Podcast appearances and mentions of Kelly Holmes

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

With the NBA Finals tipping off, Gabby and Mark talk about Michael Jordan returning to our screens to set the record straight, the great NBA draft conspiracy and why basketball is a bigger hit in Europe than the UK. That's with international basketball coach and host of The Athletic's NBA Daily podcast, Dave DuFour. Comedian Lee Mack, or Mark's doppelganger, joins us to spill Soccer Aid secrets from playing with the legends and slate Gabby's sport. Plus, Gabby and Mark react to the big dropouts for the Lionesses' Euros squad, wildcard Lois Boisson's record run at the French Open and calls from the likes of Mo Farah and Kelly Holmes for the UK to host the World Athletics Championships. Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producer: Bogdan BriceagSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandGuest Booker: Kirsty GiddingsTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

In this episode, our hosts chat with Dr. Rebecca Crapanzano-Sigafoos and Frankie Catalfumo about APIC's updated CAUTI Implementation Guide and the collaborative efforts behind it. They share the guide's origins and what inspired the guide, highlight key prevention strategies, and debunk some common misconceptions about CAUTI in healthcare. Tune in to hear the discussion about real-world implementation challenges, the distinction between essential and additional practices, and how the new tools were designed to enhance process improvement. Get inspired to “partner harder” and strengthen your IP practice! Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC and Lerenza L. Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guests: Rebecca (Becca) Crapanzano-Sigafoos, DrPH, CIC, FAPIC (previously Bartles) Rebecca (Becca) Crapanzano-Sigafoos, DrPH, CIC, FAPIC is the Executive Director of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Prevention (APIC)'s Center for Research, Practice, and Innovation (CRPI). Becca has practiced Infection Prevention and Infectious Disease Epidemiology for the last 20 years in a variety of healthcare settings and has numerous publications focused on infection prevention staffing and endoscope safety. She received both her BS in Public Health, Health Education and her MPH in Epidemiology from East TN State University. She completed her Doctorate in Public Health in 2021 with a dissertation topic of “Assessing efficacy of an evidence-based Clostridiodes difficile screening tool using electronic medical record data.” She has been CIC certified since 2008 and is an APIC fellow. Most notably, though, Becca is the mother of six amazing daughters, ages 10-27. Frankie Catalfumo, MPH, CIC, CRCS Frankie Catalfumo, MPH, CIC, CRCST is the Director of Practice Guidance and Health Equity at APIC in their Center for Research, Practice, and Innovation (CRPI). Frankie is an infection preventionist with more than 10 years of experience leading collaborative initiatives within acute healthcare and the federal government. In his current role, he oversees the development of practice guidance tools that are meaningful to the association's membership. He also leads investigative work regarding the relationship between health equity and infection prevention. Prior to joining APIC, Frankie led infection prevention initiatives at Inova Health System, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Department of Defense, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From the global HIV epidemic to the threat of multi-drug resistant bacteria, all infectious agents prompt the need for effective prevention and control measures. Frankie is board-certified in infection control (CIC) and in sterile processing (CRCST). Resource: CAUTI Implementation Guide

0:15 -Childhood Sports Memories and Influential MomentsAmy Shelley reminisced about her childhood experiences with school sports, highlighting the freedom to explore different activities. She cited David Beckham as her sporting hero, noting how she admired his skills and tried to replicate his free kicks. Additionally, she reflected on memorable sporting moments, including Kelly Holmes' gold medal win and the women's Euros final in 2022.7:40 -Introduction to Amy Shelley's Research on Player Development in RugbyAmy Shelley is a third-year PhD student at Dublin City University, focusing on male player development in rugby through a collaboration with Premiership Rugby. Her research seeks to identify factors that influence player progression, emphasizing the importance of policies and the structure of the talent system. Shelley brings a fresh perspective to the field, having a diverse background in physiology without prior specialization in rugby.11:45 -Analysis of Player Progression in Rugby AcademiesAmy Shelley presented her findings on the progression of players from rugby academies to the premiership, particularly examining those identified as having high potential. She noted the diversity among the 14 academies, highlighting differences in resources, nomination strategies, and cultural values. Michael Wright contributed by discussing the varying definitions of "outstanding" players across different environments.20:51 -Analysis of Rugby Player Development and Academy SelectionAmy Shelley presented key insights from her research on rugby academies, noting that players identified as high potential at age 16 had increased chances of progressing to the premiership. Interestingly, players who were not initially recognized as academy players but later joined the Senior Academy had even higher conversion rates to premiership appearances. This suggests that perceptions and expectations from coaches can significantly influence player development.28:33 -The Impact of Early Labeling on Young AthletesAmy Shelley and Michael Wright examine the challenges faced by young athletes who are labeled as high potential by sports academies. They consider the potential pressures and expectations that come with this designation, including the impact on individual development and the risk of burnout. Additionally, they discuss how this labeling may affect the way coaches in other settings perceive and interact with these players.32:22 -Insights on Academy Differences in Rugby DevelopmentAmy Shelley presented findings from her second paper, which focused on the differences among rugby academies and their influence on player development. She conducted interviews across 14 academies to understand how various contexts, including school environments and coaching practices, impact player conversion rates. The research identified four key themes related to the structure of the talent system and resource allocation.43:33 -Insights on Player Development in RugbyAmy Shelley addressed the limited time frame for developing players from selection to senior contracts, noting that environments with more opportunities tend to accelerate player development. Michael Wright raised concerns about the variability in coaching approaches and how they affect player readiness for first-team environments. Shelley pointed out that the integration between first teams and academies is crucial, but changes in coaching staff can disrupt established systems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do infection prevention strategies vary across the globe? In this episode, Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard talk with infection control experts Dr. Filippo Medioli from Italy and Dr. Tatiana Izakovic from Slovakia. They explore how cultural attitudes, institutional policies, and limited resources shape infection control efforts worldwide. The conversation also compares how hospitals in different countries train and staff their infection prevention teams. Key topics include antimicrobial stewardship, the lasting impact of COVID-19 on protocols, and how innovations like AI and diagnostic stewardship are transforming the fight against healthcare-associated infections. Don't miss this vital conversation! Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC and Lerenza L. Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guests: Filippo Medioli, MD Born in Milan, Dr. Filippo Medioli is an Infectious Diseases Specialist at Humanitas Research Hospital in Italy and a PhD Candidate at the same institution. His expertise extends to antimicrobial stewardship and clinical infectious diseases, reflected in his role as an ad hoc member of the ESGAP Executive Committee. Dr. Medioli has broadened his international experience through a clinical observership at Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (HUVM) in Seville, Spain, from May to July 2024. Additionally, he serves as the Network Officer for the Trainee Association of European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases or ESCMID, beginning in April 2024, fostering collaboration among early-career infectious disease specialists. In his free time, he enjoys expressing his creativity through painting and drawing. Tatiana Izakovic, MD, MHA, CIC Tatiana Izakovic, MD, MHA, CIC is an experienced hospital epidemiologist and infection control specialist. She is currently a PhD candidate at Comenius University School of Medicine, where she also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Hygiene. Dr. Izakovic has held leadership roles in infection prevention and hospital epidemiology, including serving as a hospital epidemiologist at Hospital Bory and as an infection control consultant. She is an active member of international professional organizations, including ESCMID and APIC, where she sits on the Communications Committee. Her research and presentations focus on hospital-associated infections, patient safety, and epidemiological strategies. Dr. Izakovic holds an MD from Comenius University, an MHA from the University of Iowa, and a CIC certification from CBIC.

