PDI Perspective Podcast: Tridemic: Risk to Healthcare Systems as Flu. RSV, and COVID Cases Rise

PDI’s Marc-Oliver Wright, MT(ASCP), MS, CIC, FAPIC, interviews infection prevention experts Dr. David Weber, MD, MPH, FIDSA, FSHEA, FRSM (London),  and Benjamin Galvan MLS (ASCP), CIC, CPH in this podcast Tridemic: Risk to Healthcare Systems as Flu. RSV, and COVID Cases Rise.

In this interview, Dr. Weber and Benjamin Galvan provide valuable perspectives on preemptive approaches healthcare facilities, medical professionals and consumers can take to prevent and prepare.

Dr. David Jay Weber: Dr. Weber is board certified in Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease, Critical Care Medicine, and Preventive Medicine.  He has been on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 1985 where he is currently the Charles Addison and Elizabeth Ann Sanders Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Epidemiology in the UNC School of Medicine, and UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

He serves as an Associate Chief Medical Officer for UNC Medical Center. He also serves as Medical Director of the Department of Infection Prevention UNC Medical Center. He is the Medical Director of the North Carolina Statewide Infection Control Program (SPICE), a Chair of UNC Biomedical IRB, and serves as the UNC Principle Investigator on the CDC sponsored Duke-UNC Epicenter. Dr. Weber is an Associate Editor of Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology and the Secretary of the SHEA Board. He is the Chair of the NC Health Department’s Tuberculosis Advisory Committee.

Benjamin D. Galvan, MLS (ASCP), CIC, CPH: Benjamin is a board-certified infection preventionist with over 7 years of experience in the acute-care, academic healthcare setting. Recently accepting the Director of Infection Prevention role for HCA Florida South Tampa and West Tampa Hospitals, part of the HCA West Florida Division, Benjamin has demonstrated a passion for infection prevention and patient safety by leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration and performance improvement methodologies to improve health outcomes. In June 2021, Benjamin was awarded the inaugural Emerging Leader in Infection Prevention award by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). In 2015, Benjamin attained his bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and is presently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Health at the University of South Florida.