What do therapy dogs and data-driven strategies have in common? They're both helping to move the needle on patient safety. In this APIC 2025 Annual Conference recap, hosts Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard spotlight two infection prevention pros. Maria Vacca shares how her hospital centralized high-level disinfection to boost safety and efficiency. Later in the episode, Rachel Hyatt unveils a heartwarming initiative that taps into the charm of therapy dogs to revolutionize hand hygiene compliance.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guests:

Maria Vacca

Maria earned her BSN and Masters of Science in Nursing from Drexel University, graduating Summa cum Laude for both degrees. She began her nursing career in Critical Care and transitioned to the Infection Control Department in 2004 when Infection Prevention and Control quickly became her passion.

Over the course of her career, she's had the opportunity to provide oversight and obtain experience in numerous Infection Control roles including High Level Disinfection and Sterilization, Infection Prevention oversight of Ambulatory Practices and Regulatory Compliance Coordinator. Maria’s Lean Six Sigma training helped her lead numerous successful performance improvement projects for which her teams have won several awards, presentations and publications.

She was the principle investigator for a Covid-19 research study that was published in the June 2022 issue of AJIC. Maria received recognition as a APIC Fellow (FAPIC) in 2022. Maria and colleagues successfully submitted a poster presentation to APIC’s 2025 Annual conference titled “From Decentralized to Centralized: Successfully Transforming High-Level Disinfection Practices in the Operating Room of a Large Academic Hospital."

Rachel Hyatt

Rachel Hyatt is a Community Health Specialist with a Masters in Business Administration. She driven by a passion for innovation and process improvement.

As an Administrative Assistant with Infection Prevention for over two years, Rachel coordinated large-scale initiatives, from accreditation surveys to system-wide health campaigns. Her diverse experience in customer service, animal control, and zookeeping has given her a unique lens on behavior, shaping her approach to public education and engagement.

Her ability to merge strategic planning with creativity fuels her mission to develop engaging, effective solutions in healthcare and community wellness. She is passionate about leveraging innovative ideas and interactive outreach to inspire lasting, positive change.

Rachel successfully submitted an oral abstract presentation to APIC’s 2025 Annual conference titled “Wash Your Paws: Using Creative Canine Marketing and Therapy Dogs to Promote Hand Hygiene Compliance.”

Want to elevate your infection prevention career? Dive into this inspiring episode with Gail Fraine and Dr. Mayar Al Mohajer as they explore the value, purpose, and impact of the Advanced Leadership Certification in Infection Prevention (AL-CIP). Learn how this credential empowers professionals to lead change, drive outcomes, and shape healthcare policy. Get tips for submission success and hear firsthand experiences from these certified leaders!

Hosted by:

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

About our Guests:

Gail Fraine, CIC, LTC-CIP, AL-CIP

Gail Fraine is the System Director of Infection Prevention at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, TN, with over 30 years of experience reducing healthcare-associated infections through evidence-based practices and high-reliability principles. A long-standing APIC member, she has held national leadership roles including Board Director and Annual Conference Chair.

Gail currently serves as President-Elect of the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) and contributed to developing both the long-term care and Advanced Leadership certifications. She holds nursing degrees from Arkansas State, Belmont, and Vanderbilt, and is certified in CIC, LTC-CIP, and AL-CIP.

Mayar Al Mohajer, FIDSA, FSHEA, FAPIC, FACHE, AL-CIP

Dr. Al Mohajer serves as Professor of Medicine in the Section of Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he also directs the Infection Prevention, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Quality Improvement, and Leadership Track.

He is the Chief of the Infectious Disease Section at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center and the Medical Director of Infection Prevention, Occupational Health, Diagnostic Stewardship, and Antibiotic Stewardship for CommonSpirit Health’s South Region and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.

In addition to his clinical and academic roles, Dr. Al Mohajer sits on the CBIC Board and co-chairs the National Infection Prevention Council for CommonSpirit Health. He holds multiple fellowships and certifications recognizing his expertise and leadership, including FIDSA, FSHEA, FAPIC, FACHE, and AL-CIP.

Are you ready for measles to walk through your doors? In this episode of the 5 Second Rule, hosts Kelly and Lerenza talk with experts Tiffany Dogan and Pam Falk about the measles resurgence in the U.S., response strategies, and how infection preventionists can act fast. Discover powerful tools like the APIC measles playbook and the updated APIC Text Chapter, plus real-life stories, insights, and frontline tips to keep your team informed and ready.

Hosted by:

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

About our Guests:

Pamela Falk, MPH, CIC, FSHEA, FAPIC

Pam Falk is President of Pamela S. Falk Consulting and a fellow of both APIC and SHEA, with over 40 years of infection prevention experience across acute, ambulatory, and long-term care settings. She has presented nationally and contributed to key resources, including the CDC/Johns Hopkins Ebola PPE training video and Elsevier’s TJC/OSHA Course Review.

Pam has held leadership roles within APIC, including serving on the National Education Committee and as past Education Chair of the Atlanta chapter. She developed several interactive learning experiences for APIC’s national conferences and is current faculty for APIC’s EPI Intensive and ASC courses. She also contributes to APIC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases task force.  

Tiffany Dogan, MPH, CIC

Tiffany Dogan is the Infection Prevention Program Manager at UCLA Health with 14 years of experience building strong IPC programs in large academic medical centers. She holds an MPH from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and is passionate about developing the next generation of infection preventionists while elevating the profile of MPH’ers in the field.

She has spent over 12 years teaching infection prevention at the college level, where she brings complex concepts to life in ways that are clear, engaging, and empowering. Tiffany is a trusted voice on leading with influence – not authority – and has presented her insights at local and national APIC conferences. She approaches her role with a blend of science and soul, knowing the most meaningful impact happens at the intersection of character and connection.

Resources:
Project Firstline micro-learn

APIC website on measles with CDC links

APIC Playbook