Tuberculosis remains a pressing public health challenge, with recent outbreaks highlighting its persistent threat. In this episode infectious disease expert Dr. Matt Shoemaker dives into the TB outbreak in Kansas. He unpacks the complexities of its transmission, the symptoms to watch for, and the obstacles faced in controlling its spread. Explore how public health officials are tackling this crisis, the crucial role of identifying latent TB cases, and the broader influence of policy on prevention. Join us for an eye-opening discussion on combating this enduring health concern. Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC and Lerenza L. Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guest: Dr. Matt Shoemaker, DO, FIDSA Dr. Matt Shoemaker, DO, FIDSA, Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine, graduated from the University of Health Sciences-College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, MO in 2000. He subsequently completed a traditional rotating osteopathic internship at Capital Regional Medical Center in Jefferson City, MO. After completion of his internship, he completed a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Disease, both at the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine in Columbia, MO. He also maintains a medical practice specializing in Infectious Disease. Dr. Shoemaker is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine. He was in private practice in southeast Missouri from 2006 until 2019. He also served as vice president and chief medical officer at SoutheastHEALTH in Cape Girardeau, MO from 2014 until 2019. In 2018 he was advanced to a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. In July of 2019 he joined the University of Kansas Medical Center Division of Infectious Diseases as assistant professor of clinical medicine. He is currently an associate professor of clinic medicine and serves as the Director of the Division of Infectious Disease at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

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.

Olympic gold medallist, Keely Hodgkinson, speaks to Gabby and Mark for an exclusive interview ahead of the Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Keely raced to gold in the 800m this summer in Paris, in the most watched event on the BBC. That was Team GB's first track gold since Jess Ennis-Hill at London 2012 - the very moment that inspired Keely to start running. Even as a teenager Keely won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, breaking Kelly Holmes' British record. So can she break the world record that's stood for 41 years? Will she be joining Michael Johnson's new Grand Slam Track event? What does she think can be done to improve athletics in the UK? And how does she balance her love of seeing friends and fashion with her gruelling training regime? Executive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producers: Sam TrudgillSocial Media Editor: Calum ScotlandTom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast networkVicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for GlobalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now here!

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 ninth episode of our PROPcast series, Kelly Holmes and Caroline Andresier discuss the issues to consider when appointing a property manager. Speakers: Kelly Holmes, Partner and Caroline Andresier, Legal Director

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

Are you interested in infection control and prevention? This episode of the American Journal of Infection Control: Science into Practice podcast, features insightful discussions with experts Kelly Holmes, Jennifer McCarty, and Sandy Steinfeld. The panel examines different aspects of the field with a focus on certification, mentorship, and the power of structured training for infection preventionists. Holmes shares the significance of on-the-job training, McCarty discusses the prevalence and distribution trends of nursing in the infection prevention sphere, and Steinfeld talks about the impact of retirement on the field. Tune in to learn about the latest research and its application. With special guests: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC, Infection Preventionist, IP&MA, Jennifer McCarty, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, Infection Preventionist, IP&MA, and Sandi Steinfeld, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, Infection Preventionist, IP&MA

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.

Listen in as our hosts, Lerenza Howard and Kelly Holmes, interview the authors of three impactful oral and poster presentations live at the 2024 APIC Annual Conference in San Antonio. Learn about a multi-prong approach to enhance outcomes in a dental unit, insights from a pediatric measles outbreak, and the adoption of a veterinary occupational and infection control assessment for enhanced safety. Discover more details on each presentation in our Further Resources section. Hosted by: Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC About our Guests: Andrea Lombard, RN, BSN, MPH, CIC, Infection Control Manager, Community Health Services (CHS) Andrea is a nurse. Nursing chose her, she became a nurse when nursing was a vocation path. Andrea became intrigued with infection control and prevention in the 1980's after working on a team under a primary investigator researching the efficacy and outcomes of using chlorhexidine gluconate in the preoperative setting. Andrea learned infection control and epidemiology at the CDC and Emory, became certified in Infection Control, and then pursued a master's in public health. Her career journey has led her to work in a variety of practice settings – acute care, home care, public health, long term care, outpatient, behavioral health, dental, and ambulatory care – with a variety of roles – direct patient care, leadership, management, infection surveillance, prevention and control, quality improvement, program development, community assessments, evaluation, planning, community partnerships, education, and advocacy. Her work in Connecticut has led the State to being identified as the first jurisdiction in the United States targeted to eliminate Hepatitis C. Payal M. Patel, MPH, CIC, Infection Preventionist, Nationwide Children's Hospital Payal M. Patel began her career as an Infection Preventionist at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio in 2021. She holds a Master's in Public Health in Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology from the University of Michigan. Payal is dedicated to her role as a consultant, educator, researcher, and change agent in infection control and prevention. She represents various hospital areas including High Level Disinfection, Gastrointestinal Service Line, Fetal Services, Burn Program and Family Volunteer Services. Payal takes great pride in being an active member and serving as Treasurer of her local Central Ohio APIC chapter. Tammie Hull, MA, BSN, RN, CIC, LSSGBH, Infection Preventionist, Nationwide Children's Hospital Tammie Hull is an Infection Preventionist at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She is a registered nurse and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Healthcare Professional. Her nursing experience ranges from occupational health to student and community health. Tammie began her role as an Infection Preventionist in 2020. She currently serves as an infection control representative to multiple hospital areas including inpatient units and primary cares, along with Employee Health, and sits on the Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Leadership Committee and the Ambulatory Coordinating Council Committee. Leslie Kollmann, BS, AAS, CVT, CIC, Certified Veterinary Technician/Veterinary IPC, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, Minnesota Leslie has been a Certified Veterinary Technician since 2004 and has been working in veterinary infection prevention for about 16 years. She currently works at the Minnesota Department of Health in the Zoonotic Disease Unit consulting with veterinary clinics, wildlife rehabs, zoos, animal sanctuaries, and shelters on infection control and safety issues. Leslie obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse and her associate degree in veterinary technology from Argosy University. In 2023, she also passed the CIC exam. Further Resources Andrea Lombard poster presentation: Multiprong Interventions, Organizational Behavioral Changes, and Ongoing Monitoring Reduce Dental Unit Water Line Biofilm Growth, June 2021 to Nov2023 Payal Patel and Tammie Hull poster presentation: Lessons Learned from a Measles Outbreak in a Pediatric Population in Ohio Leslie Kollmann oral presentation: Veterinary Occupational Health and Infection Control Assessment Program (VOHICA)

Send us a Text Message.As an athletics correspondent for Running Magazine (the forerunner of Runners World), the Daily Telegraph and as a freelance Tom Knight covered 7 Summer Olympics and several World Athletic ChampionshipsIn that time Tom witnessed some amazing athletic feats that were controversial, inspirational, unbelievableFor this episode of the Running 44@60 podcast I asked Tom to share the top 5 Memorable Athletics  Moments he covered during his careerIts a fascinating insight into what it was like to be on the ground reporting on these amazing moments Tom recalls Lewis v Johnson in Seoul, Kelly Holmes in Athens, Kathy Freeman in Sydney, Jonathan Edwards in Gothenburg and London 2012Tom and I met on the England Athletics running coaches course we are onTom works with athletes from the Bourton Road RunnersI also talk about the Smugglers Scuttle race from Bus Vyken events and the Trelissick Parkrun If you want to interact with the show you can send a message via the link at the top of these show notes This is episode 149 of the Running 44@60 podcast. You can access and download the previous 148 episodes via your usual podcast app or on the Running 44@60 podcast page. Host Trevor Lee ran his own first ultra in 2021 - the 44 mile Classic Quarter - hence 44@60.  Trevor has written a book about his buildup and adventure – it is both a business and running book and is available on Amazon via this link: 12 Business Lessons from Running an Ultra Marathon. Each sale generates £5 for Childrens Hospice South West. Trevor's big running goal is now the Arc of Attrition 50 in January 2025. The Running 44@60 podcast began as a learning / motivational tool for host Trevor Lee in his quest to run a first ever ultra - the Classic Quarter in 2021 - here's the story of Running 44@60 It now has over 140 episodes and is aimed at those thinking about and committing to their first ever ultra.Trevor wrote a book : 12 Business Lessons from Running an Ultra Marathon - all proceeds go to the Children's Hospice South West

In this insightful podcast, nurse manager Allison Zelikoff explores the history and importance of occupational health, its partnership with infection prevention, and how she found her calling in this field. Find out more about the critical role of occupational health in promoting workplace safety and the challenges this discipline faces including administrative and financial barriers. Listen in to understand the future of occupational health and the crucial connection it maintains with infection prevention. Hosted by: Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC About our Guest: Allison Zelikoff, RN, MSN, Nurse Manager, Occupational Health, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Allison Zelikoff is the Nurse Manager for Occupational Health at Fred Hutch, a cancer and infectious disease research institute and patient care center in Seattle, Washington. In her role, Allison manages a program that provides direct care to employees following workplace injury, response to bloodborne and respiratory pathogen exposure, large-scale vaccination programs, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration and data analysis aimed at preventing injury and illness among employees in the workplace. Her professional background includes direct patient care serving vulnerable populations in the community setting and at Harborview Medical Center, the region's level 1 trauma center.

