University of Illinois Chicago
Medical Director, Infection Prevention & Control
University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Medical Director, Infection Prevention & Control
Hiring Department: Hospital Administration
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Requisition ID: 1038317
Posting Close Date: January 7, 2026
Salary: $317,011 - $434,314 (budgeted range; final salary based on market data, equity, and candidate qualifications)
About the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)
UI Health
provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. UI Health is part of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and includes a Joint Commission‑accredited tertiary care hospital, outpatient clinics, the Mile Square Health Center network of federally qualified health centers, and seven UIC health science colleges. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity.
Benefits include Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid Time Off, and Tuition Waivers for employees and dependents.
Position Summary As a physician specializing in infectious diseases and a faculty member in the Infectious Diseases clinical section, the Medical Director leads infection prevention efforts through surveillance, outbreak response, policy development, and multidisciplinary collaboration. The role leads institutional preparedness and response to emerging pathogens, pandemics, and high‑consequence pathogens, and maintains a comprehensive IP&C program across the organization.
Leadership & Program Oversight
Key clinical leader in reducing HAIs and improving antimicrobial stewardship.
Medical oversight and strategic direction for the infection prevention and control program.
Execute the annual infection control risk assessment and develop the annual plan with the director of infection prevention and control.
Supervise and mentor Associate Hospital Epidemiologists.
Stay current with infection prevention regulations, guidelines, and best practices.
Oversee facilities‑based surveillance and risk mitigation including legionella surveillance, air flow monitoring, and construction risk mitigations.
Medical Expertise & Infection Control Implementation
Provide expert medical guidance on infection control policies, outbreak management, and emerging infectious diseases.
Ensure adherence to evidence‑based infection prevention guidelines and regulatory requirements (CDC, CMS, The Joint Commission, OSHA, etc).
Participate in lab stewardship measures when they overlap with infection control priorities.
Monitor and report on staff compliance with infection prevention best practices.
Work closely with risk management and occupational medicine on exposures and sterilization failures.
Ensure Transmission‑Based Prevention Best Practices
Align environmental hygiene practices with infection prevention standards.
Support sterilization and disinfection best practices with the Infection Preventionists.
Track and monitor MDROs, HAIs, and transmissible illnesses to implement targeted prevention strategies.
Ensure appropriate isolation precautions for patients with infections.
Surveillance & Reporting
Oversee ongoing surveillance for HAIs and report infection rates and trends.
Lead and participate in workgroups focused on reducing HAIs and mitigating patient risks.
Assess the effectiveness of infection prevention strategies and implement data‑driven improvements.
Report infection-related quality metrics to hospital committees and senior leadership.
Preparedness & Response to Emerging Pathogens
Track global infectious disease threats for institutional preparedness.
Develop and implement hospital-wide preparedness plans for emerging pathogens, pandemics, and high‑consequence pathogens.
Lead institutional response efforts to infectious threats to ensure rapid containment.
Collaborate with public health agencies and internal stakeholders.
Conduct training exercises and simulations to enhance emergency preparedness.
Outbreak Investigation & Exposure Management
Lead investigations into outbreaks, clusters, and exposures.
Conduct epidemiological analyses to determine sources of transmission.
Oversee infection prevention strategies in response to major exposures.
Liaison & Collaboration
Partner with clinical microbiology labs on mandatory reporting, MDROs, HAIs, screening, and surveillance.
Serve as liaison between the Infection Prevention and Control Program, the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, and the Infectious Diseases clinical section.
Liaise with all clinical and non‑clinical areas to track infections and investigate outbreaks.
Act as the hospital's primary liaison with CDPH, IDPH, and CDC on infection prevention, outbreak response, and regulatory matters.
Policy Development
Develop and review all infection control policies with the Director of Infection Control.
Ensure policies align with best practices, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based guidelines.
Present policies for approval to the Medical Staff Executive committee.
Data Analysis
Collect and analyze data on HAIs, MDROs, and infection prevention practices.
Interpret epidemiologic data to understand patterns and causes of infection.
Oversee and prepare reports and presentations on infection prevention metrics.
Education & Training
Develop education and training for medical students, trainees, faculty, and staff on infection prevention policies and best practices.
Ensure training and education modules meet regulatory compliance expectations.
Draft and/or advise on communications to employees, patients, and visitors regarding infections and infection prevention.
Support clinicians in caring for patients with infectious diseases.
Minimum Qualifications
MD or DO with board certification in Infectious Diseases.
Fellowship in Infectious Diseases or pediatric infectious diseases with expertise in hospital epidemiology.
Minimum 3‑5 years in infection prevention, hospital epidemiology, or quality improvement.
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Proficiency in data analysis and ability to conduct case‑control analyses.
Outstanding leadership skills.
In‑depth knowledge of epidemiological methods, infectious diseases, and infection control best practices.
Familiarity with healthcare regulations, standards, and reporting requirements.
