What’s the next step in your career as an IP? Join hosts Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard as they explore APIC’s Career Development and Advancement Guide with experts Chris Zirges and Angel Mueller. This episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you evaluate your skills, build a standout professional portfolio, and navigate every career stage—from paraprofessional to executive. Whether you’re looking to grow your influence or take the leap into a new role, this empowering discussion will give you the tools to shape your future as an IP. Tune in and take your career to the next level!

Resources:
Infection Preventionist Career Development and Advancement Guide

"A framework for defining and documenting infection preventionist competency"

Hosted by:

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

About our Guests:

Angel Mueller, MPH, CIC, FAPIC

Angel Mueller is a certified Infection Preventionist and APIC Fellow with over 16 years of progressive infection prevention and control and leadership experience. She is the System Director of Infection Prevention at UnityPoint Health where she provides leadership and strategic direction for multiple hospital, ambulatory and home care settings throughout Iowa, western Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

Angel was a member of the APIC Professional Development Committee (PDC) for six years and served as chair of the committee for two of those years. Through her work on the PDC, Angel contributed to the updated APIC IP Competency Model, was a participating author of the article introducing the model and helped develop the Infection Preventionist Career Development and Advancement Guide.

Angel is knowledgeable in the infection prevention competency domains, enjoys developing tools and systems to make infection prevention processes more efficient and effective, and is passionate about advancing the profession and supporting the development of IPs throughout the world.

Christine (Chris) Zirges, DNP, ACNS-BC, CIC, FAPIC

Chris is currently the System Director of Infection Prevention for SSM Health. Professional endeavors include past board member of the Certification Board of Infection Control (CBIC), current Chair of the APIC Professional Development Committee, board member on the Board of Directors for the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC), and the HAI Advisory Council through the University of Missouri (Sinclair School of Nursing).

She is certified in infection prevention (CIC), board-certified as an advanced practice nurse (ACNS-BC), and a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (FAPIC). Her doctoral focus was on reducing the number of indwelling urinary catheter days. Her experience includes practicing infection prevention in many settings, which made integrating a corporate-wide program a natural next step. Chris's interests include standardization of work and sustainment of clinical interventions. The structure and processes of a high-functioning infection prevention and control program are a key driver of success. She is from Kirkwood Missouri and proud parent of two young men – so now an empty nester!

Tune into this episode of the 5 Second Rule Podcast where hosts Lerenza Howard and Kelly Holmes interview Dr. Carol McLay, a leading infection prevention expert and 2025 APIC President. Hear about Dr. McLay's inspiring career journey including her experiences during the AIDS epidemic and the Ebola outbreak. Listen to her vision to strengthen infection prevention and control programs during her term as the 2025 APIC President. Join us for a captivating conversation on lifelong learning, global health, and sustainable preparedness.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guest:

Carol M. McLay, DrPH, MPH, RN, FAPIC, CIC

Dr. Carol McLay is a leading expert in infection prevention, healthcare epidemiology, and public health, with 30 years of experience advancing clinical practice, education, and research. A passionate advocate for certification and professional development, she is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of infection preventionists.

Dr. McLay is the author of several foundational resources, including The Infection Prevention Competency Review Guide, 4th Edition, and APIC’s Certification Study Guides (5th–7th editions). She will serve as the 2025 APIC President and currently holds leadership roles on the International Federation for Infection Control (IFIC) Board of Directors and the AJIC Editorial Board.

Certified in Infection Control (CIC), a Fellow of both APIC and SHEA, and a certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, Dr. McLay brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the field. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Ottawa (Canada), her Master of Public Health from Emory University, and her Doctorate of Public Health from the University of Kentucky.

In this special holiday edition, hosts Lerenza Howard and Kelly Holmes welcome Rebecca Taylor Alvino, a board-certified infection preventionist and perioperative nurse at UCSF Health. Rebecca shares her inspiring journey from a public health background to a focused career in surgical infection prevention. Rebecca dives into the challenges of infection control, innovative technologies, and key performance indicators that enhance productivity and minimize immediate-use steam sterilization. Rebecca offers practical advice for infection preventionists when rounding in the sterile processing department, strategies to foster collaboration, and insights regarding IPs who are considering certification in sterile processing along with appropriate competencies for SPD staff. Don’t miss Rebecca’s forward-looking perspective on the evolving field of sterile processing and its critical partnership with infection prevention.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guest:

Rebecca Alvino, RN, MS, CNS, CIC, CNOR, CRCST, FAPIC

Rebecca Taylor Alvino is a board-certified infection preventionist and perioperative nurse, experiences that serve her well in her current role as System Director of Sterile Processing at UCSF Health in San Francisco. She is active with APIC, currently serving as the President-Elect for the San Francisco Bay Area chapter and most recently co-authoring the recently released update to the APIC Text Online chapter, “Reprocessing Single-Use Devices”.

This episode is sponsored by Solventum.

In the 5 Second Rule podcast by APIC, hosts Lerenza Howard and Kelly Holmes discuss infection prevention and control in the context of hurricanes with professionals, Lori Crow and Cindy Prins. From sharing personal experiences to breaking down the role of infection preventionists in such situations, the podcast covers a wide range of topics - from maintaining food safety during power outages to averting mold growth post-flooding. Listen to the IPC experts shed insights on the crucial role played by IPs and infection prevention measures during a hurricane.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guests:

Cindy Prins, PhD, MPH, CIC, CPH, FSHEA

Dr. Cindy Prins is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Medicine at the University of Central Florida, and is part of the UCF Infectious Disease and Travel Health Initiative. She is an infectious disease epidemiologist whose research focuses on infection prevention and control in both healthcare and non-healthcare settings, and on compliance with vaccine recommendations. Dr. Prins is Board Certified in Infection Control (CIC) and Public Health (CPH) and is a Fellow of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (FSHEA).

