Infection control and health care epidemiology is the discipline concerned with preventing the spread of infections within the health-care setting. As such, it is a practical, rather than an academic sub-discipline of epidemiology. It is an essential part of the infrastructure of health care. Infection control and hospital epidemiology are akin to public health practice, practiced within the confines of a particular health-care delivery system rather than directed at society as a whole.

Infection control concerns itself both with prevention (hand hygiene/handwashing, cleaning/disinfection/sterilization, vaccination, surveillance) and with investigation and management of demonstrated or suspected spread of infection within a particular health-care setting, such as an outbreak investigation. The Division of Infectious Disease provides leadership for the infection control activities of North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, Plainview, Glen Cove, Forest Hills, the Extended Care Facility and Syosset Hospitals.

All policies and procedures for these hospitals are coordinated through the Division's program. All of our infection control officers are Registered Nurses with Certification In Infection Control (CIC).

Our Staff:

Donna Armellino, DNP(c), RN, CIC
Director, Epidemiology Service

Mary Ellen Schilling, MBA, RN, CIC
Manager, Epidemiology

Mary Heffernan, MS, RN, BC
Manager, Epidemiology

Beverly Panico, MPA, RN, CIC
Nurse Epidemiologist

Marguerite Johnson, BS, RN, CIC
Nurse Epidemiologist

Nancy Musa, BS, RN
Nurse Epidemiologist

Roberta Schiavone, BS, RN
Nurse Epidemiologist