In 2010, the Society formed its Scientific Development Committee and its Education Committee to further its work.
Scientific Development Committee
The Scientific Development Committee (chaired by Dr Peter Jenks) has as its role to promote the development of the science of infection prevention and control and to foster the translation of scientific developments into clinical practice, and it will undertake the following activities:
• Development of working party activities and the creation of guidance documents
• Development of the Society’s research policy, and oversight of the Society’s grants programme (a subset of the Committee – the Grants Committee – will be responsible for the review of grant applications)
• Identification of key scientific and clinical practice developments to bring to the attention of the HIS Membership, e.g. via the Society’s Newsletter or website
• Close liaison with the Editorial Team of JHI to facilitate timely publication of relevant activities, developments and advances
• Coordination and review of the Society’s responses to requests for input to consultation documents
• Identification of representatives for the Society at relevant external committees and working parties
• Development of specialist advisory groups
• Oversight of research projects, e.g. prevalence surveys
• Regularly review outputs of Committee, including guidelines, supplements and other articles for JHI, recommendations to Council and funding and outcome of research awards
Education Committee
The Education Committee (chaired by Dr Tim Boswell) has as its role to design a programme of conferences, seminars and courses that will help equip healthcare professionals to prevent and control healthcare associated infections, and it will undertake the following activities:
• Planning of the scientific content of International Conferences
• Planning of the scientific content of Spring Conferences
• Planning of the scientific content of FIS Conference when this is run by HIS
• Design of events targeted at trainees, e.g. themed study days with speakers to deanery regions across a range of medical professions
• Design of seminars and other scientific meetings
• Design of courses
• Design of the HIS component of other societies’ events
• Utilisation of technological advances to deliver educational opportunities, such as webcasts and podcasts
• Interaction with HIS working parties and JHI
• Liaison with kindred societies to plan joint events
• Oversight of DipHIC and the content of related training courses
