Hooked on ID with Kelly Zabriskie, MLS, CIC, FAPIC
Science has always been a passion of mine. I worked in research and microbiology for years, and while at home, I would read science journals, try to identify diseases from case studies and watch all the science shows.
I was the mom who would tell the pediatrician to prescribe antibiotics only if my child had a defined bacterial infection from a culture, knowing antibiotics did not work on viruses.
Fast forward to a few years later when a friend mentioned an open position that she thought I would be perfect for — infection control. I was not familiar with this type of job, and learned it involved reducing and defining infections, hand-washing, environmental cleaning, microbiology and staff education. This sounded perfect because it combined educator, scientist and detective in one career! Now, to convince someone that a non-nurse could do the job — not an easy task in 2004 — but luckily for me, an amazing chief nursing officer believed in me and gave me a chance. That opportunity launched an amazing career.
I have achieved more than I ever dreamed possible when I started 20 years ago. I was recognized with an honorary doctorate in science from Thomas Jefferson University for my work during the COVID-19 pandemic. I worked with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) on the public policy, committee providing input into regulatory and legislative issues, and was most recently a co-author on an article calling to update the instructions for use for medical devices — a focus and passion of mine for years.
Kelly Zabriskie, MLS, CIC, FAPIC
Enterprise vice president, infection control
Jefferson Health
Philadelphia
Reference:
- APIC. Modernizing medical device instructions for use (IFUs). https://apic.org/modernizing-medical-device-instructions-for-use-ifus/. Published May 2024.