Meet KyIP Training Center Staff: Vanessa Fisk
Meet Vanessa Fisk, BSN, RN! She supports the KyIP Training Center through development of simulation training and innovative education strategies, as well as assisting with CME digital content creation. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and continues her lifelong learning journey as she is in the process of obtaining her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Nursing Informatics. With being in healthcare over 20 years and over 17 of those years being in nursing, her passion for safe patient care continues to fuel her motivation for continued research and education related to infection prevention and control practices.
Meet the KyIP Training Center Staff: Thomas Chandler
Meet Thomas Chandler, MPH! He serves as a biostatistician for both the KyIP Training Center and the Norton Infectious Diseases Institute. He supports KyIP in all things related to data, from database design to analysis, with the overall goal of generating new knowledge that can improve clinical practice and patient outcomes. He graduated with his MPH in 2018 from the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences, where he concentrated in biostatistics and completed his practicum experience at the School of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Diseases.
Meet KyIP Training Center Staff: Julia Frith
Meet Julia Frith, DNP, RN, CIC! Julia serves as the Lead for the Kentucky Infection Prevention (KyIP) Training Center and is Manager of Program Development and Research for Norton Infectious Disease Institute. Julia has worked in Infection Prevention for the last fifteen years. During this time she has worked to implement evidence-based infection prevention strategies including the development of plans for new and emerging pathogens including Ebola and COVID-19. She received her Bachelors in Nursing from the University of Louisville, a Masters in Nursing Administration from Bellarmine University and her Doctorate in Nursing Practice with an emphasis in executive leadership from the University of Kentucky. Julia has been certified in Infection Control through the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology since 2011.
Meet KyIP Training Center Staff: Valenchia Brown
Meet Valenchia Brown, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C! She takes the helm of education programs at the KyIP Training Center, fortifying infection prevention and control strategies for frontline healthcare professionals. Valenchia is a distinguished Family Nurse Practitioner renowned for her unwavering dedication to healthcare excellence and education. Having earned degrees from Nicholls State University, Bellarmine University, and the University of Louisville. Her impact transcends her clinical roles, embodying leadership as Director at Large for the Kentucky Nurses Association's Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Kentucky Infection Prevention Training Center's Advisory Board, and Board member of the Bellarmine University Graduate Nursing Advisory Board. Her leadership resonates through her involvement in nursing education and advocacy for equitable healthcare. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she spearheaded comprehensive vaccination and testing efforts, shaping standardized protocols, and…
CDC Recommends an Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for Everyone Ages 6 Months and Older
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted in favor of recommending the updated COVID-19 vaccine. This updated vaccine will boost waning immunity and cover the Omnicron variant, including the XBB lineage that is currently circulating. The vaccine, available via Pfizer and Moderna are now available. To locate a convenient vaccination site near you, visit vaccine.gov or talk to your health care provider. The US is currently seeing an uptick in the number of COVID cases, and cases in Kentucky have tripled over the past month. Currently, about 2.5% of all ER visits in Kentucky are due to COVID-19. The updated COVID-19 vaccine will help prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and the extended illness known as long COVID. The updated COVID-19 vaccine can be obtained at the same time as…
Meet KyIP Training Center Staff: Tatjana Boston
Meet KyIP Training Center's Program Coordinator, Tatjana Boston! Meet Tatjana Boston! She is a dedicated professional who serves as a Program Coordinator at the Kentucky Infection Prevention (KyIP) Training Center. Tatjana is an integral part in orchestrating and facilitating education initiatives, workshops, and resources aimed at training healthcare professionals in effective measures to prevent and control infections. With a solid 12-year background in the healthcare sector, Tatjana is passionate in creating a safer healthcare environment. Armed with a degree from the University of Louisville, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role.
Take the Learning Needs Assessment
Calling all Healthcare Workers: Take the Infection Prevention Learning Needs Assessment and let your voice be heard! KyIP Training Center is asking for your help in collecting information about the knowledge and educational needs regarding basic infection prevention. The COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to the gaps between infection control knowledge and practice within healthcare settings. This survey will help KyIP Training Center identify those gaps that occur in training or education. As an individual working in healthcare in the state of Kentucky, your insight is crucial. The results from the survey will provide insight into the educational needs of those working in healthcare regarding basic infection prevention. KyIP Training Center will use responses to guide future education and training plans so that we can continue to provide relevant and specific…
