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Baltimore , MD — The VA Maryland Health Care System has named Dr. Karen “KC” Coffey as the new medical director of Infection Control. In this role, Coffey will oversee the activities of the

health care system’s hospital infection prevention program and will be responsible for instituting appropriate infection control measures and conducting epidemiological investigations

relevant to patients and staff. “We’re elated with Dr. Coffey’s appointment as the medical director of Infection Control, especially after her work in safeguarding patients and employees

during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jonathan R. Eckman, P.E., director of the VA Maryland Health Care System. “Having a highly skilled specialist in Infection Control helps us fulfill our

mission of providing safe, quality and compassionate care to our veteran patients.” Coffey joined the VA Maryland Health Care System in early 2020 as an associate hospital epidemiologist and

quickly became a vital part of the health care system’s COVID-19 pandemic response, serving as a subject matter expert as part of the Incident Command team. She also served as an important

resource for the community on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Before joining the VA Maryland Health Care System, Coffey completed fellowships in Clinical Infectious Diseases and

Medical Microbiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and was a clinical associate in Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is also an assistant professor at

the University of Maryland, where she works on projects with the Maryland State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Coffey has also partnered with

the VA Maryland Health Care System’s Microbiology Lab as the director of diagnostic stewardship to improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis, treatment and intervention. “I am honored to

continue the tradition of excellence in Infection Control and build upon the framework that has been laid by outstanding hospital epidemiologists and infection preventionists,” said Coffey.

“I’m excited to work with an enthusiastic infection prevention team and multidisciplinary stakeholders to reduce and prevent the transmission of infections throughout the VA Maryland Health

Care System.” Coffey earned her Bachelor of Arts from Boston University in 2003, a Master’s in Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in 2006, and

a Doctor of Medicine from Tulane University School of Medicine in 2012. Coffey lives in Baltimore.