On August 15, UTMB's SPECTRE program hosted a full-day training for 35 Infection Preventionists (IPs) from Houston Methodist, one of the largest health systems in Texas. The session took place at the UTMB's Health Education Center in Galveston, TX, marking an important milestone in regional preparedness as the reach of Houston Methodist spans eight acute care hospitals across the greater Houston area.

UTMB is home to the federally designated HHS Region 6 Emerging Special Pathogens Treatment Center, and SPECTRE is the leading that mission. Housed within UTMB’s Division of Infectious Diseases, SPECTRE develops and delivers specialized training that equips healthcare professionals with the skills, tools, and confidence needed to respond effectively to high-consequence infectious diseases. From frontline providers to biocontainment units, SPECTRE is recognized across the region for bringing unmatched expertise, real-world experience, and practical skills to the healthcare systems that need it most.

The session was led by Corrie Ntiforo, MSPH, RBP, Director of Biosafety at UTMB, and one of SPECTRE’s lead trainers. With extensive experience in biosafety and biocontainment education, Corrie guided participants through intensive, practical exercises that paired expert instruction with hands-on learning.

Houston Methodist IPs practiced PPE donning and doffing using their own system protocols and checklists, ensuring every exercise had immediate relevance to their facilities. They also worked through realistic case scenarios that mirrored the challenges of an HCID response, including patient placement, communication breakdowns, and decision-making under pressure.

By combining expert-led instruction with scenario-based discussions, SPECTRE gave participants tools they can use the very next time their hospitals face a suspected HCID event. The ripple effect of this training strengthens not only the Houston Methodist system but also the broader readiness of HHS Region 6.

UTMB’s SPECTRE program is proud to be the regional hub for HCID preparedness training. If your facility is ready to elevate its readiness, connect with us today to bring SPECTRE training to your team. Together, we are building a stronger, more prepared response network for special pathogens.