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.

Heather first discovered her love for infection control (and chai tea) during a short-term assignment in Nairobi, Kenya, where she worked to improve maternal and child health through the prevention of infectious diseases. After spending the first 6 years of her nursing career in busy emergency departments, Heather transitioned away from the bedside to join the work at the Johns Hopkins Hospital as an infection control epidemiologist. Following the completion of her master's degree in public health, Heather became the infection prevention and control nurse consultant for the State of Maryland, assisting healthcare facilities in their response to healthcare-associated infections. 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 healthcare 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.

You can follow Heather on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thelessonswelearn/ and wordpress at thelessonswelearn.com.


Articles

Bug of the Month: Water Baby

November 23, 2022

Article

Bug of the Month helps educate readers about existing and emerging pathogens of clinical importance in health care facilities today.

The 3 C’s: Collaboration

October 26, 2022

Article

"Although we have numerous strategies for improving prevention and control in our facilities," Heather Saunders, MPH, RN, CIC, in her third and final of 3 series on the 3'Cs of how to be a successful IP. "All too often these strategies fall short of succeeding." Why? Lack of collaboration. Read on to see how IPs can use the 3 C's to be more successful IPs.

The 3 C’s: Communication

September 26, 2022

Article

How infection preventionists communicate with those individuals with whom they interact is a tightrope of how to do it well and effectively. Read this article from readers' favorite, Heather Saunders, MPH, RN, CIC, to find out how to not fall off that tightrope in her second of 3 series on the 3'Cs of how to be a successful IP.

The 3 C’s: Connection

August 22, 2022

Article

You spend a great deal of time in your job telling individuals what you need them to do to prevent and control infections. They may hear you, but are they listening?

We Need a Revolution

July 20, 2022

Article

Read about a lady with white hair, being human, and how infection prevention needs to transform.

How Hospital Administrators Can Help IPs Manage HAIs

October 15, 2021

Article

If we want to see sustained improvements in our hospitals, administrators must step in and visibly show their support of IPs while investing their time, resources, and hospital funding to increase the capacity of the IPC department.