Tune in to hear Dr. Gilmartin share her journey from her start as an infection preventionist in a rural hospital to a Doctor of Nursing. In this episode, she discusses using implementation science and to help IPs to close the gap between what we know and what we do. Dr. Gilmartin explains effective measures in conducting research on everyday IP issues and the value of dissemination. Enjoy this lively discussion between our 5 Second Rule hosts and APIC's 2023 Distinguished Scientist Award recipient.

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

About our Guest:

Heather Gilmartin, PhD, NP, CIC, FAPIC

Gilmartin works with the Veterans Health Administration (VA), Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation as an investigator and research health scientist. Her research focuses on understanding and optimizing the culture of healthcare to enhance employee engagement and patient safety. Gilmartin is a VA Career Development Awardee and creator of the Relational Playbook for Cardiology Teams, a patented invention to help healthcare teams thrive in the workplace. She is an assistant clinical professor at the Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the associate director of the Dissemination and Implementation Science Research Core at the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. She has over 20 years of clinical practice as a family nurse practitioner in areas such as acute care, family practice, infection prevention, epidemiology, and public health. Gilmartin is also an executive leadership coach with the VA Leadership Coaching Cadre.

Whether you've attended before or are a first timer, you'll want to listen as our hosts interview the 2023 APIC Annual Conference Chair Maria Whitaker. Get the hot tips that will help you navigate the conference like a pro and maximize your time among the education sessions, posters, exhibit hall, and more. Whether you attend in person or virtually, you won't want to miss this episode!

Hosted by:

Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC

About our Guest:

Maria Whitaker, BS, MT(Micro), CIC

Maria Whitaker worked as a clinical microbiologist for 18 years before pursuing her career in infection prevention. For the next 22 years, Maria worked as the manager for the infection prevention and control program in both the acute and long-term care settings at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center in Cortland, New York. She is currently working as an independent consultant. Maria is very active in APIC. She has served as President and Chair of the Education Committee for her local chapter, and has served on several committees at the National level including Practice Guidance Committee, Communications Committee, and is currently Chair of the Annual Conference Committee. Maria holds a Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology and has been Board Certified In Infection Prevention and Control since 2001.

Listen as an expert IP mentor and a successful IP mentee discuss their relationship, how they found each other, and the benefits of a mentor-mentee relationship in today's IPC workforce.

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

About our Guests:

Sheri Ives, MBA, BSN

Sheri Ives has been with VDH since May of 2020. She began as the Covid Regional Containment Advisor for Southwest Virginia then transitioned in May of 2022 to the Southwest Regional Infection Preventionist role. Sheri has a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and an MBA with Specialization in Healthcare Administration from King College, Bristol, TN. She also holds certifications in Performance Improvement for PDCA Cycle and a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. She brings over 30 years of Healthcare experience and leadership to VDH and looks forward to continuing to serve Southwest Virginia.

Jennifer Justice, CCMA

Jennifer Justice has been with VDH since November of 2021. She began as a case investigator/contact tracer on the Covid Regional Containment Team for Southwest Virginia, then became a mentee in the Southwest Regional Infection Prevention Team in 2023. Jennifer is a CCMA with a background in a Medical Lab for 11 years before coming to VDH. She brings over 13 years of healthcare experience to VDH and looks forward to continuing to serve Southwest Virginia.

In this episode, our hosts discuss the many certifications in IPC with CBIC immediate past president Sandra Callery and CBIC board member Tiffany Wiksten. Learn about the different options in certification, how to discover which certification is right for you, and what it could mean for the advancement of your career. For questions pertaining to this episode, leave a message for hosts and subject matter experts using the "Contribute to the Convo" button in the upper right corner.

Further resources: Certification FAQs

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

About our Guests:

Sandra Callery, RN, MHSc, CIC, LTC-CIP, assistant professor, McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario Canada

Sandra Callery has practiced in the field of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), for many years and in a variety of healthcare settings. She is a registered nurse, with a Master of Health Sciences. She has been involved in research and publications regarding disease transmission, management of patients with antibiotic-resistant organisms, emergency preparedness, and most recently, the value of certification for the Infection Control Professional. Sandra is the immediate past President of The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC).

Tiffany Wiksten, DNP, RN, CIC, associate director, Standards Interpretation Group

Tiffany Wiksten has been a nurse for more than 20 years and an infection preventionist for more than 10 years. In her current role, she is an infection control subject matter expert at The Joint Commission. She has led infection prevention and control efforts in a variety of healthcare settings including large academic medical centers, a community medical center with associated long-term care facility, as well as various ambulatory healthcare sites. She is certified in infection control and has her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

Tackling the Annual Risk Assessment and Infection Prevention Program Plan can be a daunting task even for the most experienced IP. Listen as guest speaker, Rebecca Battjes, discusses pitfalls to avoid in the process of formulating a comprehensive plan and strategies for organizational success.

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

About our Guest:

Rebecca Battjes, MPH, CIC, FAPIC Infection Prevention Senior Clinical Advisor for Diversey

Rebecca Battjes is an Infection Prevention Senior Clinical Advisor for Diversey, one of APIC's 2023 strategic partners. Before being an IP clinical advisor, Rebecca was the infection prevention & control program manager for an acute care hospital and short stay skilled nursing facility. From 2013 to 2021, she was an Infection Preventionist at a large academic medical & Level One trauma center in the heart of Detroit. Rebecca earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English & Spanish literature from Wayne State University and a Master of Public Health degree from Benedictine University.

