#28 Career Advice: How To Become an Infection Preventionist

The infection prevention profession has been rapidly growing as the need for health protocols increases in various environments. What we traditionally think of as a hospital-based position is now appearing in areas like entertainment, sports, and the government. In this episode, we will be discussing how to get started as an infection preventionist and what you can expect in the role. Please join us and our guests, the Executive Director of Infectious Disease Management and Prevention at Providence St. Joseph Health in Renton, WA, Dr. Rebecca Bartles, DrPH, MPH, CIC, FAPIC; and Division Manager of Infection Prevention for HCA Healthcare North Florida Division, Chaz Rhone, MPH, CIC, FAPIC.

Hosted by:

Silvia Quevedo, CAE

About our Guests:

Rebecca Bartles, DrPH, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, Executive Director of Infectious Disease Management and Prevention at Providence, St. Joseph Health in Renton, WA

Rebecca (Becca) Bartles is the Executive Director of Infectious Disease Management and Prevention at Providence St. Joseph Health in Renton, WA. Becca has practiced Infection Prevention for the last 16 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.” Becca also teaches courses at the University of Providence for a Masters in Infection Prevention degree program that she founded in 2016. She has been CIC certified since 2008 and is an APIC fellow. Most notably, though, Becca is the mother of four beautiful daughters, ages 7-22.

Chaz Rhone, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, Division Manager of Infection Prevention for HCA Healthcare North Florida Division

Chaz earned a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Florida (UF) and began his career as an Infection Preventionist (IP) in 2007. He is currently a Division Manager of IP for HCA Healthcare North Florida Division. Chaz has been certified in infection control since 2012, recognized as an APIC Hero (2016), and accepted as an APIC Fellow (2019). He was also named as one of UF’s College of Public Health and Health Professions Outstanding Alumni (2018). His professional passions include advancing the field of IP through leadership development of IPs and advocating for professionals with an M.P.H. as qualified candidates for IP positions. To that end, he is currently vice-chair of the APIC Academic Pathway Steering Committee and a member of the APIC Professional Development Committee. On a personal note, Chaz is a New Orleans native, an extroverted introvert, a musically inclined Jeep and motorcycle enthusiast, and a spontaneous “xennial” (Gen X/Millennial). He is a husband to Tara, who also works in infection prevention, and a dad to two beautiful “flowers” Lily (6) and Iris (3).