ISDS is happy to introduce this month's ISDS Member Highlight: Dr. Louise Wilson. Last month, ISDS began the ISDS Member Highlight project as a way to highlight member achievements, interests, and inspirations in an effort to showcase successful and highly active ISDS members. The May ISDS Member Highlight will introduce Dr. Louise Wilson, who is the ISDS Global Outreach Committee Chair.
How
did you first learn about disease surveillance and when did you decide that it
was an area of interest for you?
As a paediatric intensivist I had a practical
interest in disease surveillance, but it was whilst working in public health at
Health Protection Scotland that I became interested in syndromic surveillance
and biostatistical approaches to disease surveillance.
What
do you do?
I work in the National Health System and I am the
Director of Public Health for Orkney, a beautiful archipelago off the north
coast of Scotland.
What
do you enjoy most about your job?
I love the variety of work to be covered - with the additional
challenge of delivering preventative services in the remote and rural setting.
What
excites you in the work you do?
Everything! For me it is a privilege to work in the
NHS and serve the local community. I’m lucky to work with some really dedicated
people.
Who
or what inspires you professionally?
I’ve been fortunate to work in a number of countries
and had many great teachers. However, when I graduated, I worked for a
paediatic surgeon, Willie Bisset, who was simply inspirational in his dedication
and approach to patients, colleagues and work.
How
long have you been involved with ISDS?
I have been involved with ISDS since 2006, when I
presented a poster in Baltimore. I now chair the Global Outreach Committee.
Why
are you an ISDS member?
I think the society is a great way to make
surveillance techniques widely available and share best practice. It enables me
to bring the best of cutting-edge practice to my local practice. I particularly
enjoy supporting the work of the society as it focuses on surveillance in the
global setting.
What do you value most about your ISDS
membership?
The connectivity it provides is important for me – I
feel part of a great community. That is
particularly important when working in a remote setting. The approachability of
members, their willingness to share their ideas, and the mix of backgrounds of
people involved with ISDS makes it special. The annual conference is a real
highlight of the year for me – I love putting faces to the names of people I’ve
been working with over the year and meeting new people.
What
is the biggest issue in disease surveillance (in your opinion)?
For me it is the challenge of making surveillance
practical and usable for the front line staff – so that we reduce morbidity and
save lives. The shift from theoretical to practical solutions is crucial.
If you
could meet anyone living or deceased, who would it be?
The “enchantress of numbers” Ada Lovelace (1815-52). She was the daughter
of the poet Lord Byron and worked with Charles Babbage.
