#24 COVID-19 Safety in Schools: Not As Easy as ABC

With students, faculty, and staff returning to their school systems, the question of how to keep those within these institutions safe is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Join us and our guest, Lead Clinical Editor of APIC Text Kelley Boston, for a discussion on how to get creative in adhering to CDC guidelines for returning to classrooms, acquiring community buy-in on safety precautions, and concerns surrounding routine vaccination schedules for children. Hosted by: Silvia Quevedo, CAE About our Guest: Kelley M. Boston, MPH, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC Kelley M. Boston, MPH, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC is an infection preventionist with nearly 20 years of experience, and brings a background in public health and epidemiology to her infection prevention practice, providing insights on team-focused change processes and disaster preparedness. Her primary expertise is in acute care settings and she has held leadership roles in multi-facility systems that have included both community hospitals and major academic teaching centers, and specialized practice areas including pediatrics, transplant, and trauma. She was honored as an APIC Hero of Infection Prevention in 2016 for her work in program integration and development within a large multi-facility healthcare system, leading to significant sustained improvement in infection outcomes. She is an active member of both the Society for Healthcare Epidemiologists of America (SHEA) and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), where she has served as president and board member in multiple local chapters, and at the national level on the Communications Committee and APIC Text Editorial Panel. She is currently the President and Legislative representative for the Houston APIC Chapter and the Lead Clinical Editor for the APIC Text. Kelley holds a Master’s of Public Health in international and family health, with a concentration in epidemiology from The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston School of Public Health. In addition, she holds a degree in Geography with a focus on environmental resources management and medical geography from The University of Texas at Austin. She holds certifications in infection prevention and control (CIC), healthcare quality (CPHQ) and is recognized as a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (FAPIC). Back to School Safety During COVID-19