Voice for Infection Prevention

Welcome back to Voice for Infection Prevention! Today, I’m joined by Jessica Swain, whose career journey is a great example of how diverse backgrounds can bring unique strengths to Infection Prevention.
Jessica started in laboratory science, working in anatomic pathology, microbiology, and research before making the leap into Infection Prevention. She shares how a colleague introduced her to the field, and how she navigated breaking into Infection Prevention as a non-nurse, a challenge many professionals face.
In this conversation, we discuss her transition into system-wide Infection Prevention leadership, her insights on hiring and mentoring new IPs, and the importance of certification, education, and professional involvement. She also shares her work with APIC and the AJIC Science into Practice podcast, encouraging Infection Preventionists to stay engaged with the field.
If you’re interested in career growth, mentorship, and the evolving role of Infection Prevention, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!
Let’s get started.

Welcome back to Voice for Infection Prevention! Today, we have an incredible conversation with Maimuna Jatta, whose journey into Infection Prevention is truly inspiring. From starting her career as a nurse in The Gambia to becoming a System Director of Infection Prevention in the United States, Maimuna’s path is a testament to resilience, leadership, and continuous learning.
Maimuna’s transition into Infection Prevention wasn’t immediate—she gained experience in home health, skilled nursing, and community hospitals before actively volunteering with an Infection Prevention team to learn the ropes and break into the field. Her passion for patient safety and public health drove her to earn her CIC certification within a year, rapidly advancing into a senior leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this conversation, we discuss how she navigated the challenges of credentialing in a new country, built a structured Infection Prevention program across multiple hospitals, and advocated for dedicated Infection Prevention resources in healthcare systems. She also shares valuable advice for aspiring IPs, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, adaptability, and proactive learning.
If you’re looking for insights on career growth, leadership in Infection Prevention, and the evolving role of IPs in healthcare, this is an interview you won’t want to miss!
Let’s get into it.

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.

Welcome back to Voice for Infection Prevention! I'm your host, Jacob Hutcherson, and today we have an incredible guest who has made a lasting impact in the field of Infection Prevention.
Christine Lacerna started her journey in a way many of you can likely relate to—stumbling into Infection Prevention without knowing just how vast and complex it really is. From navigating construction-related infection control early in her career to earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice and stepping into a corporate leadership role, Christine has built a career defined by growth, mentorship, and innovation.
In this conversation, she shares how she approaches hiring Infection Preventionists, why she believes diverse backgrounds can bring fresh perspectives to the field, and how her organization is creating structured training programs to help new IPs succeed.
If you’re looking for insight into leadership, professional growth, and the future of Infection Prevention, you won’t want to miss this one!
Let’s dive in.

Welcome back to Voice for Infection Prevention! I'm your host, Jacob Hutcherson, and today we’re diving into an inspiring conversation with Angel Mueller, a leader who has shaped Infection Prevention at both the hospital and system-wide levels.
Angel’s journey into Infection Prevention started with a strong background in microbiology and public health, but it wasn’t until an epidemiology course and internship experience that she discovered her true passion for the field. She began her career as the first non-nurse Infection Preventionist at her hospital, quickly expanding her role and taking on leadership responsibilities.
In this interview, Angel shares how she advocated for leadership opportunities in Infection Prevention, built a multi-hospital Infection Prevention program, and transitioned into a system-wide leadership role overseeing 17 hospitals, 375+ ambulatory clinics, and home care services. She also offers valuable advice on mentorship, career growth, and the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone in Infection Prevention.
If you’re interested in career advancement, leadership development, and the future of Infection Prevention, you won’t want to miss this conversation!
Let’s get started.

