Celebrating Our Educators

Think back to when you were in school -- is there a teacher that stands out in your memory? Almost everyone seems to have fond memories of individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary talent and devotion to instruction, whether it's from kindergarten or from college. There always seems to be someone who stands out for being the teacher who broke through a learning barrier, who supported your efforts to try something new, or whose tutelage enabled you to make great strides in your academic career.

I have been fortunate to have been taught by some amazing people who challenged me, championed me, and brought out the very best in me when I did not yet see it for myself. A good teacher can make all the difference between success and failure, mediocrity and excellence. A person who functions as an educator, whether formally or informally, wields enormous power -- power to encourage and to guide and to shape one's future. That's a tremendous responsibility, and the reason why we as a society must celebrate and support our teachers.

There are so many teachable moments in infection prevention and control, as you well know. Isn't it wonderful when the message you are delivering is received eagerly? Most of the time it can be frustrating to perceive that people are not interested in learning, especially when the educational message you have to impart could mean the difference between life and death for a patient. It's a challenge to find new and interesting ways to remind people to wash their hands, isn't it? Makes you want to scream when the message isn't heeded and a bad outcome results, doesn't it? Not everyone will continue to try to teach, and not everyone will listen, but the mark of a true educator lies in one's persistence and belief that reaching just one person that day can be enough to set change in motion.

Not all of life's lessons come through kind, compassionate teachers, but I ask you today to consider being one of those educators who can change a person's life. You may never know if showing someone how to wash their hands properly will actually prevent an infection, but not doing so will probably yield a negative consequence. Be the person who goes out of your way to teach by doing, and lead by example. You don't have to be a teacher to teach -- teaching is inherent in what you already do as infection preventionists!

That's why it's our pleasure to continue to conduct our Educator of the Year recognition, designed to salute the accomplishments of an individual who has excelled in infection prevention education. We're looking to you, as ICT readers, to tell us about the people you think deserve acknowledgement for their efforts to educate others on infection control principles and practices. To nominate an individual, tell me why they deserve to be considered for the honor in 200 words or less, and please include the person's CV. Send your nomination to me at kpyrek@vpico.com by Sept. 30, 2010, and you might just see your nominee on the December 2010 ICT cover!