The SHEA Podcast

On this episode of the SHEA Podcast, Executive Director Kristy Weinshel welcomes Dr. Lisa Maragakis, SHEA’s 2026 president. Dr. Maragakis shares her journey in infection prevention, her path to leadership within SHEA, and her vision for the organization in the year ahead. Tune in for insights on mentorship, balancing leadership roles, and the key challenges and priorities facing SHEA members in 2026.

As SHEA closes out the year, Executive Director Kristy Weinshel sits down with SHEA President Dr. David Weber to reflect on his term and the state of infection prevention. Dr. Weber shares accomplishments, challenges, insights on policy and advocacy, and how the field has evolved over the past year. He also looks ahead to what’s next for SHEA and offers advice for those considering a career in infection prevention.

In this episode of the SHEA Podcast, host Dr. Jonathan Ryder moderates a lively pro/con debate on one of the most discussed biomarkers in infectious diseases: procalcitonin.

Joining the conversation are two experts with distinct perspectives: Dr. Michael Mansour, Clinician Investigator and Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Sheetal Kandiah, Senior Physician and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University; Director of the Antibiotic Stewardship Program at Grady Hospital.

Together, they explore where PCT may (or may not) add value in antimicrobial stewardship programs. Tune in for an insightful exchange that will help stewards, clinicians, and ID professionals better understand where PCT fits into today’s rapidly evolving diagnostic landscape.

In this episode of The SHEA Podcast, host Dr. Jonathan Ryder (University of Nebraska Medical Center) speaks with Dr. Aditi Ramakrishnan (Washington University in St. Louis) about how antimicrobial stewardship programs can play a vital role in managing and preventing resistant sexually transmitted infections. They explore the challenges and opportunities at this intersection — from the promise and controversy surrounding doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP), to the debate over routine STI screening among populations on PrEP, and the broader stewardship considerations beyond antibiotic use.

In this episode, Dr. Madhuri Sopirala, Medical Director and Chief of Infection Prevention at Parkland Health and Chair of SHEA’s Infection Prevention and Control Burn Unit Special Interest Group, moderates a timely conversation on the unique challenges of infection prevention in burn units. She is joined by Dr. Samuel Mandell, Associate Professor of Surgery at UT Southwestern and Director of the Parkland Regional Burn Center, and Dr. David Weber, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Infection Prevention at UNC Medical Center, as well as current SHEA Board of Trustees President. Together, they explore why burn units require specialized approaches to infection prevention, the nuances of distinguishing outbreaks from baseline infection risks, and strategies for optimizing burn unit design to improve patient safety. The discussion also highlights often-overlooked vectors of infection, emerging research priorities, and what the future may hold for advancing infection prevention in burn care.