In this episode of the Five Second Rule podcast, hosts Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard speak with Trent MacAllister, Infection Preventionist at the Washington State Department of Health and APIC Annual Conference Committee member. He shares insights into the abstract review process for the APIC Annual Conference. Trent provides information on how to submit speaker proposals and abstract submissions, discusses common mistakes in submissions, and explains how the committee determines oral presentations versus poster presentations. This episode offers invaluable tips for those looking to participate in the conference. Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guest: Trent MacAllister, MPH, MS, CIC Trent MacAllister, MPH, MS, CIC, is an Infection Preventionist at the Washington State Department of Health within the Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Section. In this role, Trent conducts Infection Control and Response (ICAR) consultations with healthcare facilities throughout the state. He has also provided outbreak investigation and response support to acute care, long-term care, ambulatory care, residential treatment, and behavioral health facilities. Trent worked as an infection preventionist in an acute care hospital before transitioning to his current role in public health. Trent is currently the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Annual Conference Committee (ACC) Abstract Sub-Committee Chair and the 2025 APIC ACC Vice-Chair. In his free time, Trent enjoys mountain biking, hiking, hanging out with his dogs at the lake, and traveling the world with his fiancée. Further Resources: "How to Write An Abstract" Reasons for Rejections of Abstracts Submitted to APIC's Annual Conference: Ensuring Transparency and Encouraging Quality

Explore the world of infection prevention and control in the long-term care sector on APIC's 5 Second Rule podcast. This episode features A.C. Burke, a veteran of the public health and healthcare sectors, who shares her passion for infection control in long-term care facilities. From issues of staffing and burnout to the ongoing need for roles dedicated to IP, Burke provides unique insights into the challenges and opportunities facing IPs in long-term care. Tune in to understand more about the importance of infection prevention in these critical healthcare settings, where the need to balance patient safety with quality of life is paramount. Hosted by: Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC About our Guest: A.C. Burke, Vice President for Healthcare Quality for RB Health Partners, Inc. A.C. Burke is the VP for Healthcare Quality for RB Health Partners, Inc. In this role, she consults with long-term care facilities on infection prevention and control policies, procedures, and practices, and provides training to infection preventionists and staff in nursing homes on a variety of infection prevention topics. A.C.'s prior experience includes working as the Director of Infection Prevention for Mayo Clinic Florida and the Healthcare-associated Infection Prevention Program Manager for the Florida Department of Health. She has 25 years of experience in the healthcare field and is nationally board certified in infection control (CIC). Further Resources: GAO Report Press Release APIC Support of IPC in LTC

In this engaging episode of the Five Second Rule podcast, hosts Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard converse with patient advocate Rosie Bartel, sharing her incredible battle with a persistent MRSA infection, which began as a complication of knee replacement surgery. As a survivor and activist, Rosie's brave story takes us through her grueling journey of surmounting multiple surgeries, hospitalizations, and amputations, underscoring the importance of patient perspective in healthcare and infection control. Listen in to learn more about her crucial role in infection prevention advocacy and the essential changes that resulted from sharing her story. Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guest: Rosie Bartel, MA in Educational Leadership, Patient Partner Rosie is a widow, mother, grandmother and an educator. In August of 2009 she underwent a total right knee replacement that developed into a MRSA staph infection. As Rosie continues to battle this MRSA infection in her body, she is driven to share her story of survival. She believes in helping others with disabilities and other health concerns find their voices. She uses her story to co-design with medical professionals, researchers and to advocate for patients and their caregivers. Further Resource: Rosie Bartel: Viewing Infection Data from the Patient's Perspective - YouTube

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.

The SPOTY award is the main prize of an annual ceremony organised by the BBC. It was created in 1954 by Paul Fox, who was the editor of a sports magazine show called Sportsview. The idea was to honour the sportsperson who had achieved the most that year, as voted by the public. The first winner was Christopher Chataway, a runner who beat Roger Bannister, the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. Since then, the award has become one of the most prestigious and popular awards in British sport. It has been won by legends such as Bobby Moore, Daley Thompson, Steve Redgrave, Kelly Holmes and Andy Murray. The award is open to any sportsperson who is British or who plays a significant amount of their sport in the UK. The winner is chosen from a shortlist of 10 nominees, selected by an expert panel, and announced live on TV in December. Who won for 2023? Why was this person chosen? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: What are the pros and cons of homeownership in the UK? How can I make and keep my new year's resolutions? Why does the year begin on January 1st? A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you live your life free from fear and shame? Double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes joins Anna to discuss coming out as a gay woman at 52 and her struggles with burnout and depression.

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

This episode contains detailed discussion around mental health and self-harm. If you or someone you know has been affected by anything you hear in this episode please speak to your GP.Dame Kelly Holmes is a double Olympic Champion and one of the UK's most popular athletes. She set the British records in the 800m and 1000m metres. Her memoir Unique has just been released - and it's a beautifully brave and honest book; Kelly tells her story of coming out as gay in her 50s. This was one of my favourite interviews I've ever recorded. Kelly's story is utterly inspirational. I know you will gain a lot from listening to this.

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 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.

Longform stories, deep dives into exclusive content, and vivid photos all presented on glossy pages are some of the reasons people continue to read magazines. Titles like “First American Art” and “Native Max” are among the Indigenous-led magazines in the evolving industry that mixes social media, online extras, and the printed page to keep readers coming back. We'll talk with Native publishers about the continuing appeal of magazines. GUESTS America Meredith (enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation), publishing editor of First American Art Magazine, writer, visual artist, and independent curator Kelly Holmes (Cheyenne River [Mnicoujou] Lakota), founder and editor-in-chief of Native Max Magazine Montoya Whiteman (Cheyenne and Arapaho), managing director of editorial and special projects at American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)

In this episode, our hosts discuss the many certifications in IPC with CBIC immediate past president Sandra Callery and CBIC board member Tiffany Wiksten. Learn about the different options in certification, how to discover which certification is right for you, and what it could mean for the advancement of your career. For questions pertaining to this episode, leave a message for hosts and subject matter experts using the “Contribute to the Convo” button in the upper right corner. Further resources: Certification FAQs Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guests: Sandra Callery, RN, MHSc, CIC, LTC-CIP, assistant professor, McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario Canada Sandra Callery has practiced in the field of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), for many years and in a variety of healthcare settings. She is a registered nurse, with a Master of Health Sciences. She has been involved in research and publications regarding disease transmission, management of patients with antibiotic-resistant organisms, emergency preparedness, and most recently, the value of certification for the Infection Control Professional. Sandra is the immediate past President of The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC). Tiffany Wiksten, DNP, RN, CIC, associate director, Standards Interpretation Group Tiffany Wiksten has been a nurse for more than 20 years and an infection preventionist for more than 10 years. In her current role, she is an infection control subject matter expert at The Joint Commission. She has led infection prevention and control efforts in a variety of healthcare settings including large academic medical centers, a community medical center with associated long-term care facility, as well as various ambulatory healthcare sites. She is certified in infection control and has her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.

