Her Story
About Lindsay
My journey in healthcare has been anything but traditional. I've always been a constant lifelong learner, and that curiosity has shaped every move I've made. I started with a deep love for microbiology and the lab, but I became fascinated with multi-drug-resistant organisms and epidemiology, which led me to work closely with infection control teams. When I discovered that many organizations wouldn't let you be an infection preventionist without being an RN, I decided to get my master's in public health to prove my commitment and gain the advanced knowledge I needed. The infection preventionist I worked with advocated for me, and I became the coordinator for the whole health system. Then COVID hit, and it was extremely difficult. As an infection preventionist, we are boots on the ground, the authority on CDC guidelines, and everything was constantly changing. I also faced challenges with management and lack of support from nursing staff, which made an already intense situation even harder. I realized I needed to ask myself: what are my skills, and what else can I do with them? That's when I found infection control consulting in the IT space. Now I'm building the systems I used to work with, primarily for federal clients like the VA and Indian Health Services. I recently achieved something I'm really proud of: I solo-implemented the infection control solution for Princess Alexandra Health in the UK, the first of its type for the National Health Service. It was complex because their definitions and reporting elements are different from the U.S., and they didn't use our laboratory system, so we had to create an interface. But we did it, and it's live. I just accepted a new role as a project manager for post-go-live readiness, and I'm continuing to learn coding, SQL, and Python to better understand the technology behind everything we do. For me, it's not about climbing a corporate ladder anymore. It's about understanding your strengths and weaknesses, figuring out what you know versus what you need to know, and going out to get that education to make yourself a better candidate.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lindsay
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being a constant lifelong learner and always asking myself: what can we learn more? What else can we do? I'm always trying to ensure that everything I do is the best that I can do. Everything that I put out there, I want it to be the best that I can do, even if it may not be the best there ever is. I can only make myself better. I can't control clients, I can't control coworkers, but I can control my output, my notes, my meetings, everything that I do. I also think it's about understanding your strengths and your weaknesses and working towards those, and then asking yourself: what do I know versus what do I need to know? Where can I go and find that information? How can I get that education to make myself be a better candidate for that job or for promotion? That mindset has allowed me to navigate challenges and make lateral moves when needed, rather than just trying to climb a traditional corporate ladder that doesn't really exist anymore.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women that we don't have ladders anymore. What worked 20 years ago, climbing the corporate ladder, doesn't work now. It's a maze out there, and you have to be willing to make lateral moves and not be scared to do so. It's more about understanding your strengths and your weaknesses and working towards those. Ask yourself: what do I know versus what do I need to know? Where can I go and find that information? How can I get that education to make myself be a better candidate for that job or be a candidate for promotion? I think that's really important. Don't be afraid to circumvent silly requirements or find creative ways to achieve what you want. When I wanted to be an infection preventionist but didn't have an RN, I got my master's in public health instead to show my commitment and gain credibility. You have to advocate for yourself and find ways to apply what you know in areas where you can help serve, even if it's not the exact role you initially envisioned.
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