The University of Illinois System is an equal‑opportunity employer and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an accommodation.
To apply, visit https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/18477?c=uic
#J-18808-Ljbffr
About the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)
UI Health
provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. UI Health is part of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and includes a Joint Commission‑accredited tertiary care hospital, outpatient clinics, the Mile Square Health Center network of federally qualified health centers, and seven UIC health science colleges. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity.
Benefits include Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid Time Off, and Tuition Waivers for employees and dependents.
Position Summary As a physician specializing in infectious diseases and a faculty member in the Infectious Diseases clinical section, the Medical Director leads infection prevention efforts through surveillance, outbreak response, policy development, and multidisciplinary collaboration. The role leads institutional preparedness and response to emerging pathogens, pandemics, and high‑consequence pathogens, and maintains a comprehensive IP&C program across the organization.
Leadership & Program Oversight
Key clinical leader in reducing HAIs and improving antimicrobial stewardship.
Medical oversight and strategic direction for the infection prevention and control program.
Execute the annual infection control risk assessment and develop the annual plan with the director of infection prevention and control.
Supervise and mentor Associate Hospital Epidemiologists.
Stay current with infection prevention regulations, guidelines, and best practices.
Oversee facilities‑based surveillance and risk mitigation including legionella surveillance, air flow monitoring, and construction risk mitigations.
Medical Expertise & Infection Control Implementation
Provide expert medical guidance on infection control policies, outbreak management, and emerging infectious diseases.
Ensure adherence to evidence‑based infection prevention guidelines and regulatory requirements (CDC, CMS, The Joint Commission, OSHA, etc).
Participate in lab stewardship measures when they overlap with infection control priorities.
Monitor and report on staff compliance with infection prevention best practices.
Work closely with risk management and occupational medicine on exposures and sterilization failures.
Ensure Transmission‑Based Prevention Best Practices
Align environmental hygiene practices with infection prevention standards.
Support sterilization and disinfection best practices with the Infection Preventionists.
Track and monitor MDROs, HAIs, and transmissible illnesses to implement targeted prevention strategies.
Ensure appropriate isolation precautions for patients with infections.
Surveillance & Reporting
Oversee ongoing surveillance for HAIs and report infection rates and trends.
Lead and participate in workgroups focused on reducing HAIs and mitigating patient risks.
Assess the effectiveness of infection prevention strategies and implement data‑driven improvements.
Report infection-related quality metrics to hospital committees and senior leadership.
Preparedness & Response to Emerging Pathogens
Track global infectious disease threats for institutional preparedness.
Develop and implement hospital-wide preparedness plans for emerging pathogens, pandemics, and high‑consequence pathogens.
Lead institutional response efforts to infectious threats to ensure rapid containment.
Collaborate with public health agencies and internal stakeholders.
Conduct training exercises and simulations to enhance emergency preparedness.
Outbreak Investigation & Exposure Management
Lead investigations into outbreaks, clusters, and exposures.
Conduct epidemiological analyses to determine sources of transmission.
Oversee infection prevention strategies in response to major exposures.
Liaison & Collaboration
Partner with clinical microbiology labs on mandatory reporting, MDROs, HAIs, screening, and surveillance.
Serve as liaison between the Infection Prevention and Control Program, the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, and the Infectious Diseases clinical section.
Liaise with all clinical and non‑clinical areas to track infections and investigate outbreaks.
Act as the hospital's primary liaison with CDPH, IDPH, and CDC on infection prevention, outbreak response, and regulatory matters.
Policy Development
Develop and review all infection control policies with the Director of Infection Control.
Ensure policies align with best practices, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based guidelines.
Present policies for approval to the Medical Staff Executive committee.
Data Analysis
Collect and analyze data on HAIs, MDROs, and infection prevention practices.
Interpret epidemiologic data to understand patterns and causes of infection.
Oversee and prepare reports and presentations on infection prevention metrics.
Education & Training
Develop education and training for medical students, trainees, faculty, and staff on infection prevention policies and best practices.
Ensure training and education modules meet regulatory compliance expectations.
Draft and/or advise on communications to employees, patients, and visitors regarding infections and infection prevention.
Support clinicians in caring for patients with infectious diseases.
Minimum Qualifications
MD or DO with board certification in Infectious Diseases.
Fellowship in Infectious Diseases or pediatric infectious diseases with expertise in hospital epidemiology.
Minimum 3‑5 years in infection prevention, hospital epidemiology, or quality improvement.
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Proficiency in data analysis and ability to conduct case‑control analyses.
Outstanding leadership skills.
In‑depth knowledge of epidemiological methods, infectious diseases, and infection control best practices.
Familiarity with healthcare regulations, standards, and reporting requirements.
The University of Illinois System is an equal‑opportunity employer and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an accommodation.
To apply, visit https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/18477?c=uic
#J-18808-Ljbffr