Tackling the Annual Risk Assessment and Infection Prevention Program Plan can be a daunting task even for the most experienced IP. Listen as guest speaker, Rebecca Battjes, discusses pitfalls to avoid in the process of formulating a comprehensive plan and strategies for organizational success. Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guest: Rebecca Battjes, MPH, CIC, FAPIC Infection Prevention Senior Clinical Advisor for Diversey Rebecca Battjes is an Infection Prevention Senior Clinical Advisor for Diversey, one of APIC's 2023 strategic partners. Before being an IP clinical advisor, Rebecca was the infection prevention & control program manager for an acute care hospital and short stay skilled nursing facility. From 2013 to 2021, she was an Infection Preventionist at a large academic medical & Level One trauma center in the heart of Detroit. Rebecca earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English & Spanish literature from Wayne State University and a Master of Public Health degree from Benedictine University. Further resources: Rebecca Battjes video APIC IP Talk APIC/JCR Infection Prevention & Control Workbook  APIC Cost Calculator Episode is sponsored by HibiClens

Breaking into the IPC industry can be challenging. Listen as two infection prevention experts and leaders discuss strategies on how to get started in the field, and best practices to advance your IPC career. You'll learn how to utilize your foundational knowledge, the best ways to market yourself, and that previous experience is not always necessary. Hosted by: Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB and Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC About our Guests: Lisa Sturm, MPH, CIC, FAPIC Lisa works at Ascension and is the system Senior Director for Infection Prevention. She wants everyone listening today to know that if you have the will and desire to become an infection preventionist, or want to grow within the field, that the sky is the limit and there are endless amounts of resources and people willing to help you along the way. Chaz Rhone, MPH, CIC, FAPIC Chaz is currently the Assistant Vice President of Infection Prevention for HCA Healthcare North Florida Division. His professional passions include advancing the field of IP through leadership development of IPs and advocating for M.P.H.-ers as equally qualified candidates for IP positions. Further Resources: https://apic.org/professional-practice/infection-preventionist-ip-competency-model/ https://apic.org/professional-practice/roadmap/novice-roadmap-for-the-infection-preventionist/ https://youtu.be/GItrfuqLRfw

For the first episode with our new hosts, Patricia "Pat" Jackson, 2023 APIC President, stops by to answer questions on her presidency and to discuss the strengths and struggles of the lone IP, or "one-ers." Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guest: Patricia "Pat" Jackson, RN, BSN, CIC, FAPIC Pat Jackson is the 2023 President of APIC. She is Director of Infection Prevention at White Rock Medical Center in Dallas, TX. She has been an infection preventionist for the past 27 years. She has worked primarily in large academic medical centers predominantly in pediatrics but recently has become a "oner" / lone IP in a small community hospital in Dallas, TX. Pat's passion is mentoring new IPs. She served as an original author on APICs Roadmap for the Novice Infection Preventionist and spent many years as a faculty member to APICs epidemiology training courses. She believes we have to attract and retain the talent of the next generation in order for APIC to succeed. Further resources: APIC Toolkit for Rural and Isolated Settings

Entrepreneurship is part of the American Dream and it is booming. A record 5.4 million new businesses were started last year, as workers across the country struck out on their own, searching for a different path to a fulfilling career and economic mobility. But that road isn't always a smooth one for some new business owners who hit roadblocks such as access to financial capital, lack of a strong social network, and other barriers to success. In this special four-part Work in Progress podcast series – Economic Mobility Through Entrepreneurship – we'll examine those headwinds and solutions. We'll hear directly from entrepreneurs, and get advice from leaders in business, education, and government – to learn how starting your own business can be a fulfilling and profitable career choice and a boon to a community.   This podcast series is made possible through the support of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. According to research by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, in 2021 one out of ten new entrepreneurs in the U.S. were Black. Around one in 14 were Asian American. One quarter were Hispanic. And more than half were white.  The percentage of entrepreneurs from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds is growing,  but they still have significant barriers to accessing the financial capital they need to start and grow their businesses.  In this episode, we'll speak with business owners of color who faced those barriers and overcame them to create and build their companies. We'll also hear from the leaders of programs that are helping fund and mentor these businesses, putting them on a path to success. Guests in this episode: Kelly Holmes, founder & editor-in-Chief, Native Max New Media Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, co-founder, Known Holdings Lisa Gevelber, founder, Grow with Google Oscar Pedroso, founder & CEO, Thimble IO Bill Bynum, founder & CEO, HOPE Tinia Pina, founder & CEO, Re-Nuble Episode 250: Breaking Down the Barriers to Equitable Access to Financial CapitalHost & Executive Producer: Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNationProducer: Larry BuhlExecutive Producers: Joan Lynch and Melissa PanzerTheme Music: Composed by Lee Rosevere and licensed under CC by 4.0Download the transcript for this podcast here.You can check out all the other podcasts at this link: Work in Progress podcasts

Entrepreneurship is part of the American Dream and it is booming. A record 5.4 million new businesses were started last year, as workers across the country struck out on their own, searching for a different path to a fulfilling career and economic mobility. But that road isn't always a smooth one for some new business owners who hit roadblocks such as access to financial capital, lack of a strong social network, and other barriers to success. In this special four-part Work in Progress podcast series – Economic Mobility Through Entrepreneurship – we'll examine those headwinds and solutions. We'll hear directly from entrepreneurs, and get advice from leaders in business, education, and government – to learn how starting your own business can be a fulfilling and profitable career choice and a boon to a community.   This podcast series is made possible through the support of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. According to research by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, in 2021 one out of ten new entrepreneurs in the U.S. were Black. Around one in 14 were Asian American. One quarter were Hispanic. And more than half were white.  The percentage of entrepreneurs from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds is growing,  but they still have significant barriers to accessing the financial capital they need to start and grow their businesses.  In this episode, we'll speak with business owners of color who faced those barriers and overcame them to create and build their companies. We'll also hear from the leaders of programs that are helping fund and mentor these businesses, putting them on a path to success. Guests in this episode: Kelly Holmes, founder & editor-in-Chief, Native Max New Media Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, co-founder, Known Holdings Lisa Gevelber, founder, Grow with Google Oscar Pedroso, founder & CEO, Thimble IO Bill Bynum, founder & CEO, HOPE Tinia Pina, founder & CEO, Re-Nuble Episode 250: Breaking Down the Barriers to Equitable Access to Financial CapitalHost & Executive Producer: Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNationProducer: Larry BuhlExecutive Producers: Joan Lynch and Melissa PanzerTheme Music: Composed by Lee Rosevere and licensed under CC by 4.0Download the transcript for this podcast here.You can check out all the other podcasts at this link: Work in Progress podcasts

Homo Sapiens had a night out at the Attitude Awards and it did not disappoint! In today's bonus episode we are bringing you ALL of the behind-the-scenes gossip from this year's Attitude Awards including interviews with your favourite LGBTQIA+ icons- Kelly Holmes, Melanie C and Yasmin Finney to name a few. Click play to find out John Whaite's go-to drunk food and Nick Grimshaw's most embarrassing after-party story. We even got some Heartstopper, Big Boys and Spice Girls reunion exclusives!

