Reciprocal Mentorship That Fits: Education-Rich, Time-Smart, and Built for Collaboration

Session Description: Infection preventionists (IPs) face growing demands that require targeted mentorship to boost skills, support professional growth, and build resilience. Traditional mentorship programs often require more time than IPs can allocate due to demanding workloads and organizational priorities. Developed collaboratively between the state health department and the state chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, the IP Mentorship Program fundamentally redefines the traditional model by fostering a reciprocal framework centered on mutual growth. With just a two-hour monthly commitment over six months, this program is designed to fit and grow with busy IPs, from novice to expert.

What makes it different? Both mentors and mentees earn built-in continuing education credits (all eligible for recertification). Program participants are set up for success with structured partner sessions, interactive activities, and ready-to-use discussion prompts. The framework works across diverse care settings, supports a mixed-generation workforce, and reduces the load on even the busiest mentors.

And it works. In the first cohort, 94% of participants were satisfied with how well the program met their professional development expectations, 67% reported making moderate to significant changes in infection prevention practices, and 75% experienced a moderate to extreme impact on achieving organizational infection prevention goals.

In this session, we will explore key design elements, program evaluation data, and lessons learned from launching this innovative mentorship model statewide. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to enhance existing mentorship programs with small, high-impact adjustments or to implement a low-burden, high-return mentorship approach from the ground up.

This session is ideal for infection prevention leaders, chapter officers, and public health professionals seeking scalable, sustainable strategies to strengthen professional networks while advancing infection prevention goals. Now is the time to build mentorship programs that meet today’s challenges, celebrates IP expertise, and prepares us for the future.

Ginger Vanhoozer

HAI/AR Education & Training Specialist, Virginia Department of Health

Ginger Vanhoozer, MPH, BSN, RN, CIC, AL-CIP, is the HAI/AR Education and Training Specialist for the Virginia Department of Health. She creates dynamic, learner-centered programs that make infection prevention education accessible, memorable, and grounded in real-world challenges. With a passion for creating supportive learning environments and programs that spark engagement, Ginger designs statewide initiatives that strengthen skills, foster connection, and encourage healthcare workers to grow their expertise and confidence. Her approach blends evidence-based workplace learning strategies with creativity, ensuring that even busy professionals can engage meaningfully, collaborate with peers, and apply what they learn in everyday practice.

Dana Chapman

Infection Preventionist, Sentara Leigh Hospital

Dana Chapman, MPH, MSN, RN, CIC is an Infection Preventionist at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare in Chesapeake, Virginia. She has worked in the field of Infection Prevention for 12 years, in both acute care and health department settings. Prior to assuming the role as Infection Preventionist, Dana worked as a staff nurse providing High-risk OB care, post-partum, and couplet care. She is Certified in Infection Control (CIC) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Old Dominion University, Master of Public Health from the University of South Florida, and Master of Science in Nursing from American Sentinel University.

Amy Huff

Infection Preventionist, Hazel I. Findlay

Amy Huff, RN, CIC, LTC-CIP has worked at Hazel I. Findlay, a Skilled Nursing Facility in Michigan, for 35 years. She began as a Nurse Aide while completing her nursing education and spent 17 years as a floor nurse, Nurse Aide Training Program Instructor, Education Manager, and other managerial roles before stepping into the Infection Preventionist role in 2007. She has served on committees in Disaster Preparedness and Infection Prevention and Control realms. Amy enjoys learning, meeting new people, and mentoring others; she considers her CIC, LTC-CIP, and a-IPC certifications to be essential milestones in her career and encourages her peers to take these important steps. She is an APIC Faculty Member, instructing several courses. She has been a part of her Great Lakes APIC Chapter in the Membership Secretary role and feels honored to have served as a member of the APIC National Conference Committee.