CDC's Michael Bell to Give Keynote at AJMC Infectious Disease Conference in Atlanta

PLAINSBORO, N.J. — Michael Bell, MD, deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, will give the keynote address at the first annual conference, Value-Based Decision Making in Infectious Disease, presented by The American Journal of Managed Care. The conference will be September 25-26, 2014, in Atlanta, at the Loews Atlanta Hotel. For information and registration, click here.

Dr. Bell is an expert in drug-resistant pathogens and hospital acquired infections. Prior to his current position, he was the chief of the Epidemiology Unit at the Viral Special Pathogens Branch, addressing infection control for high-risk pathogens such as Ebola virus. Dr. Bell received his medical degree from the University of Washington and trained in Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado, and in Infectious Diseases at the University of California San Francisco.

The realm of infectious disease offers some of the nation’s greatest recent healthcare successes and its biggest challenges. Discussions about curing hepatitis C, preventing HIV, stopping hospital-acquired infections, and overusing antibiotics demand input from all parts of the system.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Bell, and we encourage all stakeholders who work in the area of infectious disease to join us for this important exchange,” said Brian Haug, president of The American Journal of Managed Care. “His insights in the areas of safety and prevention, both for patients and for healthcare personnel, are not to be missed.”

The format features speakers, panel discussions, networking, and participation from attendees. Agenda topics will include:

• Vaccination
• Antimicrobial stewardship, and the antimicrobial product pipeline
• Improving outcomes in viral hepatitis
• Current challenges in preventing and treating HIV.

Speakers already scheduled to participate in the event include:

• Edina Avdic, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, associate professor, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md.
• Christine S. Brennan, PhD, RN, NP-BC, assistant professor, Health Policy and System Management, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, La.
• David C. Epstein, MD, MBA, medical director, Aetna, Atlanta.
• Michael Mugavero, MD, MHSc, associate professor, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Ala.
• Andrew J. Muir, MD, MHS, associate professor of medicine and clinical director, Hepatology, Duke Gastroenterology, Durham, N.C.
• Igho Ofotokun, MD, MSc, associate professor, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta.
• John H. Powers, MD, FACP, FIDSA, assistant clinical professor, George Washington School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
• William Schaffner, MD, professor and chair, Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn.

Serving as moderators will be Jan Berger, MD, MJ, President and CEO of Health Intelligence Partners, Chicago, who is also editor-in-chief of The American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits, and Robert Navarro, PharmD, clinical professor, Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, Fla.

About the Journal

The American Journal of Managed Care, now in its 20^th year of publication, is the leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to issues in managed care. In December 2013, AJMC launched The American Journal of Accountable Care, which publishes research and commentary devoted to understanding changes to the healthcare system due to the 2010 Affordable Care Act. AJMC’s news publications, the Evidence-Based series, bring together stakeholder views from payers, providers, policymakers and pharmaceutical leaders in the areas of oncology, diabetes management, respiratory care, and immunology and infectious disease.

CONTACT: Mary Caffrey (609) 716-7777 x 144

mcaffrey@ajmc.com

www.ajmc.com