Alice Loy is a Founding Partner at DaVinci Ventures and the Co-Founder and CEO of Creative Startups, the leading global startup accelerator and company builder for design, food, immersive, and creative companies. Victoria and Chad talk with Alice about what she means by creative companies, how much judgment she must pass as an investor with a love for the "weird and wonderful," and some of the challenges faced in bringing diversity to the rest of the accelerator world. DaVinci Ventures (https://www.davinciventures.co/) Creative Startups (https://www.creativestartups.org/) Follow Creative Startups on Twitter (https://twitter.com/createstartups), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/createstartups/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/createstartups/), Substack (https://creativestartups.substack.com/), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1SCTGPWdes6ArrYJU0YJ-g), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-center-for-cultural-entrepreneurship/). Follow Alice on Twitter (https://twitter.com/aliceloy) or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceloy/). Alice's Blog (http://www.aliceloy.com/) Etkie (https://etkie.com/) Embodied Labs (https://www.embodiedlabs.com/) Follow thoughtbot on Twitter (https://twitter.com/thoughtbot) or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/150727/). Become a Sponsor (https://thoughtbot.com/sponsorship) of Giant Robots! Transcript: CHAD: This is the Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots Podcast, where we explore the design, development, and business of great products. I'm your host, Chad Pytel. VICTORIA: And I'm your other host, Victoria Guido. And with us today is Alice Loy, Founding Partner at DaVinci Ventures and the Co-Founder and CEO of Creative Startups, the leading global startup accelerator and company builder for design, food, immersive, and creative companies. CHAD: Alice, thank you so much for joining us. ALICE: Thanks for having me. CHAD: Can you tell us a little bit more about Creative Startups in general but also what you mean by creative companies specifically? Like, isn't every company creative? [laughs] ALICE: Yeah, it's so funny. That's often the first question. And sometimes people I can feel their sense of indignation in thinking maybe I think they're not creative. CHAD: [laughs] ALICE: First of all, the creative industries are pretty well defined globally by the World Bank and entities like that. I'll come back to that. Yes, all human beings are creative. I like to joke that that's what got us out of caves in the first place. But more importantly, all entrepreneurs are very creative regardless of what sector you're operating in. So when we're talking about creative, we're just referencing the set of industries that are measured as the quote, "creative industries." They include film, our museums, design certainly is a core element of that. Increasingly, we're seeing more and more people move toward the creative industries as mechanized labor takes over things like building cars or even running data analysis. CHAD: Has getting support and funding and that kind of thing traditionally been easy in the creative space or hard? ALICE: No. I know you know the answer to that question because you're a designer. [laughs] CHAD: I usually don't ask questions that I don't know the answers to, so... [laughs] ALICE: But it's a great question because actually what it uncovers, you guys, is that it has changed dramatically for people who I call creatives or creators in the last two or three years. It's a little tough to measure with the pandemic, but we know at least $2 billion have gone into platforms that support creators, businesses led by creators. The creative industry has really turned a corner. So when we started this work 15-16 years ago, I co-founded the organization with a gentleman named Tom, who is now in his 80s. But he had come out of what's called the cultural economy, which was the precursor to the creative economy. And, of course, now we're all living in the creator economy. So like every other industry, it evolves. And one turn in this evolution is that creatives are now understood as economic drivers, not just people who add nice flourishes to things at the end. When you're building new products, people think about engineers, but it's really a creative process. And people increasingly bring in creatives from the outset to think about how the design process can be more humanized, can be more effective to solve people's problems so that your products really delight customers instead of just get the job done. CHAD: Is there something you can point to that triggered or pushed along that turning point? ALICE: Well, not to be overly philosophical, but I would say the general sense in the U.S. and increasingly in other countries where we work is that human beings don't want to be cogs in a wheel. They don't want to just be bit parts in a system. When you talk to Gen Zers, they understand that they are complete human beings. And somehow, I think older generations bought into the idea that you have the same job for 40 years. You go to work at 8:00; you come home at 5:00. You repeat the next day. I think the sense in the economy is that people want to be fulfilled. If they're going to give that much time to a job, they want it to be meaningful and valuable. And they want it to solve some of the big problems. Frankly, big tech is not approaching the world in that way these days. And so I think younger people are looking for values-aligned opportunities. And the creative economy is a space where values tend to align with really reaching the full potential of each human being instead of just extracting their physical and occasionally mental labor toward building a capitalist system. And so I think that zeitgeist has helped open the door. I also then think when you look at the kinds of technologies that are being utilized, they're still fundamentally about communicating ideas, and art, and inspiration. That's what Facebook is. That's what TikTok is. That's what even news channels are. And as more people come into the world of saying, "Oh, I can share my ideas, my art, my jokes, my music, my whatever," they see themselves as creatives, and they go, "I wonder how I could get paid for that?" I mean, there are a multitude of factors weaving together to shift. I also think, quite frankly, the SaaS investment area has become so saturated. I mean, if you walk down the street in San Francisco, if you don't bump into three venture capitalists who are SaaS investors, it's like, what are you doing? And so I think other types of investors with a different background maybe are saying, hmm, what about this area over here? How could we make money? So that would be another thread I would say is helping drive. CHAD: It strikes me that what you've shared sort of creates a self-fulfilling cycle too. ALICE: Yes. CHAD: Because once creatives have examples of other creatives that have done this, it becomes an aspirational thing that they understand that they, too, could do themselves. ALICE: Yeah, 100%. So our goal when we started the startup accelerator...we launched the first accelerator for creative founders in 2013 in the world. And we said to ourselves, if we get one company that becomes the poster child for this creative movement and demonstrating that you can be, as we like to say, weird and wonderful and build a company, then we will unleash a flood of people who now see themselves in that light. We were very fortunate in that we got that one poster child, and that has really helped us paint a picture that's clear for a lot of people where they see themselves as entrepreneurs, even though they're a tattoo artist or they're a hard rock Navajo metal band from the reservation or whatever their background is. Now they look and go, "Oh yeah, I could do that," and they certainly could. Being an entrepreneur is really hard but not intellectually challenging; it's more heart-challenging. CHAD: Oh, that's really interesting, more heart challenging. ALICE: Yeah. I mean, you're an entrepreneur. You guys have built a business, so you know that being an entrepreneur is more about being able to just sort of stay calm in the waves than it is about building the world's best boat and being able to steer toward that destination no matter how the winds blow. CHAD: Yeah, I've often referred to it almost as grit, like the ability to, no matter what happened yesterday, get up and do it again. ALICE: Get up, yeah. And unfortunately, I think there's a myth, maybe at least in the U.S., that what drives most people to get up and go, again, is money. And I don't think that's true at all. I think what drives people to get up and go again is their love of customers or end users. And their feeling they're just irrefutable despite there being no evidence feeling that this is going to work. This is going to make a difference in people's lives. And that's why the sort of slog. And there are days when...one of the things we always start a Creative Startup's program with is find your tribe. Cling to the people who believe in you. Ignore the naysayers. The naysayers are ten to one. Blow them off and cling to the people who say, "Wow, dude, that sounds cool. I bet you could do that." Yes, do another coffee meeting with that person. [laughs] Because sometimes you just need people who can say, "You got this. You got this. Just do another day, man." What do you guys do? Let me ask, what do you guys do when things get really rocky for you? How do you guys collect that internal okay, I'm going to get back in the saddle. CHAD: I've talked about this with people before, and I actually think that this is going to be a non-answer, but I'll do my best. I actually don't know exactly what does this for me. But I do know a side effect is I also don't celebrate the wins as much as other people wish that I did. And I think it's because I just move on very quickly from things. I don't dwell on the downs as much. I also don't dwell on the highs as much. And so I don't know if it's just something about me that does it or I just trained myself to do that. But it does have some downsides to it. ALICE: That was a real answer. That wasn't a non-answer at all. CHAD: [laughs] ALICE: Victoria, what about you? VICTORIA: I think to add on to what Chad said is kind of that thoughtbot mentality of viewing things as an experiment. And so if you come in with that mentality, like, this is the experiment. We'll see if it works or it doesn't. And if it doesn't work, there are some lessons to be learned, and we can grow from that and do better next time. And if it does work, great; [chuckles] this is cool. And I actually like to celebrate the wins a lot. I like to really dwell in those moments and feel like we did something right. We should remember this and learn from that as well and then try to repeat it, right? ALICE: Yeah. Oh, I love that. CHAD: You mentioned that when you were first starting Creative Startups, you hoped to get one win, and you did. Which one was it? ALICE: To be clear, as a mom, we don't have favorite children, okay? [laughter] And there are different companies that have had enormous impact in different ways, so let me tick some off. Let me name first Etkie. It's a design company built by a woman named Sydney, who grew up in rural New Mexico with a passion for working with indigenous communities. Her design company makes spectacular handmade bracelets, average price point around 250 bucks. And she sells in about 100 different high-end galleries around the world. She creates 40 jobs for Navajo women on the reservation at twice the annual pay that they would receive if they worked any other job there. Pretty astounding, pretty astounding. Those women have gone on to reinvest their money in things like rebuilding the school, putting in wells for family. The Navajo Nation lacks drinking water all over the place. So really fundamentally shifting the economic and social trajectory of that community. She designs every single bracelet with a woman, and you'll see they're named after the women. And they just do a recollection process where the woman recalls something from her childhood, and they weave a story around that. And then, they create the bracelet design. They're beautiful, Etkie, E-T-K-I-E. The next one I would say that has really inspired me is founded by another woman who does...now she's doing more XR AR, But they started as a virtual reality company doing films for medical providers who needed to better understand the disease experience of their patients in order to come up with not just solutions to their lived experience but actual medical procedures, and technologies, and pharmaceuticals that could shape the outcomes of that patient. So that company is called Embodied Labs, founded by a woman named Carrie and her team out of LA. And they're now selling to hospital systems across California and increasingly in the Midwest, et cetera, changing thousands of lives. And then the one that most people do point to us and say, "Hey, good job," is a company called Meow Wolf. We were their first investor back in 2014. They've gone on to raise upwards of $250 million. They're kind of a competitor now to Disney. So they're in the immersive