Pronouns: She/Her
Lafayette Degree & Major(s): Bachelor of Science, Biology; Minor in Writing
Graduate Degree: Masters of Public Health, Epidemiology, Temple University
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Title: Infection Preventionist
Employer: Penn Medicine
Describe what your employer/organization does: Penn Medicine is a world-renowned health system, dedicated to groundbreaking research and compassionate patient care. We offer extensive programs and services, such as heart surgery and organ transplantation. The heart surgery team delivers cutting-edge surgical care for the heart with the nation’s most advanced and precise cardiac procedures. We deliver some of the highest success rates and lowest complication rates in the country. Our division of transplant surgery is the highest NIH-funded surgical division in the country.
Please provide a brief overview of your role: Infection preventionists (IPs) are professionals who make sure healthcare workers, patients, and visitors are doing all the things they should to prevent infection. This is achieved by looking at patterns of infection, observing practices, educating healthcare teams, advising hospital leadership, compiling infection data, and communicating with local public health agencies. I primarily focus on infection prevention in the cardiac surgical service.
What gets you excited to go to work each day? No two days are exactly the same! I look forward to weekly rounds, where I visit inpatients and provide education at the bedside. When I’m not rounding, I might be in meetings with hospital leadership, interpreting a patient’s microbiology cultures, walking through a construction project with our physical plant team, or observing cardiac procedures in the operating room. I also am involved in our BioPreparedness Committee, and participate in functional drills with our emergency department to ensure our staff are equipped to handle a patient who may have a serious infection of public health significance.
What keeps you up at night as you think about the opportunities (or challenges) related to your work? The discovery of antibiotics was an incredible milestone; infectious disease is no longer the leading cause of death in humans. However, critically ill patients or patients with lengthy hospitalizations are at risk for developing infections that can be resistant to even our “last resort” antibiotics. Unfortunately, this sometimes does happen. Finding a treatment regimen that will work while keeping staff and their loved ones safe is something that I stress over.
What key strengths are necessary to be successful in entering this career field? You need to be a people person, and to be able to communicate and collaborate with people of different backgrounds. It is also important to be honest and unafraid to ask clarifying questions. Successful IPs enter the industry with a basic understanding of the infectious disease process.
Is education beyond a Lafayette degree required to pursue this path? The short answer is usually yes. In the past, all IPs were registered nurses. There has been a shift for healthcare organizations to hire MPH (Masters of Public Health) graduates, but not all of them consider candidates with this background. Some organizations will hire individuals who have experience as clinical laboratory technologists with a background in microbiology, virology or mycology. An advanced degree is not required to become a laboratory technologist. My own path to becoming an IP was unique. I worked as a lab tech at a reference laboratory for about five years and earned my MPH before changing careers.
How did your Lafayette experience equip you for success in your career field, especially as an early career professional? As a biology student, I was able to take classes that suited my interests, such as microbiology and plant phytopathology. I gained an incredible amount of knowledge during those semesters, and I learned laboratory skills that I was able to use as soon as I graduated. I was also fortunate to have professors like Dr. Caslake, Dr. Waters, and Dr. Ospina-Giraldo who really encouraged my curiosity and encouraged me to ask questions.
What specific experiences during your time at Lafayette made the greatest impact on your professional path? I was able to intern in a veterinary pathology lab the summer before my junior year. This cemented my interest in infectious diseases and microbiology.
As it relates to career exploration and development, what is one thing that you know now that you wish you could go back in time and tell your student self? I would encourage my student self to check out Career Services sooner. I think I waited until senior year! If I was able to connect with a counselor sooner, I may have been able to have additional internship / externship or networking experiences.
What advice do you have for students interested in pursuing your career field? Leverage your network! My colleagues and I often discuss how we did not come across the term “infection preventionist” until we were in grad school. Our job is not well-advertised, but if you know someone who works in healthcare (especially in a hospital), there’s a chance that they familiar with infection prevention and may know an IP. I’d also recommend staying up-to-date on current infectious diseases like the ongoing avian influenza pandemic in domestic livestock, measles, and pertussis.
What strategies, tools, or other efforts do you utilize to find “balance” or reduce your career-related stress? I disable notifications and shut off my work phone at the end of the day. The biggest stressor in healthcare is one that is not easily seen: grief. I’m fortunate to have a support system of family, friends, and coworkers who understand and validate the tougher days I have at work. I also see a therapist who has helped me navigate the emotionally challenging situations that come with working in an intensive care unit.
How do you enjoy spending your free time when not at work? I enjoy running, baking, gardening, cross-stitching, and video games. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family. My husband and I also enjoy visiting the national parks and have a goal to visit all 63 of them.
What was your favorite spot on Lafayette’s campus when you were a student? My favorite spot was (and still is) the Civil War statue between Ruef and Keefe that overlooks Easton. I spent a lot of time there. My favorite tradition is singing the alma mater – I was in choir. Did you know there’s a second verse?
Would you like to connect with Jaimie to learn more about her career path?
Ms. Bandur is happy to connect with students via LinkedIn or email.
If you’d like to connect with Ms. Bandur by email, please contact your Gateway Career Counselor for details.
