Elias Tannous, BSN, MBA, RN, CIC

Date first certified: March 2008

Date joined CBIC Board of Directors: 2021

Work/APIC: Elias Tannous BSN, MBA, RN, CIC. is a Senior Infection Preventionist at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He started his carrier as an ICU nurse in 1999. He embarked on his infection control and hospital epidemiology journey in 2005 as a coordinator for the infection control program at the National Guard Health Affairs in Saudi Arabia, which is also the Infection Control Centre for the Gulf Cooperation Council (consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf). Since then, he has been heavily involved in major infection control activities, projects and programs, this includes commissioning of new facilities, developing surveillance programs and evaluating IC programs. In addition, he organized and facilitated loads of IC educational activities.

The most significant achievements of Elias include the establishment of APIC international chapter in Saudi Arabia (together with the team), and, the development of the Arab Countries Infection Control Network (AcicN). Elias was previously assigned as a temporary advisor for the World Health Organization to assess the feasibility of the implementation of the WHO Hand Hygiene guidelines; and currently, he is assigned as a member of the expert panel for the Hand Hygiene.

Excellence Award for the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa), and serves on several committees (ie. SHEA- education and guidelines, United Arab Emirate-Infection Control), Elias was also a delegate for the 2020 SHEA International Ambassador Program (IAP).

Personal Note: Love my kids Summer-Therese and Charbel-Edward “to the moon and back- a zillion time” and love playing music while they sing.