Workgroups and Projects

Do you have a great idea or initiative you'd like to lead under IDCOP? We welcome new proposals that align with the mission of the Infectious Diseases Community of Practice. Click here to submit a Workgroup Proposal Form

• AST ID COP Working Group Committee Process
• AST ID COP Survey Distribution
• New Research Project Submissions to ID COP

IDCOP Workgroups & Contacts Directory 

Browse our active workgroups below. Each section lists the Chair(s) and Past Chair (when applicable), along with their email contacts. If you’re interested in learning more or getting involved, reach out directly. 
Note: Each workgroup’s current projects will be added as they are updated. 

Antimicrobial Stewardship Workgroup
Chair: Jennifer Pissano – jpisano@bsd.uchicago.edu 
Co-Chair: Hannah Imlay – hannah.imlay@hsc.utah.edu 
Past Chair: Jonathan Hand – jonathan.hand@ochsner.org 
Active Project List: 

• Create a survey to identify pre-transplant antibiotic practices at liver transplant centers
• Plan a multicenter study of pre-transplant antibiotic use and outcomes data
• Develop a tool (s) to assist current antimicrobial stewardship efforts in SOT patients around allergy de-labeling 

Donor Evaluation Workgroup 
Chair: Mike Ison – mgison@gmail.com 
Co-Chair: Stephanie Pouch – stephanie.pouch@emory.edu 
Current Project: Complete the output of the AST Donor Evaluation Consensus Conference

Education Workgroup 

Chair: Saman Nematollahi – nematollahi@gmail.com 
Co-Chair: Priya Kodiyanplakkal – rosypriya@gmail.com 
Past Chair: Julie Steinbrink – julie.steinbrink@duke.edu 
Subgroups and projects:

• TID Challenge Cup
• TID Landscape Subgroup
• TID Online Core Curriculum Subgroup

Fellowship Program Directors Workgroup 
Chair: Courtney Harris – courtneyharrismd134@gmail.com 
Co-Chair: Joanna Schaenman – jschaenman@mednet.ucla.edu 
Current Project: Discuss paths towards accreditation of transplant infectious disease fellowship training

HIV Workgroup 
Chair: Maricar Malinis – maricar.malinis@vumc.org 
Co-Chair: Blair Weikert – blair.weikert@uphs.upenn.edu 
Past Chair: Sapna Mehta – sapna.mehta@nyulangone.org 
Current Project: Engage members of the HIV working group in research. Initiate a multi-center, retrospective, observational study proposal evaluating the clinical outcomes of belatacept amongst kidney transplant recipients living with HIV.

MDRO (Multidrug-Resistant Organisms) 
Chair: Marcus Pereira – mp2323@cumc.columbia.edu 
Co-Chair: Aaron Mishkin – aaron.mishkin@tuhs.temple.edu 
Past Chair: Judith Anesi – judith.anesi@pennmedicine.upenn.edu 
Current Projects:

• Describe real-world experience on maribavir use for resistant/refractory CMV infection
• Describe Risk factor and outcomes of Candida auris in solid organ transplant donors and transplant candidates 
• Describe risk factors and outcomes of Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections in thoracic and abdominal transplant recipients
• Monitor Long-Term Mechanical Circulatory Support Device GNR Infection
• Epidemiology, Outcomes, and Therapy for Nocardiosis after Solid Organ Transplantation
• Daptomycin-resistant Enterococci infections in Solid Organ Transplant recipients: multicenter observational stud

Mentoring Program 

Chair: Sara Haddad – HaddadSarah91@gmail.com Hanine El Haddad – hanine.elhaddad@utsouthwestern.edu 
Co-Chair: Hanine El Haddad – hanine.elhaddad@utsouthwestern.edu
Past Chair: Jessica Lewis – jessdegrandis@gmail.com 
Focus: Pair Junior TID faculty or fellows with mentors in the field of TID. 

The goal of this activity include (but are not limited to):

• Provide support for early career members and members in smaller programs to build their transplant ID programs/services
•  Provide networking opportunities for mentees 
• Provide academic, educational, and research guidance and opportunities when possible