COVID-19 Viral Sepsis. Impact on Disparities, Disability, and Health Outcomes

Authors

Uzma Syed Partner, South Shore Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine Consultants; Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence; Chairperson COVID-19 Task Force, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, New York, USA. Dr. Uzma Syed is a TEDx speaker, author, infectious diseases and global health expert, and leader who speaks in media and conferences on both a national and global scale. She has led during the COVID-19 pandemic in her medical field, health system, local community, as well as for the broad Muslim community as the infectious disease expert on the National Muslim COVID-19 Task Force. She is a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) AU:2 and was selected to be a part of the IDSA leadership Institute. Dr. Syed sits on numerous national committees including IDSA's Inclusion, Diversity, Access & Equity Task Force as well as their Value Based Compensation Task Force. Dr. Syed was selected to serve on the Sepsis Alliance's board of directors and cochairs the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee of the Sepsis Alliance. She has been working with the Biden administration to promote vaccine and health equity as an executive member of Faiths4Vaccines and has partnered with USAID. She is passionate about education and mentorship and is the founder/CEO of Align Us, a youth career mentorship organization. She also leads The Eid Holiday Coalition, which provides resources and tools for communities to obtain Eid holidays in schools across the nation. Dr. Syed has been recognized as a trailblazer by many local, state, and national organizations for her work, including being presented with the prestigious national Muslim woman leadership award in the company of her excellency Emine Erdogan the first lady of Turkiye. Her humanitarian work has spanned from refugee resettlements to soup kitchens/toy drives. Dr. Syed gave the keynote address at the University of New England's White Coat Ceremony for the class of 2026. Dr. Syed also shared her expertise at the 9th Annual Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace among global leaders and diplomats regarding global health, climate change, and food insecurities. Cindy Hou Infection Control Officer, Jefferson Medical Group, Voorhees, NJ, United States. Dr. Cindy Hou is the infection control officer and medical director of research for Jefferson Health, New Jersey (JNJ), and an infectious diseases specialist. She is dually board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Dr. Hou has expertise in sepsis, antibiotic stewardship, and infection control. In addition, she is the chief medical officer of the Sepsis Alliance and a member of its board of directors; in addition, she is a medical advisor for the Sepsis Innovation Collaborative. She earned an MBA. and MA from Boston University, a DO from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, and BS from Yale University. She is certified in infection prevention and control and is a certified professional in healthcare quality and patient safety. Dr. Hou is a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Physicians, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.