Suzanne Rhodenizer recognized with IPAC Canada Honorary Membership

For more than two decades, Suzanne Rhodenizer has helped shape infection prevention and control (IPAC) protocols in Canada through a career defined by leadership, advocacy, and a commitment to improving healthcare systems.  

This year, her contributions are being recognized with one of the profession’s highest honours: Honorary Membership in IPAC Canada.

Reserved for individuals whose service has had a lasting impact on both the organization and the broader infection prevention and control community, the distinction recognizes Suzanne’s 26 years of advancing standards, strengthening systems and advancing patient safety across Canada.

“Suzanne has been an incredible mentor and role model since we first met in 2002 as colleagues in infection prevention and control,” said Kim Allain, director of Quality, Patient Safety and Patient Experience at IWK Health. “Her passion for advancing the profession, along with her strong advocacy for the field and the generous leadership and guidance she continuously offers others, has had a lasting impact on my professional…and personal journey.”

Suzanne is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in Health Studies and certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology. She served seven years on the IPAC Canada board of directors, including as national president from 2015 to 2017. Colleagues describe her as a thoughtful and respected leader, equally comfortable navigating national policy discussions and addressing the realities facing frontline healthcare teams.

“Suzanne’s expertise and commitment to infection prevention and control have inspired me since I began my career in IPAC 14 years ago,” said Debbie Davidson, Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner with Nova Scotia Health. “She is an outstanding and compassionate leader with a natural ability to connect with people on a genuine, human level.”

During her IPAC Canada presidency, Suzanne played a key role in national advocacy efforts, including meetings on Parliament Hill focused on antimicrobial resistance and the need for a co-ordinated national healthcare-associated infection surveillance system. Her ability to translate frontline challenges into meaningful policy conversations helped strengthen the organization’s national voice and credibility.

Among her most significant accomplishments was facilitating the establishment of -- and leading -- Nova Scotia’s first Infection Prevention & Control Centre at the Department of Health & Wellness — a milestone that strengthened provincial co-ordination and oversight in infection prevention practices.

Her advocacy and leadership during her time with the provincial government also contributed to the development of two landmark pieces of legislation: the Patient Safety Act, requiring acute care facilities to publicly report key infection prevention and patient safety indicators, and the Quality Improvement Information Protection Act. Together, the two pieces of legislation transformed the landscape for infection prevention, quality improvement, and patient safety in Nova Scotia.

Nationally, Suzanne served as a long-standing member of the National Advisory Committee for Infection Prevention & Control with the Public Health Agency of Canada and is a founding member of the Women’s Infrastructure Network Halifax-Atlantic Chapter.

Today, Suzanne serves as director of clinical planning with the QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project, where she continues to advocate for infection prevention to be integrated into healthcare design from the outset — built into spaces, systems, and workflows before challenges emerge.

“Suzanne is a true wealth of knowledge when it comes to infection prevention. Her commitment is evident in everything she does—from her meticulous work on Nova Scotia’s new acute care tower to her tireless advocacy for evidence-based infection control. She is more than just an expert in her field; she is one of the most impactful mentors I have ever had the privilege of working with,” said infection control specialist Vivian Lapointe.

Suzanne was formally recognized during the Breakfast of Champions at the 2026 IPAC Canada National Education Conference, celebrating a career that has strengthened infection prevention and control and contributed to safer healthcare systems across Canada.

Photo of Suzanne Rhodenizer.