This Is 5 Second Rule

In this episode of the 5 Second Rule podcast, hosts Lerenza Howard and Kelly Holmes talk with Aayushi Chheda, past president of the Midnight Sun Chapter of APIC, and Talia Lefkowitz, past president of the Greater New York Chapter of APIC, both winners of a 2023 Chapter Excellence Award. Aayushi discusses their successful strategies to revitalize the chapter during the pandemic, while Talia describes the techniques used for ongoing Chapter success. The conversation focuses on networking, implementing surveys to measure educational needs, and strengthening communication for both virtual and in-person meetings in order to build a culture of resiliency and balance.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guests:

Aayushi Chheda, MS, MPH, CIC, Supervisor at Providence Alaska Medical Center

Getting connected to other professionals in the field of IP has been an integral part of Aayushi's professional and personal journey in Alaska. In 2021, she assumed leadership roles within the local APIC chapter, serving as President-Elect before becoming President.

Talia Lefkowitz, BSN, RN, CIC, Assistant Director of Infection Prevention at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City

Talia is the immediate past president of APIC Greater New York Chapter 13, and has enjoyed giving back to the chapter using an innovative and collaborative approach to engage and retain members.

Further resource:
APIC Chapter Information

Are you ready to be inspired by a conversation with Dr. Tania Bubb, APIC's 2024 president? Listen to this podcast to learn about her volunteerism, journey to the APIC presidency, initiatives, and values that she will promote during her leadership. Hear her discuss the importance of trust and collaboration, active listening, and valuing others' lived experiences in the infection prevention and control industry.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guest:

Tania Bubb, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC

Dr. Tania Bubb is the 2024 APIC President. She is Senior Director of Infection Prevention & Control at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. She has worked as an Infection Preventionist since 2006 at major academic medical centers with responsibilities spanning the continuum of care. She’s served her local and national APIC Board of Directors. Prior to serving at the national level, Dr. Bubb chaired the APIC Professional Development Committee, was a member of the American Journal of Infection Control Editorial Review Board, and APIC’s Practice Resource Editorial Panel. Most recently, Dr. Bubb co-chaired APIC’s Health Inequities and Disparities Taskforce. She is an experienced speaker and author, having presented at local and national APIC events as well as other conferences, and authored publications related to the field of infection prevention and control.

Dr. Bubb received Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Nursing from City University of New York Herbert H. Lehman College and earned a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Nursing from New York University.

Join us as we hear from Rosa Lozano, the chair of APIC's Emerging Infectious Diseases Task Force. She discusses her role in assembling the passionate, diverse members of the task force and how they are developing operational guidance to assist infection preventionists and public health professionals in combating novel pathogens and infectious diseases.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guest:

Rosa Lozano, MPH, CIC, Assistant Vice President, Infection Prevention, Methodist Healthcare System

Rosa Lozano joined the Methodist Healthcare System of eight hospitals in 2019. As the Assistant Vice President of Infection Prevention, Rosa mentors a team of hospital Infection Preventionists, champions comprehensive infection prevention programs, and collaborates with healthcare teams to drive patient and healthcare worker safety. Rosa also serves as the Chair of the Emerging Infectious Disease Task Force for the Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, representing 15,000 infection prevention members globally. Rosa is also passionate about mentorship and leadership growth for Infection Preventionists, and emerging healthcare leaders.

Rosa received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from The University of Texas, and her Master of Public Health degree in Healthcare Systems, Management, and Policy from the Colorado School of Public Health. She has also served on APIC’s Public Policy Committee, and Communications Committee.

Further Resources:

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Heather Saunders, an Infection Prevention and Control Nurse Consultant and Research Nurse Program Manager, shares personal strategies to navigate and recover from burnout. Through Heather’s experience in healthcare she found her passion for infection prevention and is now creating awareness on the importance of self-care and practical approaches to achieving joy in the job. Join the Five Second Rule podcast to find out how Heather consistently incorporates wellness in her personal and professional life.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guest:

Heather Saunders, MPH, RN, CIC

Heather Saunders is an experienced and motivated registered nurse with a master’s degree in public health and a certification in infection control. Striving for excellence in the prevention and control of infectious disease, Heather believes in using innovative and strategic leadership methods to achieve program goals. Currently, Heather is employed with Johns Hopkins University Division of Infectious Diseases as a research nurse program manager, using her expertise to guide research in the prevention and control of infections in health care settings. Additionally, Heather is the owner of Broad Street Prevention, where she serves as an infection prevention consultant. During her off hours, Heather enjoys writing, reading, hiking, and spending time with her friends and family. She is the proud author of the blog, All the Lessons We Learn, where she gives a lyrical accounting of all the beautiful, painful, and transcendent lessons that we learn on this journey we call life.

