The Country Leads

Laura Bonfante

A registered nurse with training in epidemiology and extensive experience in managing and strengthening programs for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

She actively participates in the departmental infection control program, which focuses on strengthening the technical capacities of healthcare professionals in Antioquia, Colombia. She promotes the implementation of clinical and institutional support strategies and interventions for infection prevention and control, as well as the containment of antibiotic resistance, using a One Health approach.

Laura Bonfante | Colombia

Paulo Brois

Paulo Brois, RN, DVM, MSN is an operating room nurse at the Local Health Unit of Baixo Alentejo (Beja, Portugal). He also serves as an IPC link nurse in his department and is a guest lecturer at the Jean Piaget Algarve School of Health (Piaget Institute, Portugal).
He holds postgraduate qualifications in IPC and is currently enrolled in the EUCIC IPC Certificate Programme (2024–2026).
An elected full member of the National Nursing Council of the Portuguese Order of Nurses, he is also active in several scientific associations and IPC-related projects.
Areas of research and interest: healthcare environmental hygiene, prevention of surgical site infections, perioperative nursing, hand hygiene and use of gloves.

Paulo Brois | Portugal

Dr. Andreea Capilna

With dual specializations in Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, and teaching experience at the University level, also in WHO and ECDC, Dr. Andreea Capilna is currently working at the Emergency Military Clinical Hospital in Brașov, Romania.
Areas of expertise: Management of infectious disease patients, antibiotic stewardship programs, infection prevention and control, training, evaluation and audit, development and implementation of clinical procedures and guidelines.

Dr. Andreea Capilna | Romania

Mr. Noel Gonzaga

Mr. Gonzaga, MPH works for the Ministry of Health of Oman in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
He holds a Masters of Public Health, and is a registered Medical Technologist, and board certified in Infection Prevention, CBIC
His expertise is infection control, environmental cleaning & disinfection, CSSD, endoscopy, laundry management, food, drugs & clinical laboratory, microbiology, healthcare waste management, and policy & procedures, and guidelines development.

Mr. Noel Gonzaga | Oman

Dr. Lorena Lazaric-Stefanovic

Dr. Lorena Lazaric-Stefanovic, MD, MSc, is a lecturer at the Nursing Study Program of Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Croatia
Head of the Microbiology Department at the Teaching Institute of Public Health of Istria County
Member of the Infection Control Team at the General Hospital Pula
Areas of expertise: infection prevention, hospital epidemiology, diagnostic stewardship in microbiology

Dr. Lorena Lazaric-Stefanovic | Croatia

Priya Pandya-Orozco

Priya Pandya-Orozco, DNP, RN, PHN, CIC, LTC-CIP is the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare Director of Infection Prevention and Control, USA.
Dedicated to building safer systems, empowering frontline teams, and elevating the science and practice of infection prevention across diverse care settings.
Successfully led multiple transformative initiatives that were nationally recognized at APIC which strengthened organizational readiness, reduced healthcare-associated infections, and cultivated a culture where safety, accountability, and compassion guide every decision.

Priya Pandya-Orozco | USA