art and experience realm. They had a million visitors in their Denver spot. So far this year, they've had about a million visitors in their Las Vegas spot. They were founded here in Santa Fe, our hometown. And we didn't even know they existed. They didn't know we existed. [chuckles] The night before our application was to close, somebody wandered into a meeting they were having where they were talking about dissolving the art collective. And somebody said, "Oh before you guys make a decision, you should check out this thing." [laughs] So in some ways, it was angels on our shoulders in that it's a homegrown company, and Santa Fe is a small city. We needed a shift here around our creative economy. And they needed somebody to believe in them. They had gone to every business support organization they could find and had been told, "Well, you're probably trying to start an arts nonprofit." And they thought, "That's not really our vision. That's not...we want to build a company. We think art is something people will pay for if it's put forward in a way that blows your mind," and Meow certainly blows your mind. CHAD: That's really interesting. I mean, I totally get why people would say that just because...but that's like saying...when Disney was getting started [chuckles] people saying "It sounds like you're trying to create an arts nonprofit." ALICE: Yes. And I'm guessing a lot of people did. The future happens when we're all looking backwards, and very few people are looking forwards. And so I think it's important for entrepreneurs to keep in mind you're probably just statistically talking to somebody who's looking backwards because human beings tend to do that more than they look forward. And so better to find people early on who say, "You know, I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about because you're the expert in your startup, and I'm not. But let me ask you this, how could I be helpful?" That's the right question. If they give you an answer and they don't even know what you're talking about, you probably don't need their help. And that's hard for entrepreneurs because there are so many doubters out there that you have to kind of keep plucking through to find the one or two people who say, "That's really interesting. That seems like it might work. How could I help?" Did you guys have somebody at thoughtbot early on who you can remember sort of said, "Huh, that's interesting. How could I help?" CHAD: I think it was our early clients who most did that. ALICE: Oooh, yeah. CHAD: Because we're a consulting company, because we're an agency, finding clients who believed in us and wanted to work with us in part because they liked us was an important aspect to that. If it wasn't for those early clients, no amount of passion would have kept us going because we needed to support ourselves. ALICE: What a great insight, honestly. I think the sort of rhetoric around passion is really abused. Because there's now this sense that, well, if you have passion, you can build a business, and that's just not true. That's not true. I hate to say it, and people are always stunned when I say it because they think that I lead Creative Startups; I must be the core passion champion. But here's what I would say is if you have a passion for solving your client or your customers' problems, then you might have a business. [laughs] There's a huge difference there. There's a difference between well; this is what I want to make. This is what I love doing. That is not necessarily going to answer the question is anybody paying you to do that? And I like to encourage people to think about if you have passion for doing something, you probably have a hobby. If you do stuff that people want to pay you to do, you might have a business. And crossing that bridge is an analytical and a heart-wrenching process. Because usually, what you end up with is I mostly get to do what I love to do. But I do a lot of stuff I don't want to do because that's what building a business is, just like being a parent or any other really amazing, wonderful thing in life. Running a business is not just about doing what you love doing all day; it's mostly about doing what people want to pay you to do. And if you're doing what people want to pay you to do and you love it, that is beautiful. That is a blessed position to be in. It's rare. And you have to ask yourself very real questions and be brutally honest with yourself, or you could waste your retirement savings. You could spend a year or two away from your family before you figure that out, not to be depressing. [laughs] But we always say from our programs we look...not from our more advanced accelerator programs, but we also provide programs that are more; how do you figure out this idea? You have this idea, or you have what we call lucky revenue. A lot of creatives get lucky revenue where their friend sees them doing something, and they go, "Man, would you do one for me?" And then somebody else wants one, and now they have lucky revenue. And they're ready to say, "I think this might be a business." And those people we say you have three outcomes from our programs. One, you realize this is not a business. It's just not going to make any money. The business model does not pan out. Two, this might be a business if I do it differently, and now I need to figure out if I want to do it differently. And three is, yeah, I'm on track. Now I got to go grow it. And all three are valid outcomes. Because we've worked with people who came to us late, took out a loan. And we said, "Well, what's your plan for paying it back?" "Well, we don't know." That's bad. That's really dangerous. That can ruin families' economic futures. And so we're much happier to catch people before that happens so they can ask those critical questions about is this really a market opportunity? Is this a business I want to build? Is this, therefore, a business opportunity for me? And those questions are deceptively simple. In our more advanced programs, we focus on, okay, you've got revenue, you've got traction. You're ready to start maybe thinking about what's the next three years? Where are your cash flow gaps? Where's your, as people like to call it, the valley of death that you have to cross as you grow? What kind of financing can you go raise to help cross that valley? How do you get to 10 million in revenue, 50 million in revenue? People are at different stages of growing a business. MID-ROLL AD: Are you an entrepreneur or start-up founder looking to gain confidence in the way forward for your idea? At thoughtbot, we know you're tight on time and investment, which is why we've created targeted 1-hour remote workshops to help you develop a concrete plan for your product's next steps. Over four interactive sessions, we work with you on research, product design sprint, critical path, and presentation prep so that you and your team are better equipped with the skills and knowledge for success. Find out how we can help you move the needle at: tbot.io/entrepreneurs. CHAD: How much judgment do you pass as an investor as people who are reading applications about who gets into the accelerator program? How much judgment do you pass, and how do you strike that balance? ALICE: That's kind of a peek behind the curtain; how do people really pick companies? Different people do it differently. For us, we really hue toward weird and wonderful. We actually prefer...and this goes against what people say you should do, [laughs] but we kind of go against the grain in general. And it's worked out. We prefer to look at things that we don't totally understand partly because often creatives don't speak business speak. So I'm pretty turned off by (I'm going to make something up.) the Harvard Business School grad who has a music-sharing platform and doesn't play music. I'm like, how would you know about a music-sharing platform? Whereas a musician who comes with their garage band and they happen to have a computer science degree from the college down the road and they've invented this thing and all of a sudden, it's taking off, and they're not even sure why. I'm listening, and I'm like, oh, that's really interesting. A lot of creatives tend to pick up on opportunities in the market, and they don't frame it so much as a business opportunity because that's just not the language that they've learned to speak yet. But they have an insight into a particular sector or a need that people who are not really in that space... It feels like a lot of the startup world has been overtaken by people who want to be startup founders but don't necessarily have their hands dirty in a particular sector where they know how to really solve a problem that either a lot of people have, or that very few people have but that a lot of people have in the future if you build the market. And that's where you make a lot of money is if you build a market. So we look for things like that. So what does that mean when we're reading applications? We don't ask for financial statements. We ask, how much money did you make last year, and where do you think most of that money came from? We're more interested in are they interested in analyzing their business so they understand where growth could come from next? Instead of, what is your financial statements? Most of the entrepreneurs who come through our programs don't have financial statements. They might not even have a cash flow projection, which is really exciting. We have entrepreneurs who come to us who...I'll tell you a story. We had an entrepreneur come to us who ran underground music clubs in old houses in Denver. And he was like, "I think this is a business, but I don't know anything about business. I just started hosting these a few years ago." And I said, "Well, how many people...like, if you took an average year..." and I said, "You don't charge anything?" And he said, "No, people just hear about it." And I'm thinking, okay, so you get a couple thousand. "How many people in an average year come to your basement music club thing?" "50,000." [laughs] Yeah, I think you might have a business. I mean, those are the kinds of things that you think, wow, why did that take off? What is going on there? That's really interesting. Let's talk. And he had a mohawk. He played in a metal band. Business was not his deal. And so that wasn't the lens he was applying. I think a lot of designers and a lot of people who invent products and solutions start with; I'm doing this for myself, wouldn't this be rad? Without even knowing that, they touched a nerve in the market that now is kind of catching on fire. Those are really exciting entrepreneurs for us to work with. They do have to turn a corner on I'm building a business now. I'm not just doing something that's cool with my friends. And that can be a difficult place because it means you have to cross a bridge into the world of finance, and you're probably going to have to hire product managers. And now you go hire that Harvard Business School grad and they work for you. And a lot of people frankly don't want to turn that corner. And I get it because when you come back to that topic of, is this values-aligned? A lot of that world is not yet totally values-aligned. That's shifting, more impact investors, more investors who want to see more different types of people starting companies, but we're not there yet. And so there's this cultural clash. When creatives walk toward that space, they go, ew, I've been fighting against the man my whole life. And now you want me to get in the car and go on a long road trip with them? No thanks. [laughs] And I'm sitting there with the Doritos going, yeah, man, but I got all the good munchies, let's go. It often does work out. But I also understand why people say, "You know, that's just not my deal now." VICTORIA: Yeah. And you have a tremendous amount of diversity in your alumni. ALICE: We do, yeah. VICTORIA: And so do you find that there are some challenges in bringing in that group to the rest of the accelerator world? ALICE: Yeah, you know, funny, I was thinking about that yesterday. So about 70% of our alumni, and this has been true across the board from day one, are people of color or women. At one point, it was around 30% were women of color. I haven't looked at that number in a while. We've worked with about 550 companies worldwide. In the Middle East, half of our alumni are women-led companies. In the U.S., we are fortunate to be able to work with a lot of indigenous communities. New Mexico is home to a large indigenous population. And it's a lot of the reason our culture is so dynamic and beautiful. So for us, that was always a no-brainer that that was where a lot of the interesting creativity would come from and that that was where the rising markets were. We, for example, accelerated and were the first investor in a company called Native Realities, which is a comic book. And they founded the first indigenous Comic Con, which is now called Indigenous Pop X worldwide. And they saw obviously before even Black Panther, and it became kind of like people said, "Oh yeah, superheroes come from all communities." They saw that that market was rising. There are 300 million indigenous people worldwide. There are two comic book companies. Let that sink in. [laughs] It's