In a conversation with Jacob Hutcherson, Melissa Bronstein reflected on her impressive career growth, from manager to senior director, and now to Vice President of Infection Prevention. Jacob noted that VP-level positions in Infection Prevention are still relatively rare, though the trend is shifting, and he asked Melissa how mentorship has influenced her journey. Melissa was quick to emphasize the profound impact that mentorship has had on her career, expressing gratitude for the leaders she has worked with and the lessons she has learned from them.
Melissa explained that observing great leaders in action has been one of the greatest gifts in her career, allowing her to retain invaluable leadership lessons that she continues to apply. She also noted that mentioning these individuals by name—such as Mary Oden, Dan Sexton, and Rosemary Thompson—is her way of honoring their contributions to her development. As she advanced through various leadership roles, Melissa saw the importance of both recognizing the work of others and paying it forward by mentoring the next generation of Infection Preventionists.
A major aspect of Melissa’s VP role has been advocating for the importance of Infection Prevention at the C-suite level. She pointed out that, in many cases, the scope and complexity of Infection Prevention work are not fully understood by those who write job descriptions or set organizational priorities. Part of her leadership has been demonstrating the breadth of responsibilities that Infection Preventionists carry, making it clear that the work they do is on par with other high-level departments. Melissa has been able to present her work—along with her contributions to APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) and community initiatives—as evidence of the department’s value and impact.
Melissa stressed the importance of being able to document and communicate the impact of Infection Prevention efforts on the overall organization. This advocacy is essential for elevating Infection Prevention from a subset of other departments to a recognized, standalone discipline with the same level of influence and visibility as other critical healthcare functions. For Melissa, this has meant not only doing the work but ensuring that others, especially executive leadership, understand the critical role Infection Prevention plays in patient safety and organizational success.
Reflecting on the visibility that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to Infection Prevention, Melissa acknowledged that while the pandemic helped shine a light on the field, it’s still up to Infection Preventionists to continue advocating for their work. By demonstrating the direct impact of Infection Prevention on healthcare outcomes, professionals like Melissa are helping reshape the industry, ensuring that Infection Prevention receives the recognition and resources it needs.
In her current role as a VP, Melissa continues to advocate for the importance of Infection Prevention, both within her organization and in the broader healthcare community. Through mentorship and leadership, she is helping shape the future of the field, ensuring that the vital work of Infection Prevention is both recognized and valued at every level of healthcare leadership.