Shazia Irum
Riydah,Saudi Arabia
Summary
Accomplished infection prevention and control leader with over ten years of experience in enhancing healthcare quality, patient safety, and clinical governance across various settings. Recognized for strategic leadership in program development and advancing evidence-based practices that improve healthcare outcomes. Holds multiple advanced degrees and certifications showcasing a strong blend of clinical expertise and operational excellence. Influential in regional and international roles, contributing to workforce development and professional certification in infection prevention.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Infection Control Specialist
King Salman Center for Kidney Diseases- Cluster-2
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
09.2015 - 06.2026
- Led infection control surveillance and drove infection prevention management across departments.
- Directed consultations, training, and education on infection control priorities.
- Owned planning, development, organisation, implementation, and evaluation of facility programmes.
- Managed multidisciplinary teams to design and deliver evidence-based prevention strategies.
- Oversaw cross-department policy setting, product evaluations, and programme integration.
- Accounted for interdisciplinary planning through relationship-building to improve patient outcomes.
- Held bedside clinical consultations with nurses, physicians, and allied professionals.
- Drove application of microbiological and epidemiological principles to isolation precautions.
- Made resource purchasing recommendations based on infection prevention and control requirements.
- Coordinated reporting to health authorities for reportable infectious diseases.
- Owned training delivery for staff, patients, and visitors on IPC measures.
- Directed competency assessments and simulation training for IPC standards.
- Partnered with senior leadership to embed IPC into operational planning and risk reviews.
- Directed real-time surveillance and case investigations for healthcare-associated infections.
- Coordinated daily clinical rounds to assess risk and implement transmission precautions.
- Governed review of microbiology findings and laboratory collaboration for MDRO identification.
- Led audits of catheter care, surgical asepsis, and PPE practices to drive improvement.
- Accounted for development of patient care bundles and pathways for SSI, CLABSI, CAUTI, and VAP prevention.
Quality Coordinator
King Salman Center for Kidney Diseases, Cluster-2
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
03.2020 - 06.2026
- Coordinating infection prevention activities within Quality and Patient Safety Department. Conducting facility-wide risk assessments and implemented mitigation strategies for high-risk areas such as ICU, OR, and dialysis units. Playing key role in policy development, antimicrobial stewardship, and hand hygiene compliance monitoring. Supporting performance improvement initiatives through data analysis, KPI tracking, and feedback mechanisms. Facilitating staff engagement and patient education campaigns on infection prevention measures. Served as liaison during regulatory inspections and successfully contributed to JCIA re-accreditation.
IPC Advisor
MENA- FHSS
Middle East North Africa Region
06.2026 - Current
- Enhance strategic leadership and expert advisory support for regional IPC initiatives, advancing professional education, healthcare quality, patient safety, and implementation of best practices across MENA healthcare community.
- Collaborate with regional healthcare leaders, professional societies, and stakeholders to strengthen IPC capacity, promote evidence-based standards, and support development of sustainable infection prevention programs across MENA region.
Education
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - Business Administration and Management
Cardiff Metropolitan University
United Kingdom 09/2017 - 12 2019
Masters of Sciences - Applied Psychology
Baha- Udin Zakria University Multan
Pakistan 3 2009 - 5 2011
Bachelor of Science - General Science
Punjab University Lahore
Pakistan 03/2002 - 08/2004
Diploma - General Nursing & Midwifery
Shaikha Fatima Institute of Nursing
Pakistan 9 2000 - 11 2004
Skills
- Leadership and management
- Performance improvement
- Project management
- Education and training
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Infection control and quality auditing
- Microsoft Office applications
Certification
- Advanced Certification in Infection Prevention (AL-CIP) Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology (CBIC), United Stated May 2026 - Present
- Certified in Infection Control (CIC) Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology (CBIC), United Stated Aug 2019 - Present
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) National Association of Healthcare Quality, United States Jul 2022 - Present
- Fellow of APIC Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology- APIC May 2025 - Present
Accomplishments
- Ambassador at Certification Board of Infection Control & Epidemiology (CBIC), United States
- Fellow of Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology‑ APIC
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Advisor at MENA -FHSS
- Nominated as Clean Middle East Power 30 Women ‑2025
- Winner of Excellence in Infection Control, by Saudi Arabia Clean Middle East & Waste Management Awards 2022
- Infection Control Audit (ICA) surveyor at Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia (Jan 2023‑ Dec 2024)
- BICSL trainer at Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia
- Speaker participations in CIC preparatory and IPC Diploma courses at national level Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia
- Expert and renowned speaker and trainer for IPC courses at International Level
PUBLICATIONS
- Shaping the Future. An Exciting 7 Years Journey of Upskilling Infection Preventionists through Certification Training in the Middle East. An oral abstract Poster published in AJIC, American Journal of Infection Control. June 2025
- Role of Performance Improvement Measures to improve the Quality of Infection Prevention Programs in Tertiary Care Hospital. Published in Biological and Clinical Sciences Research Journal. 2024
- Trend Analysis of Hepatic Infection in Pakistan, Published in Pakistan journal of Medicine and Health Sciences (PJMHS) in 2022.
- Knowledge and Practices of General public in context of Canine Rabies, Published in Pakistan journal of Medicine and health Sciences (PJMHS) in 2022.
Affiliations
- Travelling
- Reading books and Novels
- Listening Music
- Teaching and Mentoring
- Community Involvements and Field Work
- Shopping
References
References available upon request.
Languages
English
Fluent
Urdu
Native
Punjabi
Native
Hindi
Fluent
Arabic
Advanced
Timeline
IPC Advisor
MENA- FHSS
06.2026 - Current
Quality Coordinator
King Salman Center for Kidney Diseases, Cluster-2
03.2020 - 06.2026
Infection Control Specialist
King Salman Center for Kidney Diseases- Cluster-2
09.2015 - 06.2026
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - Business Administration and Management
Cardiff Metropolitan University
09/2017 - 12 2019
Masters of Sciences - Applied Psychology
Baha- Udin Zakria University Multan
3 2009 - 5 2011
Bachelor of Science - General Science
Punjab University Lahore
03/2002 - 08/2004
Diploma - General Nursing & Midwifery
Shaikha Fatima Institute of Nursing
9 2000 - 11 2004