like, oh my God, what is the possibility then not just around comic books, but gaming, animation, all kinds of creative tools, film, music? That's a huge market that has not been served at all. And we understood early on that that was an area where people want to tell their own stories. People want to understand the stories of other people. And then people want to build new stories together across those cultural or geographic boundaries. And the technology had shifted such that that was possible. In 1980, that wasn't really possible. The distribution channels of film were such that you had to raise money in Hollywood and have Tom Hanks and whatever. That's just not true anymore. So we saw that early on, and that has helped attract a lot of entrepreneurs who share our passion for really telling those stories. However, I would say for people who want to support rising entrepreneurs out of what I'm going to call distressed communities or communities that have been literally discouraged from becoming their own economic leaders is that the burden that most of the people bear who are building businesses, for example, from Black communities, or native communities, or women in the Middle East, those people tend to bear a larger burden than someone from a more privileged background like myself. They're often the person in their family and for their community who is helping to ensure that people get the health care they need, that that kid was able to visit the college that they wanted to apply to. They become that sort of anchor of support for more people than in situations where we have more support and more what I call margin. They have really little margin. And so to ask them to, for example, join an accelerator full-time for 12 weeks that just doesn't work. Because the decision that they're making, you know, from a very privileged position, we can say, "Well, either you're dedicated to your business, or you're not." But really, what we're saying to them is, well, either you do your business, or you love your family and your culture. That's the question we're asking them, and that's a totally unfair question. That's a ridiculous question. Every single one of us would say, "I love my family. Thanks, see ya." CHAD: So how do you balance that? ALICE: Well, it's tough. I mean, first of all, we have adopted in the programs where it's more for early-stage entrepreneurs, and we're opening doors to entrepreneurship. And we are being first and foremost patient, patient with they're crossing that threshold. We understand that our core outcome is that people come always saying, "I'm an entrepreneur. I'm ready for the journey." That means we do things like, first of all, we do all online. If possible, we do a meeting upfront, so everybody meets each other in person because that kind of sets a tone of just it's a lot of fun. We have food and drink, and we have a good time. And then we do 6 to 12 weeks online, and then we do a gathering at the end. And we build a community first and foremost of people who are understanding how they can help one another. So Creative Startups is a little different in how we do accelerators. We do not ever have people stand at the front of the room and tell people what they should do with their business partly because we're educators first and foremost, and we understand...I have a Ph.D. in entrepreneurship. I understand that entrepreneurs tend to be experiential learners, not all but many. And we're not going to be there in a year building their business. They're going to be building their business. We have to build their self-confidence. We have to build their ability to say, "I know how to row the boat. You're along for the ride." I'm just along for the ride. [laughs] That requires us to do things like, okay, so let's work on your business model and really carefully chunk out here's one piece of that. Let's go deeply into understanding that. Let's tackle the vocabulary. Let's look at how people talk about it online. Let's open that door culturally so that you can take that into your experiences and say, "Oh, I already kind of do that. I just use a different language," which is what a lot of designers do. A lot of designers, whatever your background, already do entrepreneurial processes. They use different language, and it's just a translation. It's literally just vocabulary. So we help people understand that the best way to figure out your client's needs are by listening; all people know that. If you want to understand someone else, listen, and unpacking that into then business speak a little bit, and then giving them opportunities to go do that in the real world. And being patient with how they might do that or why they couldn't get it done this week. Or maybe they want to come back with a different way of describing it than maybe a White person like me might describe what they experienced. And just giving a lot of latitude to people to have that own experience themselves. That honestly...I know that sounds very philosophical. But it breaks down into tactical things that we do in an accelerator that opens the door to a lot more entrepreneurs. And our Net Promoter Score is 9. Over 90% of people would recommend our program. People love our programs. And 70% of our alumni are still in business. So I think it's working. We have a lot of learning to do. We're doing an indigenous accelerator right now, and it's a lot of learning for me. It's very eye-opening. CHAD: As an accelerator specific to indigenous peoples, what made you decide to do that? Some people I know, thoughtbot included, sometimes hesitate to do things like that because we don't want...there's some hesitation around doing something like that. ALICE: So we share all of those hesitations, and we think they're spot on. We are doing this in partnership with a group called Creative Nations out of Colorado. They are all indigenous people. They're a new group. And we envision Creative Startups moving more toward a place of being kind of like the intel, you know, the old intel inside. We are inside, and we're an engine within another organization. So here in Santa Fe, we partnered with Vital Spaces, which serves Black and Brown creative entrepreneurs and artists. And our goal is to help build their capacity to be able to keep doing programs as they see fit for entrepreneurs. And we're standing by as they would like us to help. So we took that same approach with working with Creative Nations. It's been a fantastic partnership. The lead working with us is a woman named Kelly Holmes. She is Lakota Sioux. She's from the Cheyenne River Reservation. And she founded Native Max Media, which publishes Native Max Magazine, the world's first fashion magazine for indigenous entrepreneurs. She is a brilliant, creative entrepreneur. She is self-taught. She eked it out. She has been around ten years now. It's astounding. And you see the magazine, and it's spectacular. It is high glamour, beautiful. And it is reshaping the way not only indigenous people see themselves but how White people see indigenous people. And those reframed stories are so important to building a more equitable society. So I was over the moon to partner with her. Then I learned her mom is one of the few Lakota language teachers. So Lakota is her first language. Her mother teaches Lakota and teaches teachers how to teach Lakota. So she grew up with an educator. So she has taken to building this, again, patient, very exploratory online environment for indigenous entrepreneurs. And then I bring sometimes the more technical like, oh, you're asking a specific question about how to do structured interviews with customers. Sure, let me talk a little bit about that. But as we started out this conversation, you guys, entrepreneurship is not an intellectual challenge usually; it's a heart challenge. I don't mean that in a way to disparage how important it is to be really strategic and smart about your business. But I think at the outset especially, you just have to be able to hang in there and keep doing it. And then, as you grow into that opportunity, you start to see that the intellectual challenges unfold because your opportunities become more complex. But at this outset with Kelly, it's been a conversation with people who are frankly reframing themselves as business leaders, people who own businesses and have employees based on their creative output. And that's a really exciting space to work in. We wouldn't work in this space if we didn't have a partner who shared our vision and who wanted to be that native leader of a program like this. It just wouldn't really feel exciting. CHAD: I think that that's great advice and a framing that helps me think about the things that we've tried to do in the past and the things that we hope to do in the future and realizing that really genuinely partnering with someone in the actual community that we're trying to serve or to have an impact with is sometimes an important missing component that we need to incorporate. That'll help solve a lot of the hesitations that we might have around doing something. ALICE: Yeah, yeah. VICTORIA: Right. And we've all heard before that culture eats strategy for breakfast, which I think -- [laughs] ALICE: That's my favorite line, Victoria. You nailed it. VICTORIA: It makes sense that the more connected you are to your culture and to your community, that's where you'll be the most successful when your heart is in it. ALICE: Yeah. And I want to give sort of a plug for stepping outside of the zone of the way...I went to business school. I have an MBA. I'm really well-versed in that whole world. I'm married to a venture capitalist. He teaches how to do venture capital at Stanford. That whole world is very familiar to me. And it seems to not be helping us solve the problems that we have now as a society. And so one of the reasons I encourage people to go to those partners, go to those places where you're like, I don't fit in here; I don't understand what's going on here; these people speak a different cultural language, form, way of doing things, I encourage that because I think that for people who want to build a different world, we have to stop looking to the world that we already have. And we have to say, "Well, who does things differently? What could we learn?" One of the most beautiful things about working with the entrepreneurs in the cohort right now, the indigenous cohort, is they first talk about taking care of their people, that's first. And it's like, wow, if that's your entire frame, you start to make really different decisions in business. If you're talking about well, I want to take care of the people in my community; I want people to be healthy and happy and be able to pursue their own dreams; that's a really different frame of mind for a baseline for decision making. The other thing that Kelly talks about that I love (I'm stealing it from her.) is she talks about fighting for her business, fighting for her business. And that, to me, is such a great way to feel like, okay, if I'm fighting for my business, I know how much Creative Startups has achieved. I'm not fighting for myself. It's not my ego. It's none of that. It's fighting for my business so my business can keep having the impact. Everything that I think about now in terms of working with indigenous entrepreneurs is this has nothing to do with me. Their frame is very much my community, my people, my business, which is over there. And it's a humble way of understanding one's place. And that is a really exciting reframe for me to think about how we can solve problems like the climate crisis, like the disparity between rich and poor, like the disintegration of our democracy. What if we had a different frame? How could we solve problems differently, maybe better? So for us, these partnerships unlock a whole vast area of new thinking, new ways of doing business, new ways of taking care of other people. And at the end of the day, that's what gets me back in the rowboat [laughs] is this idea of, wow, we are having an impact on other people. And doing it with people who have a different starting point has really shaped a lot of the work that we do. CHAD: Well, I'm sorry that we have to wrap up. Otherwise, we could keep on going and solve the climate crisis and unraveling of our democracy, but -- [laughs] ALICE: Yeah, I have an appointment at 2:00 where I'm doing climate crisis. So I'll let you know how it goes. CHAD: Okay, wonderful. ALICE: [laughs] CHAD: Alice, thank you so much for joining the show and sharing everything with us. We really appreciate it. ALICE: Yeah, I was delighted to be with you guys and hope to continue the conversation. CHAD: You can subscribe to the show and find notes along with a complete transcript for this episode at giantrobots.fm. VICTORIA: And if you have questions or comments, email us at hosts@giantrobots.fm. CHAD: You can find me on Twitter at @cpytel. VICTORIA: And you can find me on Twitter @victori_ousg This podcast is brought to you by thoughtbot and produced and edited by Mandy Moore. CHAD: Thanks for listening, and see you next time. ANNOUNCER: This podcast was brought to you by thoughtbot. thoughtbot is your expert design and development partner. Let's make your product and team a success. Special Guest: Alice Loy.

