From Barn to Bedside: Infection Control to Limit H5N1 Spread

Aliza Simeone VMD, DACVPM is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Infectious Disease and Biosecurity and the Director of Biosecurity at PennVet New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. In this role she creates and implements infection prevention and control strategies for New Bolton Center and its clients and introduces students to the world of veterinary infectious disease and prevention. She received her BS in Animal Bioscience from the Pennsylvania State University and her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 2025. Following her initial experience in private practice large animal ambulatory care, she served as a Veterinary Medical Field Officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, providing expertise in regulatory infectious disease prevention and management throughout Pennsylvania for seventeen years.

Minden L. Buswell is a Zoonotic Disease Preventionist Epidemiologist at the Washington State Department of Health with expertise in the surveillance, prevention, and control of diseases that spread between animals and humans. With 15 years of experience in veterinary medicine, public health, epidemiology, and animal emergency response she works at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health to implement One Health strategies that reduce the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks. Her work focuses on strengthening public health preparedness through community engagement, biosecurity protocols, infection prevention and control, intersectoral collaboration, and education. Committed to translating science into action, Minden L. Buswell is passionate about building sustainable systems to protect vulnerable populations from emerging infectious diseases and the growing threat of zoonoses.

Peggy Douglas is an acute care hospital infection preventionist in Seattle, Washington with over 8 years’ experience in hospital epidemiology, infection prevention, and public health HAI epidemiology. In addition to acute care settings, Peggy’s infection preventionist experience includes a federally qualified health center (FQHC) and comprehensive cancer center.  Peggy has been a Respiratory Therapist for over 30 years, and her experience spans various healthcare settings, including trauma and burn medicine, cancer care, and adult, pediatric, and neonatal intensive care. In addition to being a member of APIC’s Emerging Infectious Disease taskforce, she is a mentor on the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) new epidemiologist mentorship program and a previous contributing member of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America’s (SHEA) research committee.   Peggy holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Iowa College of Public Health and is certified in infection control.