Lori Zeringue Crow, MPH, MS, CPH

Lori holds a background in both microbiology and public health. After a career as a college microbiology instructor, Lori pivoted her path into public health by going back to school to obtain her MPH. Lori now works in public health emergency preparedness and response at a state health department. In that capacity, Lori is trained to prepare for and respond to all types of hazards that can impact public health. Two of the most common types of hazards her department encounters are hurricanes and flooding. Lori’s experience with the devastation that hurricanes can bring is not only professional, but also personal as she has lived most of her life on the Gulf Coast. Lori believes infection prevention plays a role in minimizing the impact hurricanes can have on people. She combines her microbiology and public health background to advocate for the inclusion of infection control in hurricane preparedness and response

Further Resources:

• How to build an emergency kit by Ready.gov
• General public health messaging before, during, and after hurricanes and floods. Covers food safety, mold, proper care of wounds, safe water, waterborne diseases: CDC Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters
• CDC’s Safe and Healthy Diapering for Emergency Settings and Shelters fact sheet
• CDC’s Preventing Diarrheal Illness After a Disaster fact sheet
• APIC’s Infection Prevention and Control for Shelters during Disasters
• Creating a food safety plan for hurricane season: Foodsafety.gov
• 2023 APIC Emerging Infectious Diseases Task Force: Infection Prevention and Control for Shelters During Disasters
• Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide for Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities, 2019

Hear about the intricacies of healthcare equity in this episode of the 5 Second Rule podcast, hosted by Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard. We welcome Caldwell Lewin and Jessica Tarabay from the APIC Health Equity Committee, diving deep into topics such as health equity, disparities, and crucial infection prevention strategies. Listen now to gain valuable insights into pressing concerns in the healthcare landscape.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guests:

Jessica Tarabay, MPH, MHR, CIC, CPHQ, FAPIC

Jessica Tarabay holds a background in public health and epidemiology. Jessica joined Emory Healthcare in May of 2019. She is a purposely driven quality, patient safety, and infection prevention leader with 10 years of healthcare experience identifying areas of improvement through interdisciplinary collaboration, data analysis, and implementing strategies critical for successful outcomes. Jessica is a fellow of APIC, has published and presented on a variety of topics in infection prevention and control, and serves as the Chair of the National APIC Health Equity Committee and 2023 President of the Greater Atlanta Georgia APIC Chapter. Jessica was the recipient of the 2021 March of Dimes “Friend of Nurse” award in Georgia and is a current doctoral candidate in the DrPH program at the University of Georgia.

Caldwell Lewin, MSN, RN, CIC, CPHQ

Caldwell Lewin is a dedicated healthcare professional with extensive experience in nursing and infection prevention and control. Currently working as an Operating Room Registered Nurse, Caldwell has a diverse background, having previously served as the Infection Prevention and Control system manager for Sentara Healthcare, a system encompassing 12 hospitals in Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina.

Caldwell’s expertise in Infection Prevention and Control spans various settings, including acute care, critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, long-term care facilities, and ambulatory surgery centers. She has served as a board member for the APIC chapter in New Orleans and participated on the National APIC Health Inequity and Disparities task force. Currently, she co-chairs the APIC Health Equity Committee, demonstrating her commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting equitable healthcare practices.

In the latest episode of the 5 Second Rule podcast, guest Chris Smith delves into the collaboration between the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and APIC, resulting in the development of a school-based IPC Toolkit for Missouri Schools. This initiative equips the school community with valuable resources to enhance infection prevention practices in K-12 schools. Learn more about the toolkit's components, the TEAMS (Training, Education, Assistance, Mentorship, and Support) model approach, impact assessment through pre/post evaluations, and its potential to enhance population health beyond the healthcare sector.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guest:

Chris Smith, MHA, Program Manager for APIC

Chris A. Smith, MHA, is currently a Program Manager for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), acting as the project manager for the MO KIDS IPC Toolkit project. Ms. Smith has worked in the public health and medical fields for the last 30 years. Roles that she has held include Environmental Health Specialist and Bio-terrorism Response Planner for Columbia/Boone County Health Department, Communications and Emergency Preparedness Manager for University of Missouri Healthcare, Emergency Preparedness Director for Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston), Senior Program Manager of the Boston Medical Intelligence Center, Boston Public Health Commission, and leading training development projects for workforce development for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Field Operations Directorate. Ms. Smith is also an adjunct professor for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, teaching Public Health Issues in Emergency Management. She earned her Master's in Health Administration (MHA) from the University of Missouri - Columbia.

Are you up to date with the latest Infection Control Updates for 2024? Tune into the Five Second Rule Podcast, where hosts Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard discuss these crucial updates with Natalya Rosenberg from The Joint Commission. Gain insights into competency-based training, protocols for high-consequence pathogens, ensuring vendor compliance, tips for conflicting MIFUs, and the role of leadership in ensuring quality in contracted services. Don't miss the invaluable perspectives and advice that could greatly benefit your health organization!

Hosted by:

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

About our Guest:

Natalya Rosenberg, PhD, RN

Natalya Rosenberg is a Senior Product Director in the Department of Global Standards and Certifications at The Joint Commission. In this role, she is responsible for developing and maintaining accreditation requirements for hospitals and non-hospital programs. Dr. Rosenberg is a registered nurse and previously worked as a clinical nurse in diverse critical care settings. Her experience includes serving as an infection control liaison for several cardiovascular health services and procedural areas. Prior to her employment at The Joint Commission, she was a post-doctoral fellow in cardiovascular and chronic disease epidemiology in minority populations at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. She developed and participated in several epidemiological studies and co-authored 8 peer-reviewed publications.