Welcome back to Voice for Infection Prevention! I'm your host, Jacob Hutcherson, and today we’re joined by the incomparable Connie Cutler—a pioneer with more than 40 years in Infection Prevention and a career that spans rural hospitals, major academic centers, and multi-hospital systems.

Connie’s path into Infection Prevention is anything but typical. Armed with a master’s in biology, she began her healthcare career as a nurse’s aide in a 46-bed Nebraska hospital—eventually becoming the facility’s part-time Infection Preventionist and recovery room nurse. From there, her career skyrocketed, taking on management roles at 450+ and 750-bed hospitals, overseeing teams, navigating the emergence of HIV, and later leading Infection Prevention across eight hospitals during major system mergers.

In this episode, Connie reflects on what it was like to practice IP during the early days of HIV, her transition into leadership, and how she’s balanced infection prevention with employee health—even amid national outbreaks and organizational change. With deep insights on mentorship, burnout, and what makes someone “IP material,” this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in growing in the field.

Let’s dive in.