Celebrating a Legacy of Preparedness: Shelly Schwedhelm’s Impact on National Special Pathogen Readiness
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As Shelly Schwedhelm, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, retires from her role as Executive Director of the National Special Pathogen System (NSPS), the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) reflects with deep gratitude on a legacy that has shaped national preparedness, strengthened healthcare systems, and elevated the people doing the work on the front lines.
Shelly’s career spans more than four decades of healthcare leadership, including 43 years at Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she served in roles of increasing responsibility across emergency management, clinical operations, infection prevention, trauma, perioperative services, and biocontainment.
Her leadership during some of the most consequential public health responses of our time—including the 2014–2015 Ebola response, during which she directed biocontainment unit operations; repatriation and quarantine operations for Americans returning from Wuhan, and the Diamond Princess COVID-19 response— helped shape national approaches for readiness, safety, and operational excellence.
As Executive Director of the NSPS, Shelly led the expansion and maturation of a tiered national system, supporting regions across the country in developing readiness models for special pathogens. Her work bridged federal strategy and local execution, ensuring that preparedness was not theoretical, but operational, scalable, and sustainable.
“Shelly has been one of the most trusted and influential partners I’ve had the privilege to work alongside,” said Jennifer Hannah, Office of Health Care Readiness Director at the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). “Her leadership in building and advancing the National Special Pathogen System has strengthened our nation’s readiness in ways that will endure for decades.”
Prior to her appointment as Executive Director of NSPS, Shelly served as a Program Director for NETEC, providing operational and financial leadership that ensured the organization’s work to support healthcare worker safety and emergency readiness was delivered efficiently and effectively. In this role, she also served as a key subject matter expert, contributing to site visits, training initiatives, and the development of national guidance.
For NETEC, Shelly was a cornerstone partner and advocate. She consistently elevated the importance of training, education, and workforce readiness, recognizing that systems are only as strong as the people prepared to activate them.
“Shelly’s leadership helped define what national preparedness looks like in practice,” said John Lowe, PhD, NETEC Co-Principal Investigator at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “She understood that readiness is built through relationships, trust, and continuous learning. NETEC’s work has been stronger because of her vision and partnership.”
Shelly’s approach to leadership—often described as hands-on, humble, and deeply engaged—resonated across organizations. She was known not for leading from behind a desk, but for showing up: in planning rooms, on hospital units, during site visits, and in moments of crisis.
“Shelly leads with credibility that comes from experience,” said Vikramjit Mukherjee, MD, NETEC Co-Principal Investigator at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. “She has lived the work—operationally, clinically, and strategically. That authenticity made her a unifying force across NSPS and a trusted voice during the most challenging moments.”
In addition to her national leadership, Shelly served as Associate Director for Clinical Operations and Emergency Management at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Global Center for Health Security (GCHS), co-led the Region VII Disaster Health Response grant, contributed as a subject matter expert to NDMS pilot research, and served as Chair of the Omaha Metropolitan Healthcare Coalition Board.
Her influence extends into scholarship and education as well. Shelly has authored and contributed to numerous publications on Ebola clinical care, leadership, staffing, logistics, and incident command, and helped develop “The Nebraska Ebola Method,” UNMC’s first iTunesU course—an enduring educational resource grounded in real-world experience.
“What sets Shelly apart is her ability to translate complexity into action,” said Aneesh K. Mehta, MD, NETEC Co-Principal Investigator at Emory University. “She takes her years of experience in nursing and emergency management to connect strategy to operations and ensures that preparedness efforts result in real capability at the bedside. The impact of her excellent work will continue to benefit our field for years.”
As Shelly steps away from her NSPS role, leadership of the system transitions to Laura Evans, MD, MSc, the new Executive Director of NSPS, who acknowledged the strength of the foundation Shelly leaves behind.
“Shelly built the NSPS with intention, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to people,” said Dr. Evans. “Her leadership established a system rooted in collaboration and excellence. I am honored to build upon the legacy she created.”
Shelly’s career is marked not only by accomplishments, but by the respect she earned across disciplines and agencies. She empowered teams, elevated emerging leaders, and fostered a culture of preparedness grounded in compassion, accountability, and shared purpose.
On behalf of NETEC, we extend our deepest thanks to Shelly Schwedhelm for her extraordinary service and leadership. Her contributions have strengthened national readiness, advanced special pathogen care, and ensured that healthcare workers and patients alike are safer and better prepared.
As she enters a well-earned retirement, we celebrate a career that truly exemplifies what it means to serve—and a legacy that will continue to guide NSPS, NETEC, and the broader preparedness community.
Thank you, Shelly, for your leadership, partnership, and enduring impact.
Visit her tribute page to share a message: https://www.tribute.co/shelly-schwedhelm/