This podcast hosted by APIC celebrates International Infection Prevention Week with guest Carole Kamangu. Carole is a nurse epidemiologist and infection prevention consultant who moved to the US in 2004 from the Democratic Republic of Congo and obtained her master's in public health. Listen to her inspiring story of her initial aspiration to become a surgeon, followed by her move to the US, challenges in nursing school, and ultimately her success in the IP field.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guest:

Carole W. Kamangu, RN, MPH, CIC, CEO and Principal Consultant, Dumontel Healthcare Consulting, LLC

Carole is the founder/CEO of Dumontel Healthcare Consulting, LLC, a Texas-based infection prevention and control firm, where she applies her leadership skills in project and program management, quality improvement, and strategic planning. She also serves as a consultant at APIC Consulting, Inc. She is the co-founder and current board secretary of Congo4Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization that serves schools in low-income communities of the DRC. 

Further Resources:
Handwashing 101 with Dumontel Healthcare Consulting, LLC

In this episode of the 5 Second Rule, hosts Kelly and Lerenza interview Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine scientist and autism parent, who shares his insights from the recent COVID-19 pandemic and provides strategies to better equip IPC programs for the future. His enlightened advice about anticipating and preparing for emerging infections, combined with his inspiring view of addressing vaccine skepticism, makes this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to protect their community from infectious diseases.

Hosted by:

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

Further Resources:

The Deadly Rise of Anti-science

About our Guest:

Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine

Hotez is Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics, and Professor of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is also the Director of the Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development and Texas Children’s Hospital Endowed Chair of Tropical Pediatrics. Additionally, Hotez is University Professor at Baylor University and a Fellow in Disease and Poverty at the James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Hotez was among the first to predict Zika’s emergence in the U.S. and has served on infectious disease task forces for two consecutive Texas Governors. As an internationally recognized physician-scientist in tropical diseases and vaccine development, he is called upon frequently to testify before Congress. While at the Clinton Global Initiative, Hotez co-founded the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases. In 2017, he was named by Fortune magazine as one of the 34 most influential people in healthcare; in 2018, he was appointed by the U.S. State Department to serve on the Board of Governors for the U.S. Israel Binational Science Foundation. Hotez received the Sackler Award in Sustained Leadership from Research!America. He was also the recipient of APIC’s 2022 Distinguished Scientist Award.

Our hosts are joined in-person by three oral and poster presenters at the 2023 APIC Annual Conference in Orlando! You'll hear about insights from a new IP director, hand hygiene compliance technology, and Candida auris. Check out more information about each oral or poster presentation in our Further Resources section.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guests:

Benjamin Galvan, MLS (ASCP), CIC, CPH

Benjamin D. Galvan is a board-certified infection prevention director in Tampa, FL and a consulting infection prevention subject matter expert with APIC Consulting Services. Since 2018, Benjamin has demonstrated a passion for infection prevention and patient safety by leveraging interdisciplinary collaboration and performance improvement methodologies to improve health outcomes. In June 2021, Benjamin was awarded the inaugural Emerging Leader in Infection Prevention award by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and was selected as a rising star in healthcare by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2022. In 2015, Benjamin attained his bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and is presently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Health at the University of South Florida.

Emily Gaddam, BSN, RN, CIC

Emily Gaddam is a Nurse Epidemiologist, Infection Prevention Consultant, and Health Delivery Scientist dedicated to quality and patient safety. She plays an active role in Greater Los Angeles APIC chapter as the Communication Chair, webmaster, and legislative committee member. Emily's achievements include earning a prestigious blue ribbon at the National APIC conference for her pioneering efforts in C. auris prevention, publishing a recent stem cell investigation in Transfusion, and demonstrating unwavering commitment to preventing central line infection at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the nation's premiere heart transplant center.

Marissa Yee, MPH, CIC

Marissa Yee, MPH, CIC, is an infection preventionist at the University of Michigan Health. She began her infection prevention career in 2016 at U-M Health as the data coordinator for the institution’s hand hygiene program before taking on infection prevention analyst responsibilities and, in 2019, becoming an infection preventionist. Marissa covers inpatient adult and pediatric units along with several ambulatory health centers and specialty clinics. She works closely with the outpatient pediatric and adult dialysis units to identify opportunities for reducing bloodstream infections and vascular access infections. She leads Ambulatory Care Infection Prevention meetings and actively participates on the Ambulatory Care Regulatory Readiness Advisory Council.

Harry Zhen, MPH, CIC

Harry Zhen, MPH, CIC, is an infection preventionist at the University of Michigan Health. He began his career in infection prevention in 2019 as an analyst and data coordinator for the institution’s hand hygiene program before transitioning to the role of infection preventionist in 2020. His current areas of focus include the adult pulmonary moderate and intensive care unit, pediatric surgery and operating rooms, interventional radiology, and respiratory care. He is the Infection Prevention lead for the Mold Surveillance and Response Program at the University of Michigan Health, and is also the co-lead of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital Surgical Site Infection Prevention Workgroup at the University of Michigan Health.

Further Resources:

2024 Call for Speakers

Benjamin Galvin Poster Presentation: A 90-Day Success Story: Insights from a New Infection Prevention Director with Multicenter Oversight

Emily Gaddam Oral Presentation: Candida Auris: A Team-based Approach to Taming the Wild Yeast

Harry Zhen and Marissa Yee Oral Presentation: Data Rather Than Germs on Your Fingertips: Leveraging Business Intelligence to Improve and Sustain Hand Hygiene Compliance

2023 International Infection Prevention Week

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.