BELFAST – Rob Fowler, infection control and prevention nurse at Waldo County General Hospital, has been recognized by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention for his efforts to minimize the spread of infection within the hospital.

Earlier this month, state epidemiologist Dr. Katherine F. Gensheimer presented to Fowler a Public Health Epidemiology Recognition Award. The award is given in memory of British physician Dr. John Snow for his outstanding epidemiological contributions during the London cholera epidemic of 1854.

Fowler has served in the infection control position since May 2005. He is responsible for monitoring the status of communicable diseases in the community and the hospital, providing nursing education, maintaining hospital compliance with infection control policies, and monitoring health care literature for new infection control policies and procedures.

Fowler heads the hospital’s needle safety committee and participates in several related groups. He serves as treasurer for the Association of Professionals for Infection Control and is a member of MaineHealth’s Infection Prevention and Control Consortium Steering Committee.

“The Waldo County General Hospital family is proud of Rob’s achievement,” Kathie Boogaart, director of patient care services, said in a statement. “He has raised the bar for patient and staff safety at our hospital and has been a tremendous role model.”