Dr. Cindy Hou is Pioneering Infection Control and Sepsis Prevention with a Vision toward Equitable Healthcare

If you ask Cindy Hou, DO, MA, MBA, CIC, CPHQ, CPPS, FACOI, FACP, FIDSA, FAPIC, how she ended up with so many initials behind her name, she’ll tell you that you never know what paths your journey will take you and she wanted to be ready for whatever was to come.

After graduating from Yale with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Dr. Hou enrolled in a dual degree program at Boston University, emerging with a Master of Arts in Medical Sciences and an MBA with a concentration in healthcare administration. Then came medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM).

“I wanted to set myself up for what was to come. I didn't know what field that would be exactly, but I did know I wanted to build a better me,” she said. This approach has proved immensely beneficial throughout her career.

Today, as an Infection Control Officer and Medical Director of Research for Jefferson Health - New Jersey, Dr. Hou focuses on three primary areas as an infectious diseases (ID) physician: infection control, antibiotic stewardship, and sepsis. Her extensive background and educational pursuits have equipped her to collaborate broadly and to tackle significant challenges in medicine.

Reflecting on the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Hou recalls, “I didn’t know at the time, but I ended up seeing the first patient with COVID in South Jersey. It was scary, yet it was an intellectual thrill for me because this is what I had been preparing for.”    

One notable project stemming from her COVID experience was a collaboration with her UNECOM classmate Uzma Syed, DO, FIDSA, Chief of ID at Good Samaritan University Hospital in New York, on the publication of the book, “COVID-19 Viral Sepsis: Impact on Disparities, Disability, and Health Outcomes.” She said the collaboration between her and Dr. Syed extended to authors across the country throughout the pandemic through an asynchronous approach. Due to sporadic surges of COVID-19, they were forced to periodically shift their focus to patient care while working on the book. 

Dr. Hou emphasizes the importance of teamwork in her role. “As an infection control officer, I work with a team, including the infection preventionists and the Director of Infection Prevention. It's not just a solo job. In a multi-disciplinary committee, I can truly work with everyone to optimize the group’s potential. Sometimes, it's a very doctor-centric world, but I really believe in valuing everyone's input.”

Most recently, Dr. Hou has expanded her expertise to include quality improvement, patient safety, equity, and improving language access. In 2022, she won a grant from the Office of Minority Health, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in their Promoting Equitable Access to Language Services (PEALS) initiative. One objective is to increase awareness that everyone has a right to a medical interpreter. “Language access means ensuring that you can reach people regardless of the language they speak,” she explains.

 

Dr. Hou at the Office of Minority Health Grantee meeting.

In the second year of her grant-funded project called Project ROLE: Reducing Risk for Readmission, Optimizing Language Access, and Improving Equity, Dr. Hou recently attended the Office of Minority Health’s annual grantee meeting. She moderated the PEALS Community of Practice Sessions and co-presented on dissemination, sustainability, as well as partnerships.  

She currently is collaborating with others to understand the prevalence of sepsis in intensive care units among patients who do not speak English as their first language. Although she has successfully obtained several grants, she acknowledges facing numerous rejections. Nevertheless, her optimistic outlook remains unwavering: “Even the failures motivate me!”  

Infection Prevention is Sepsis Prevention™

Dr. Hou's dedication to infection control extends to her role as a member of the Board of Directors of Sepsis Alliance, where she serves as Chief Medical Officer. “I think sepsis is under-recognized. Many people haven’t heard of sepsis, but they know what an infection is. We're working to raise the profile of sepsis nationally by educating both communities and hospital systems,” she says.

Sepsis, she explains, is the body's overwhelming response to an infection, which can lead to organ dysfunction, complications like post-sepsis syndrome, and even death. As she coined for Sepsis Alliance, “Infection Prevention is Sepsis Prevention™,” and this underscores the critical link between preventing infections and preventing sepsis. She emphasizes the importance of vaccinations, hand hygiene, and regular medical check-ups, particularly for individuals with chronic conditions.

Dr. Hou is concerned about the lack of a national sepsis database and the insufficient attention given to sepsis in medical and nursing schools. “It's really an issue of funding and recognition. Solving sepsis will take a lot of energy and effort,” she contends.

Earlier this year, Dr. Hou shared her insights in an opinion piece for USA Network, “Ashley Park's survival of septic shock offers important lessons.” She highlighted key facts about sepsis and the challenges faced by individuals who cannot understand the languages of their clinicians in accessing critical healthcare.

Recognizing Achievements and Ongoing Efforts

Dr. Hou's contributions have been widely recognized. She is a national speaker on infection control, sepsis, and health equity, and has been a frequent faculty member participating in ACOI CME events. In 2020, the ACOI honored her with the Researcher of the Year award for her many major contributions to clinical research related to osteopathic internal medicine. In 2018, she received a Hero of Infection Prevention Safety Award in Patient Safety from the Association of Professionals in Infection Control (APIC).

Dr. Hou remains undaunted by the enormity of her work and yet is encouraged by the opportunity to serve in a variety of capacities through Jefferson Health, Sepsis Alliance, and by leading grant-funded teams. “I feel that everything's coming together to help people in so many genuine ways,” she reflects.

Through her preparation, collaboration, and relentless pursuit to solve some of medicine’s most stubborn challenges, Dr. Hou continues to make a profound impact on healthcare, ensuring better outcomes for patients and paving the way for future innovations in medicine.