In the past few months, she has been called upon by many people and organizations to contribute to the conversation on the coronavirus. There’s no doubt about it: Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, a pediatric microbiologist/infectologist and researcher at Sainte-Justine, is now a familiar face for anyone following the COVID-19 outbreak. She is widely respected for her ability to present facts in clear, logical and easy-to-understand terms. Today, let’s take a moment to have a closer look at the career path of our esteemed colleague, who was named to the Women’s Executive Network Top 100 in 2019.
Dr. Quach-Thanh is an alumna of the Université de Montréal medical school. She completed her residency in pediatric medicine at Sainte-Justine. She then did postgraduate work in microbiology and infectious diseases at McGill, where she was subsequently employed for more than a decade. She returned to Sainte-Justine a few years ago, where she has been working as a clinical researcher and the co-head of the infectious diseases and acute care research axis.
” At Sainte-Justine, we care for a very vulnerable segment of the population for whom infection prevention is vitally important. The calibre of the services we offer is shaped by the diversity of our research and clinical expertise, along with the curiosity, generosity and energy of the members of the research axis. The selection of these members and their active involvement with various committees and task forces at the provincial, national and international level cement our leadership position in the field of infectious diseases and help Sainte-Justine constantly break new ground in this area. ”
She is no stranger to long hours, but her days are not usually as unpredictable as they are during a pandemic. Dr. Quach-Thanh divides her time between patient consultations and research projects focusing on immunization and the study of the corresponding risk factors. Another area of interest to her is the prevention of hospital-acquired infections as well as antibiotic resistance, especially among vulnerable populations (premature infants, immunocompromised patients, cystic fibrosis sufferers).
” My dream is to make sure that every child who has to be hospitalized is protected against contracting a preventable infection. Nowadays, close to 20% of NICU patients develop an infection during their hospital stay. Our goal is to predict and identify those who are at risk. ”
As an immunology expert, Dr. Quach-Thanh is often asked to weigh in on media debates on public health issues, such as vaccination and infection prevention. She is an ardent advocate of both. In 2019, her television appearance on Tout le monde en parle received widespread acclaim. She also sits on several provincial and federal government advisory committees.
” By preventing infection, vaccinations reduce the need for antibiotics, which in turn lowers the risk of antibiotic resistance. ”
Dr. Quach-Thanh’s impressive expertise is matched only by her big heart. She is respected and admired by everyone she meets – from her fellow staff members at Sainte-Justine to the donors who give to the Foundation. Not only is she a recognized authority in her field, but she is also committed to making sure other women can rise to top research and executive positions.
” I want to empower young women to aspire to research and leadership positions so they can achieve their goals and their dreams, without having to put their family life on the back burner. ”
