Christopher D. Busky, CAE, the chief executive officer of IDSA and the IDSA Foundation, has played a transformative role in guiding the Society through pivotal and challenging times over the course of his nine-year tenure. Busky recently announced that he will be stepping down, effective Jan. 2, 2026, to spend more time with his family.
Busky took on the role of CEO in 2016, bringing with him a wealth of experience in association management, organizational leadership, and strategic planning. Under his steady leadership, the Society increased its membership by 25%, significantly expanding its reach and influence domestically and internationally.
During his tenure, IDSA adopted an Inclusion, Diversity, Access & Equity Roadmap & Strategy in 2018. Since then, Busky has overseen efforts to embed the principles of IDA&E and health equity into the Society’s culture and programming by boosting representation across many demographic aspects to ensure the Society’s offerings, support and guidance are relevant to all members.
Beginning in 2020, Busky led the Society through the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic. He ensured the Society played a crucial role in informing national policy and in developing evidence-based treatment and management guidelines.
Under Busky’s leadership, IDSA launched the Physician Compensation Initiative, calling attention to the disparity in compensation that exists for ID compared to other specialties and developing physician negotiation education and training resources. A new add-on billing code for ID — developed and advocated for by IDSA to improve ID compensation — was adopted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2025.
Busky was instrumental in guiding the Board of Directors through a comprehensive refinement of IDSA’s strategic plan, culminating in a plan for 2025-2030 that prioritizes building and sustaining a broad, diverse and valued ID workforce; promoting IDSA as the leader and trusted source for timely, evidence-based ID content and expertise; and expanding IDSA’s leadership in preventing, preparing for and responding to ID threats.
In addition, Busky played a vital role in updating the Society’s volunteer structure and expanding how ID fellows can get involved in IDSA. During his tenure, IDSA also developed and introduced a new brand and website, launched in the spring of 2025, along with a revised mission, vision and purpose, highlighting the compassion, curiosity and knowledge that define the ID field.
For his steadfast leadership of the Society for the past nine years, IDSA is proud to honor Busky with a Society Citation Award.