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.