information were all made available to anyone through the Nebraska ICAP website.
He also helped health care facilities strengthen their antimicrobial stewardship programs, as the co-medical director for the Nebraska Antimicrobial Stewardship Assessment and Promotion Program.
Starting January 2022, Dr. Ashraf took on a new role as the medical director for Nebraska DHHS Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program that works alongside Nebraska ICAP and ASAP in preventing health care-associated infections and limiting the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms in the state. Under his leadership, the Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program is focused on assisting Nebraska health care facilities in their efforts to provide high quality and safe medical care.