Our guest this week is the athlete, make-up artist and BDA Dyslexia & Dementia Ambassador Adelle Tracey. She has represented GB at different age levels for more than a decade and is the current 800m national champion. And since the recording of this episode Adelle has now officially become a Jamaican athlete - many congratulations to her! A torchbearer at the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony she was picked by Kelly Holmes to light the Olympic Cauldron. This podcast was funded by the National Lottery Community fund and EPIC Projects or Ecumenical Project for International Cooperation EPIC is a USA-based, non-profit organization. EPIC creates bonds among caring people devoted to solving global challenges of poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation, human rights, and making peace. Go to their website epicprojects.org Head to www.epicprojects.org to learn about the valuable work they do in South America supporting community education, human rights, promoting peace and ecological farming.

In the week that Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes has bravely revealed she is gay, Jake & Damian revisit the conversation we recorded with Kelly before our podcast journey had even begun, and at a time Kelly has now admitted she was in a very tough place. Her story of Olympic golds, doubt, depression, self-harm, and injury is one you need to hear and is just remarkable. - - - - - -Watch all our episodes on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/c/HighPerformancePodcast/videosFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highperformance/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highperformancepodcastJoin our new Telegram: https://t.me/highperformance_circle See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special bonus episode Jake and Damian discuss a some key clips in which our guests have shared the impact their teachers had on their high performance journeys. Listen to the episode to hear the stories shared by Lee Child, Evelyn Glennie, Kelly Holmes and music agent Charlie Pearce. Jake and Damian share and reflect on these inspiring stories and reflect on how teachers have impacted their lives. Thank you too ‘Get into Teaching' for partnering on this special episode of The High Performance Podcast.- - - - - We have created a FREE resource pack for teachers! High Performance is delighted to partner with National Careers Week! Sign up with your email address to be the first to know when resources are available. https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/education-sign-up-first/ We are excited to announce a new addition to The Circle: The Monday Motivation Newsletter. The purpose of Monday Motivation is to connect more regularly with you! We want to give Circle members a bit of inspiration, motivation and purpose at the beginning of each week. Whether that is a few key things to consider when facing the upcoming week, reading recommendations or ideas to think about when listening to the weekly podcast episode. We will also be updating you with everything happening in the world of The High Performance.SIGN UP HERE: https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/thecircle See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Podcaster, presenter and bestselling author, Jake Humphrey, is On Jimmy's Farm today.Jake talks to Jimmy about how the natural world has an impact on his mindset and mental wellbeing. He explains lessons he's learnt from interviewing people like Bear Grylls and Kelly Holmes on his podcast, High Performance, and shares how he tries to live a greener life.Jake also chats about his sustainable eyewear business, Coral, which creates glasses from recycled plastic and fishing nets rescued from oceans.Find out more about Jake's new book, High Performance: Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best, here.Read more about Coral here.On Jimmy's Farm: A Podcast from History Hit. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this short ESG podcast, Thomas Player, Kelly Holmes and Lee O'Connell discuss the approach to human rights due diligence both in own organizations and supply and value chains, including consideration of appropriate contractual provisions with suppliers and the practical measures that can be taken in relation to risk assessment measures for suppliers, including responding to potential human rights violations.