Welcome back to Voice for Infection Prevention! I'm your host, Jacob Hutcherson, and today I’m sitting down with Krystal Robinson, a dynamic leader in Infection Prevention with over 15 years of experience in the field.
Krystal’s journey began in public health and health disparities research, with an initial goal of working in healthcare policy. But after shadowing an Infection Preventionist, she discovered a career that blended science, leadership, and patient safety, launching her into a path of mentorship, advocacy, and system-wide Infection Prevention leadership.
In this conversation, Krystal shares how she navigated the field without a clinical background, why she pursued her CIC certification early on, and how she grew from staff-level IP to overseeing Infection Prevention across multiple hospitals. We also dive into her passion for health equity in Infection Prevention, discussing how socioeconomic factors impact infection rates and what hospitals can do to bridge the gap.
If you’re interested in career growth, leadership development, or the future of Infection Prevention, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss!
Let’s dive in.

Welcome back to Voice for Infection Prevention! This is your host, Jacob Hutcherson, and today I’m joined by Kelly Zabriskie, whose career journey is a perfect example of how taking chances and continuous learning can lead to leadership in Infection Prevention.
Kelly started her career in microbiology and, with no prior hospital experience, took a leap of faith into Infection Prevention when a nurse leader saw her potential and gave her a chance. That decision led to a two-decade career in the field, progressing from solo Infection Preventionist to system-wide leadership overseeing multiple hospitals.
In this conversation, Kelly shares her experience breaking into Infection Prevention as a non-nurse, how she earned her CIC certification in just four months, and the challenges of transitioning from hands-on IP work to high-level strategy and leadership. She also discusses the importance of mentorship, professional development, and ensuring Infection Preventionists have a seat at the table in hospital leadership.
Stay tuned—this episode is full of valuable insights for anyone looking to grow in Infection Prevention.

Welcome back to Voice for Infection Prevention! I'm your host, Jacob Hutcherson, and today we’re sitting down with an incredible leader in the field—Jamie Swift, whose career in Infection Prevention has spanned both public health and hospital-based infection control.
Jamie started her journey with a passion for community health and communicable disease prevention, which led her to Infection Prevention. She shares how she transitioned from public health to hospital-based Infection Prevention management, growing into a corporate leadership role where she now oversees infection control across more than 20 hospitals.
In this conversation, Jamie offers invaluable insights on building a strong Infection Prevention team, the importance of diverse backgrounds in the field, and the challenges of leading infection control efforts at a system-wide level. She also shares advice for aspiring Infection Preventionists on navigating their careers, developing leadership skills, and advocating for proper staffing and resources.
If you’re looking for inspiration, career advice, and a fresh perspective on Infection Prevention, this is an interview you won’t want to miss!
Let’s jump in.

Welcome back to Voice for Infection Prevention! I'm your host, Jacob Hutcherson, and today I’m talking with Shaunte Walton, a leader who has helped pave the way for diverse backgrounds in Infection Prevention.
With a microbiology and molecular diagnostics background, Shaunte transitioned into Infection Prevention, despite the challenges of breaking into a traditionally nurse-dominated field. She shares how mentorship, networking, and earning her CIC certification helped her advance into system-wide leadership at UCLA Health.
We also dive into her passion for mentorship and workforce development, including how she’s helping grow the next generation of Infection Preventionists through training programs and career pathways.
If you’re looking for insights on career growth, leadership, and making an impact in Infection Prevention, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!
Let’s get started.

Welcome back to Voice for Infection Prevention! I'm your host, Jacob Hutcherson, and today I’m joined by Sinthuya Alston, whose journey into Infection Prevention is truly unique—coming from a medical background with a passion for infectious diseases, she originally planned to become an infectious disease physician but found herself falling in love with Infection Prevention instead.
In this conversation, Sinthuya shares how she went from an Infection Prevention Coordinator to a System Director, overseeing Infection Prevention, Employee Health, and Sepsis Care across multiple hospitals. She discusses how her medical background helped her build strong partnerships with physicians, how she integrated Employee Health and Infection Prevention programs, and why emotional intelligence and leadership skills are just as important as clinical knowledge in this field.
We also dive into her approach to mentorship, professional development, and process improvement methodologies like Lean Six Sigma, which have helped her optimize infection control efforts at a large scale. Whether you’re new to the field or looking to advance into leadership, Sinthuya’s insights on career growth and the evolving role of Infection Prevention are invaluable.
You won’t want to miss this one—let’s dive in!