Milken Institute SPH Research Center Receives Award for Protecting Antibiotics

The Antibiotic Resistance Action Center (ARAC) at the George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) received the first Quality & Safety Award presented by the Urgent Care Association of America (UCAOA) on May 2.  The award recognizes the success of ARAC’s efforts to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics by engaging in research, strategic communications and science-based policy.  

“The research conducted by ARAC has been, and continues to be, exponentially beneficial to the medical community and consumers,” said Laurel Stoimenoff, PT, CHC, and chief executive officer of UCAOA, who presented the award. “ARAC is a leading resource and one of the media’s go-to sources for information on antibiotic resistance. UCAOA is excited and committed to support ARAC’s mission of reducing unnecessary uses of antibiotics and slow the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.”

“We are deeply honored by this award, which spotlights our Center’s unique approach of pairing original research with strategic communication and policy strategies to advance solutions to combat antibiotic resistance,” said Cindy Liu, MD, MPH, PhD, who accepted the award on ARAC’s behalf.  Liu is ARAC’s chief medical officer and an assistant research professor in the Milken Institute SPH’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health.  Liu expressed gratitude for ARAC and UCAOA’s current collaboration aimed at reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in the rapidly growing outpatient sector – action that could help slow the antibiotic resistance crisis.  She also mentioned ARAC’s extensive research linking the consumption of meat and poultry products to urinary tract infections.

ARAC and UCAOA are currently conducting research and creating an educational awareness campaign to reach consumers and reduce patient demands for unnecessary antibiotics. The materials developed will be available in select urgent care centers and online, targeting those searching for health advice – continuing ARAC’s goal of decreasing consumer demand for antibiotics when they are not necessary.

“We are honored to present ARAC with the 2017 Quality & Safety Award from the Urgent Care Association of America. This group works tirelessly to advance industry research and implement a comprehensive agenda focused on antibiotic stewardship in both healthcare and agriculture,” Stoimenoff said. “We look forward to our continued relationship with ARAC, as we develop consumer focused communication materials on the serious consequences of antimicrobial resistance.”

ARAC’s director, Professor Lance Price, is also affiliated with the Milken Institute SPH's Department of Environmental and Occupational Health.