Her Story
About Emily
Emily Barnard is an Infection Prevention Manager and Independent Consultant in the healthcare field. With roughly 25 years in healthcare and just over eight years in infection prevention, she previously served as an Infection Prevention Manager before launching her own consulting firm, Infection Epidemiology Love Solutions Consulting, three years ago. Her work focuses on program assessment and evaluation, policies, program gaps, emergency preparedness, sterile processing, and endoscope reprocessing across GI, respiratory, and other flexible endoscopes. She provides on-site and remote consulting, mentorship, and support for IPs in critical access and solo facilities as well as large academic medical centers. Emily holds a Bachelor's degree in Cell Molecular Biology and Physiology and a Master's in Public Health with certification in epidemiology and health policy. She is currently pursuing her dissertation to complete a PhD in Public Health. Her credentials include CIC, certification in dental infection control, certification in endoscope reprocessing, APIC Fellowship, advanced leadership certification in infection prevention and healthcare, and HCAP (CMS). She is a member of APIC, HSPA, ACHE, and AVAP, and serves as President and Social Media Manager for the Orange County, California APIC chapter. She has received the Chapter Leader Excellence Award from National APIC and contributed to her chapter receiving the Chapter Excellence Award. Emily attributes her success to mentors Mary Riley, Jennifer Cole, and April Parsons, and values integrity, ethics, and a patient-centered approach in her work.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Emily
01What do you attribute your success to?
I have two people in particular that really supported my career trajectory... My first manager would be Mary Riley... And then the other person would be Jennifer Cole... And April Parsons was a big part in my early career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You have no limits. Whatever... don't box yourself in. You can do anything that your mind... you set your mind to... understanding that you have a wealth of knowledge, you are valuable...
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The RN is not the only pathway into infection prevention. There's multiple backgrounds that contribute significantly... whether it's Masters in Public Health or... microbiology background, or a respiratory... there's a place for you in infection prevention. And Nursing is not the only pathway into infection prevention.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges are change management... convincing everybody from the front line up to senior leadership that change management is essential... One of the biggest opportunities getting out and working with the frontline people, understanding what their challenges are. I really like to use the Lean Six Sigma, or the Six Sigma, Gemba Walk approach.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is a huge component and ethics. So really looking at what's going on, what's the level of risk, and when it's appropriate to stop the line... ultimately looking at the patient at the end of the day... a patient-centered approach and the human cost of clinical practice.
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