Please describe your work in advancing health equity in infectious diseases. What are you most proud of and what has been its impact on reducing health disparities?
My work in advancing health equity in infectious diseases has focused on ensuring that vulnerable populations – particularly neonates, children, pregnant women and patients with limited health literacy – receive timely, evidence-based and equitable antimicrobial care. As an infectious diseases clinical pharmacist practicing in a maternity and children’s hospital within the Hail Health Cluster, I serve a population that includes high-risk patients, families from rural and underserved areas, and individuals facing barriers related to access, education and continuity of care.
One of my most meaningful contributions has been leading and sustaining antimicrobial stewardship initiatives designed to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use in pediatric and maternal populations. Prior to these efforts, unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for self-limiting respiratory infections disproportionately affected children and families with limited access to follow-up care, increasing their risk of adverse drug events and antimicrobial resistance. Through guideline-driven interventions, prescriber education and real-time clinical decision support, I helped achieve a measurable reduction in unnecessary antibiotic prescribing while maintaining patient safety and clinical outcomes. This work directly promoted equity by protecting vulnerable patients from avoidable harm and preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobials for those who truly need them.
I am particularly proud of my role in integrating equitable infectious diseases care into daily clinical practice rather than treating equity as a separate initiative. This includes advocating for individualized dosing and monitoring for neonates and critically ill children, ensuring appropriate access to restricted antimicrobials, and collaborating closely with physicians, nurses and families to support shared decision-making. By prioritizing clear communication and culturally sensitive counseling, I have worked to reduce disparities related to health literacy and ensure that families understand treatment plans and infection-prevention strategies.
Additionally, through my role in pharmacy education and training, I have emphasized health equity principles for pharmacy trainees and interdisciplinary teams, reinforcing the importance of evidence-based, unbiased care for all patients regardless of age, socioeconomic status or geographic location. By embedding stewardship, patient safety and equity into training and practice standards, this work contributes to sustained, system-level improvements rather than isolated outcomes.
Overall, the impact of my work has been improved antimicrobial use, reduced exposure to unnecessary therapies and more consistent application of evidence-based infectious diseases care across vulnerable populations. I am most proud that these efforts have translated into tangible improvements in patient safety and stewardship while advancing a culture that recognizes equitable care as a core responsibility of infectious diseases practice.
What inspired you to focus on health equity? How has it shaped your career?
My focus on health equity was inspired by my early clinical experiences caring for vulnerable populations – particularly neonates, children and pregnant women – where small differences in access, communication or clinical decision-making could lead to disproportionately large differences in outcomes. Practicing in a maternity and children’s hospital serving a diverse population, including families from rural and underserved areas, made it clear to me that equitable infectious diseases care requires more than clinical expertise; it requires intentional advocacy, education and system-level stewardship.
I became especially aware of how inappropriate antimicrobial use and variability in care often affected patients with limited health literacy or access to follow-up services. Seeing preventable adverse effects, resistance patterns and treatment failures reinforced my commitment to ensuring that evidence-based care is applied consistently and fairly to all patients. This realization motivated me to pursue advanced training and American board certification in infectious diseases and to focus my clinical work on antimicrobial stewardship as a mechanism for promoting equity.
Health equity has since become a guiding principle in my career. It has shaped my approach to clinical practice by prioritizing individualized, patient-centered therapy, advocating for appropriate antimicrobial access and emphasizing clear, culturally sensitive communication with patients and families. It has also influenced my leadership and educational roles, where I strive to equip trainees and colleagues with the tools to recognize and address inequities in infectious diseases management.
Ultimately, my commitment to health equity has transformed my role from providing individual patient care to driving sustainable practice improvements that reduce disparities, improve safety and ensure that high-quality infectious diseases care is delivered consistently across vulnerable populations. This perspective continues to guide my professional growth and leadership aspirations in infectious diseases pharmacy.
What advice would you give to others looking to drive meaningful change in health equity?
Driving meaningful change in health equity begins with recognizing that equity is achieved through consistent, evidence-based actions embedded in everyday clinical practice – not through isolated initiatives. My first advice is to start where you are and focus on the patients most affected by variability in care. Identifying patterns of inappropriate treatment, barriers to access or gaps in communication within your own practice setting allows equity efforts to be both measurable and sustainable.
Second, use data to guide and support change. Health disparities often become visible when prescribing patterns, outcomes or access to therapies are examined systematically. Data-driven stewardship, quality improvement and outcomes tracking provide the credibility needed to advocate for practice changes and ensure that interventions benefit all patient populations equitably.
Third, meaningful progress requires interdisciplinary collaboration and humility. Engaging physicians, nurses, pharmacists and patients in shared decision-making fosters trust and helps uncover barriers that may not be immediately apparent. Equally important is listening to patients and families – particularly those with limited health literacy or access – so that care plans are realistic, understandable and culturally sensitive.
Finally, invest in education and mentorship. Sustainable equity is achieved when clinicians are trained to recognize bias, apply evidence consistently and advocate for vulnerable populations. By integrating health equity principles into training, policies and clinical standards, individual efforts can evolve into system-level change that endures beyond any single project or role.