Dr. Ashlesha Kaushik Earns National Recognition for Contributions to Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Ashlesha Kaushik, MD, MS
UnityPoint Clinic proudly announces that Ashlesha Kaushik, MD, MS, pediatric infectious disease specialist, has been named a recipient of the Special Achievement Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for her outstanding contributions to infectious diseases.
“Dr. Kaushik’s dedication to improving children’s health extends far beyond our community,” says Lynn Brown, vice president of clinic operations. “Her leadership, research and advocacy continue to elevate pediatric care across Iowa and at the national level.”
Dr. Kaushik received the award in recognition of her leadership as founder and chair of the Iowa AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. She is the only pediatric specialist in Iowa to receive this prestigious recognition twice, for both the 2023-2024 and 2025-2026 award cycles. In addition to this recognition, Dr. Kaushik has been named the AAP Quality Improvement (QI) Champion for Iowa, highlighting her leadership in advancing quality improvement initiatives in pediatric healthcare.
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the American Academy of Pediatrics,” says Dr. Kaushik. “Advancing infectious disease education, research and prevention is essential to protecting the health of children. I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across the country to improve care and outcomes for pediatric patients.”
Dr. Kaushik’s antimicrobial stewardship research conducted with Harvard Medical School was also recognized as one of the institution’s top quality improvement projects by the school’s letter of honor and will be published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the official journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
Additional research collaborations with Harvard have been presented at Infectious Diseases Week and published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Dr. Kaushik has also been invited to serve as faculty for the Harvard Medical School Master of Science program in 2026.
Her work in pediatric infectious diseases, research and public health advocacy continues to make a meaningful impact for children and families in Siouxland and across the country. For more information about Dr. Kaushik and pediatric infectious disease services at UnityPoint Clinic, visit unitypoint.org.