Further resources: Rebecca Battjes video APIC IP Talk APIC/JCR Infection Prevention & Control Workbook APIC Cost Calculator

Episode is sponsored by HibiClens

Breaking into the IPC industry can be challenging. Listen as two infection prevention experts and leaders discuss strategies on how to get started in the field, and best practices to advance your IPC career. You'll learn how to utilize your foundational knowledge, the best ways to market yourself, and that previous experience is not always necessary.

Hosted by:

Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC

About our Guests:

Lisa Sturm, MPH, CIC, FAPIC

Lisa works at Ascension and is the system Senior Director for Infection Prevention. She wants everyone listening today to know that if you have the will and desire to become an infection preventionist, or want to grow within the field, that the sky is the limit and there are endless amounts of resources and people willing to help you along the way.

Chaz Rhone, MPH, CIC, FAPIC

Chaz is currently the Assistant Vice President of Infection Prevention for HCA Healthcare North Florida Division. His professional passions include advancing the field of IP through leadership development of IPs and advocating for M.P.H.-ers as equally qualified candidates for IP positions.

Further Resources:

https://apic.org/professional-practice/infection-preventionist-ip-competency-model/

https://apic.org/professional-practice/roadmap/novice-roadmap-for-the-infection-preventionist/

https://youtu.be/GItrfuqLRfw

For the first episode with our new hosts, Patricia "Pat" Jackson, 2023 APIC President, stops by to answer questions on her presidency and to discuss the strengths and struggles of the lone IP, or "one-ers."

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

About our Guest:

Patricia "Pat" Jackson, RN, BSN, CIC, FAPIC

Pat Jackson is the 2023 President of APIC. She is Director of Infection Prevention at White Rock Medical Center in Dallas, TX. She has been an infection preventionist for the past 27 years. She has worked primarily in large academic medical centers predominantly in pediatrics but recently has become a "oner" / lone IP in a small community hospital in Dallas, TX. Pat's passion is mentoring new IPs. She served as an original author on APICs Roadmap for the Novice Infection Preventionist and spent many years as a faculty member to APICs epidemiology training courses. She believes we have to attract and retain the talent of the next generation in order for APIC to succeed.

Further resources: APIC Toolkit for Rural and Isolated Settings

APIC Hero of Infection Prevention Kelley Knapek talks about what it takes to successfully recruit, train, and retain talent in the IPC industry. Learn how she developed a tool to help others break into IPC, and how she became a 2022 Hero of Infection Prevention in Leadership.

Hosted by:

Marie Wilson, MSN, RN, CIC and Jay Liggins, MS, CIC

About our Guest:

Kelley Knapek, MPH, BSN, RN, CIC, CWON, Good Samaritan Medical Center

Kelley Knapek is the Manager of Infection Prevention at Good Samaritan Medical Center (SCL Health now Intermountain) in Lafayette, Colorado. She has been an infection preventionist since 2014 and has a background in nursing--working in mental health, med/surg, ortho, and wound care. Outside of work Kelley enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and spending time with her husband and two young boys.

The Novice Roadmap for the Infection Preventionist is an orientation guide and a pathway to earning your CIC. Listen to two of the Roadmap's creators as they discuss the Do's and Don'ts of how to engage with this valuable tool and how to get the most out of your journey through the infection prevention field.

Hosted by:

Marie Wilson, MS, RN, CIC and Jay Liggins, MS, CIC

About our Guests:

Lela Luper, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, Infection Preventionist, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health

Lela Luper is a certified infection preventionist and fellow of APIC who currently is Manager of Infection Prevention and Control at the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health in Ada, OK. For twenty years, Lela has been an infection preventionist in the rural hospital and ambulatory care setting.

Joseph (Joey) M. Scaletta, MPH, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, Infection Control Consultant, NIH Clinical Center

Joseph (Joey) M. Scaletta currently works for the U. S. National Institutes of Health Clinical Center as an Infection Control Consultant. He has been certified in infection control since 2007 and has earned the Fellow of APIC designation.

The hosts and guests of this 5 Second Rule episode would like to express their indebtedness to the committed group of volunteers and staff who updated and created the interactive web version of the Novice Roadmap for the Infection Preventionist currently located on apic.org. Further Resources: The Novice Roadmap: Developing Infection Preventionists Through an Internship Role [Abstract] Novice Roadmap for the Infection Preventionist

Environment of Care (EOC) means 'environment in which care is being provided.' Listen as guest hosts talk with Robert Carter on his roles as they relate to EOC and his experiences along the way. Topics covered include tips for EOC rounding, tricks for getting ready for TJC, horror stories involving gray water, and nightmares about laminated paper.

Hosted by:

Marie Wilson, MSN, RN, CIC and Jay Liggins, MS, CIC

About our Guest:

Robert Carter, Assistant Director of Safety and Emergency Management, Jefferson Health Einstein Division

Robert Carter manages robust programs in emergency management, environment of care, and life safety. Prior to this he was Sr. Director of Process Compliance where he directed facility operations, construction, security, EVS and biomedical engineering. His experience has led to dozens of successful surveys with The Joint Commission, health departments and local authorities having jurisdiction. Robert is a strong believer that interdisciplinary collaboration is critical to any safe environment. With this mindset, he has won awards in infection control and received recognition from front line clinicians. Robert is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served as a firefighter/medic and fire inspector. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Finance.