Marshfield Medical Center designated IDSA Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence
MARSHFIELD, WI – The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has designated Marshfield Medical Center as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence.
The designation recognizes institutions that have created stewardship programs led by infectious diseases-trained physicians and pharmacists that advance science in antimicrobial resistance. The institutions also have achieved standards aligned with evidence-based national guidelines, such as the IDSA-Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidelines and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Core Elements.
“Many of our hospital patients are in a vulnerable heath condition when they come to us,” said Philip (Logan) Whitfield, antimicrobial stewardship coordinator. “By joining this esteemed group of hospitals, we continue to demonstrate that we have high standards of excellence in practicing and implementing stewardship; continue to improve antimicrobial use and reduce resistance and are keeping our hospital safe for patients.”
IDSA is a global community of 13,000-plus clinicians, scientists and public health experts working together to solve humanity’s smallest and greatest challenges, from tiny microbes to global outbreaks. Fourteen institutions worldwide were recipients of the designation in 2025. A total of 209 programs nationwide have received the designation since the program’s launch in 2017.
“This is a defining moment for ID as we continue to follow the science in pursuit of the best outcomes for our communities,” said IDSA President Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP. “By honoring these 14 institutions that have achieved success in their stewardship programs, we are ensuring patient safety and preserving and protecting lifesaving antimicrobials at U.S. health care facilities.”
The core criteria for the Center of Excellence program place emphasis on an institution’s ability to implement stewardship protocols by integrating best practices to slow the emergence of resistance, optimize the treatment of infections, reduce adverse events associated with antibiotic use and address other challenging areas related to antimicrobial stewardship. A panel of IDSA member experts in antimicrobial stewardship, including ID-trained physicians and ID-trained pharmacists, evaluate Center of Excellence applications against high-level criteria established by IDSA leadership for determining merit.
According to IDSA, more than 700,000 people die annually due to antimicrobial-resistant infections.
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Marshfield Clinic Health System, now Marshfield Clinic region of Sanford Health, is an integrated health system whose mission is to enrich lives through accessible, affordable compassionate health care. The health system serves Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with more than 1,400 providers comprising 170 specialties, health plan, and research and education programs. Primary operations include more than 60 Marshfield Clinic locations, 11 hospitals, Marshfield Children’s Hospital, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Security Health Plan and Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation.
Sanford Health serves patients and communities across the upper Midwest, including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. The organization includes nearly 56,000 employees, 56 hospitals, 4,500 providers, two fully integrated health plans, specialty pharmacies and nationally recognized research institutions. Sanford Health Plan and Security Health Plan will serve more than 425,000 members.
