Professor Alison Holmes has been elected President of the International Society of Infectious Diseases (ISID)’s Executive Committee. Alison is a professor of Infectious Diseases at Imperial College, a Fellow of the UK’s Academy of Medical Sciences and a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator.
Marc Mendelson, now Past-President of ISID, says, “I am absolutely delighted to be welcoming Professor Alison Holmes into her new role as President of ISID as I step into the past-president’s post. Alison is the consummate Clinician Scientist, highly decorated in clinical and research achievements, who has built up a formidable network of research collaborations across the world. Her work to date with ISID has seen the launch of her highly successful Emerging Leaders initiative that has proven brought the next generation of infection specialists and leaders in the field to the fore. Her roles on the publications and education committees saw rapid growth in both activities and the next 2 years will be an exciting and productive time, with her at the helm.”
Alison has a longstanding clinical and research career in global infectious diseases, with particular interests in antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), epidemiology and public health within healthcare and has served on the Executive Committee of the ISID since 2014, chairing the Education and the Publications Committee and introducing the Emerging Leaders initiative.
The president is the Chief Executive Officer of the organization and leads the organization during their tenure. They work closely with the ISID’s Executive Director and team. The ISID President is chair of the Executive Committee as well as various standing committees, appointing task forces and volunteers as needed. They also host the International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID).
“I am very excited about working directly with Dr. Holmes. Her activities in the ISID around emerging professionals and operations have really helped keep the organization moving in the right direction.” Joshua Caulfield, ISID’s Executive Director says.
Alison leads a large multidisciplinary research group and network, with strong international collaborations. She is Director of the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI) and AMR and the Centre of Antimicrobial Optimisation at Imperial College. In the National Health Service, she is an Associate Medical Director leading a multi-professional service and a senior ID consultant. In addition to her work in infectious diseases, she has served as medical advisor to VSO, UK and has been involved in refugee health, and in health and human rights. She served as an expert member of the Governmental Advisory Committee on AMR and HCAI for nine years and she now chairs the Technical Advisory Group for the Fleming Fund. She sits on a variety of WHO expert groups and committees and sits on or chairs numerous national and international scientific advisory boards, funding panels and editorial boards.
Professor Alison Holmes begins her tenure as President of the International Society of Infectious Diseases effective March 10, 2020.