Harvard Catalyst Profiles

My research focuses on healthcare-associated infections in children, as well as medical education. I was the principal investigator for a seminal randomized controlled trial demonstrating that alcohol-based hand sanitizers reduce the transmission of gastrointestinal illness in the homes of families with children in out-of-home childcare. I also conducted a randomized controlled trial that showed that hand sanitizer use and surface disinfection in elementary school classrooms can reduce student absenteeism from GI illness. I am a national expert in pediatric C. difficile infection; my work on CDI has included studies about risk factors, diagnostic tests, management, and attributable cost. I was a co-author of the SHEA/IDSA CDI guideline. Other areas of research interest include central-line associated bloodstream infections and antimicrobial stewardship.

I have also participated in scholarly projects in medical education. I was the senior author for a published national survey of pediatric residency program directors to assess procedural skills training for residents. I also helped guide the development of a procedural skills curriculum for pediatric residents and was the senior author for a randomized controlled trial to assess its effectiveness in improving procedural skills. This study received the APA Ray E. Helfer Award for Innovation in Pediatric Education at the 2007 Pediatric Academic Societies’ Annual Meeting. I led a national needs assessment of healthcare epidemiology training in pediatric ID fellowships that informed the content of a widely-used online training course for ID fellows. I have also published educational scholarship regarding training residents about research, teaching, and leadership.