Dr. Clare Rock

Infectious Diseases Academic Physician, COVID Infection Prevention Expert

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Clare Rock, M.D., M.S., is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Armstrong Institute of Patient Safety and Quality Core Faculty, and Healthcare Epidemiologist, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Rock is an infectious disease academic physician who innovatively translates healthcare infection prevention to the business, travel & hospitality, and event management industries, guiding through COVID-19 pandemic to the “Next New Normal”. Dr. Rock owns and directs Infection Prevention Strategy Consulting LLC, and consults for Johns Hopkins Medicine International. Clients include major international hospitality and travel brands, with properties and destinations in over 50 countries. Dr. Rock is the principal investigator of CDC-funded research studies including innovation with COVID-19 respirators/face masks, testing & vaccination strategies, and translation of physical distancing practices into the workplace. She co-leads a public health-academic partnership including Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Maryland Department of Health; Statewide Prevention and Reduction Collaborative (SPARC), reducing COVID-19 healthcare-associated transmissions across the state. She has over 50 peer-reviewed published academic manuscript publications, multiple media (video & print) appearances including PBS NewsHour, and is an elected councilor on the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) board of trustees, past Chair of SHEA Research Network, and a research co-director of the High-Value Practice Academic Alliance. Dr. Rock’s unique skillset of infection prevention science, public health, infectious disease research, change management, implementation science, with an understanding of the world of business, position her to give sound proactive business advice. Specific areas include COVID-19 testing strategies for the workplace, businesses, integrated testing/vaccination strategies for event management, return to work policies, return to business strategies, outbreak and cluster management, contact tracing, addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the workplace and the community.

Speaker Questionnaire

What is the biggest thing you learned in 2020?

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown me that there is a need for translation of infection prevention expertise from the healthcare setting into businesses, industries, workplaces, and event management strategies, to guide these industries through the pandemic and into their “Next New Normal”.

What do you feel are the two most important benefits or areas that need to be a top priority in 2021?

Integration of strategic infection prevention/public health experts into the executive suites of large corporations. Defining and safely transitioning businesses, communities, gatherings including sports, travel, hospitality to the “Next New Normal”.

Can you share a story on an area of your healthcare program or employee benefits where you were able to create significant savings or stop costs from rising?

"Prevention is better than cure". I advised on outbreak management in workplaces to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 infection to other employees or clients. Proactively forming safe strategies to allow businesses to perform essential money-generating tasks.

If you could automatically receive a 10-20% reduction in costs in three areas/programs, what would your dream list be?

Employee wellness programs.

What is the most innovative program you will focus on in 2021 and/or 2022?

Integrating my consulting company Infection Prevention Strategy Consulting LLC into executive leadership business strategies.

How are you re-imagining corporate culture & well-being?

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant shift in employee’s perceptions and expectations for corporate companies. After more than 1 year of working remotely, those who return full-time or in hybrid to physical working space will be nervous, anxious, will have many questions, and expect their employer to address these issues proactively. There will be a significant need for guidance from trusted Infection Prevention experts in the short and long term as this landscape changes forever.

What virtual care solutions did you roll out during the pandemic? How valuable were they and why?

Webinars to large corporate audiences with education related to COVID-19 workplace strategies, vaccination/testing strategies, and predictions for pandemic.

If you look at our 3 Moonshots - Costs, Culture, and Care; In one sentence, tell us what would be something positive for us to take from 2020 and bring into this new year?

Integrating strategic infection prevention/public health experts into executive teams is a proactive strategy to reduce costs, focus on culture and let employees know you care.

What are your top priorities for employee health and well-being in 2022?

What are the most innovative programs that you will focus on in 2022 and 2023?

Looking at our three moonshots surrounding costs, culture, and care, which do you align with the most? What are you doing in this area?

If you could automatically receive a 25% reduction in costs in three areas/programs, what would your dream list be?

Is there an area where you were able to either create savings or stop costs from rising?

Are you doing anything to reimagine corporate culture and wellbeing?

If there were two physical solutions that could be turned into virtual or remote care instead, what would those be?

If you look at our 3 Moonshots - Costs, Culture, and Care; In one sentence, tell us what would be something positive for us to take from 2020 and bring into this new year?

Integrating strategic infection prevention/public health experts into executive teams is a proactive strategy to reduce costs, focus on culture and let employees know you care.

Sessions Speaking

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1 Conference. 3 Moonshots.

Remember the mission to reach the moon? In 1962, President JFK set forth a vision. He initiated a movement that outlived him! Even in his death, the mission was accomplished seven years after his famous speech. Now we’re on a five-year mission, and it's not about us. This is a mission for you – the individual, the stakeholder, the employer healthcare and benefits professional. Join the mission to reduce costs, reimagine culture, and reinvent care.