Wendy S. Armstrong, MD, FIDSA, has been named the next president of IDSA, with her term beginning Oct. 25. IDSA also announced the election of a new vice president and three directors to its Board of Directors.
Dr. Armstrong, head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is an HIV expert, clinician and medical educator. She previously served as chair of HIVMA and participated in the IDSA Medical Education Community of Practice, the IDWeek Program Committee and other IDSA initiatives.
“Experts in infectious diseases are at the forefront of patient care, education, research and public health,” Dr. Armstrong said in the announcement. “I’m honored to work alongside leaders in infectious diseases during these important and consequential times to advocate for the ID profession, patients and research; address workforce and compensation issues; strengthen the diversity of the membership; bolster pandemic preparedness, including addressing antimicrobial resistance; and work toward health care equity.”
Under the new leadership, IDSA will continue pursuing strategic priorities focused on strengthening the infectious diseases and HIV workforce, expanding access to evidence-based infectious diseases information and improving preparedness for public health threats.
New board leadership
Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD, FIDSA, was elected vice president. Dr. Gandhi is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, an infectious diseases physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and co-director of the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research. He previously served as HIVMA's representative to the IDSA Board of Directors from 2022 to 2025 and chaired HIVMA from 2020 to 2021.
Three additional members were elected as directors:
Jacinda C. Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, MPH, FIDSA, is an associate professor of clinical pharmacy and an antimicrobial resistance researcher at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Abdul-Mutakabbir has held leadership positions on IDSA's Inclusion, Diversity, Access and Equity Committee. Her research focuses on the relationship between noncommunicable diseases and antimicrobial-resistant infections.
Gonzalo Bearman, MD, MPH, FIDSA, is the Richard P. Wenzel Professor of Medicine and chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Bearman also serves as editor-in-chief of Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology. His priorities include workforce development, equitable compensation, clinical excellence and antimicrobial resistance.
Sharon Weissman, MD, FIDSA, is chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of South Carolina Floyd School of Medicine. Dr. Weissman has served on IDSA committees focused on clinical practice guidelines. Her priorities include addressing infectious diseases workforce shortages, particularly in rural and underserved communities, and emphasizing the value of infectious diseases specialists in patient care.
The IDSA Executive Committee also includes President-Elect Max Brito, MD, MPH, FIDSA; Secretary Erin M. Bonura, MD, FIDSA; Treasurer Rana Chakraborty, MD, PhD, FIDSA; and Immediate Past President Ronald G. Nahass, MD, MHCM, FIDSA.
The following members will continue serving on the board: David M. Aronoff, MD, FIDSA; AdarshBhimraj, MD, FIDSA; Michelle S. Cespedes, MD, MS; Robin H. Dretler, MD, FIDSA; Anurag Malani, MD, FIDSA; Upinder Singh, MD, FIDSA; and Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH, FIDSA.
The new board will help guide IDSA's efforts to support infectious diseases specialists, advance scientific research and strengthen public health preparedness.