The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) has awarded the honorary title of “ESCMID Fellow” to Ana R. Freitas, senior researcher at the Bact_Drugs Lab, UCIBIO-FFUP, in recognition of her professional excellence and outstanding service to both the profession and the Society. Selected by the ESCMID Executive Committee, ESCMID Fellows are members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the fields of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases through sustained scientific achievement and leadership. The title not only acknowledges excellence but also grants a range of professional privileges.
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from ESCMID,” says Ana R. Freitas, who is also an Assistant Professor at IUCS-CESPU. “With nearly 13,000 members from the five continents, ESCMID is the leading society in Clinical Microbiology. To be counted among its distinguished Fellows - and as only the third with a Portuguese affiliation - is a privilege I never imagined, one that fills me with both pride and a profound sense of responsibility.”
ESCMID is a non-profit organization committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases through research, education, and the promotion of best medical practices. The Society is increasingly recognized for embodying the ideals of European collaboration, particularly in its efforts to foster professional development that is diverse, inclusive, and merit-based.
Ana R. Freitas’s research focuses on the molecular epidemiology and evolution of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria across different ecological niches, with particular emphasis on emerging resistance threats addressed through a One Health approach. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the Food- and Water-borne Infections Study Group for the esteemed European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and sits on the Board of Direction of the Portuguese Society of Microbiology.