Principal, Infection Prevention & Management Associates, Inc.
Virginia Kennedy, RN, MS, CIC founded Infection Prevention & Management Associates in 1996 with the focus of providing services to a variety of healthcare facilities with industry leading experts in the field. She has over 30 years of experience working in, managing, leading infection prevention programs and providing consultation services in acute care, long term acute care, rehabilitation, ambulatory clinics, psychiatric and specialty care facilities. Virginia has lead multiple organizations through remedial action plans to successful licensing and/or accreditation status. During her career, she has held leadership positions in her local APIC chapter, presented at conferences, served on the editorial board for the American Journal of Infection Control and authored papers on various subjects. Virginia obtained a BA in Nursing from Simmons College in Boston, MA, and a MS is Public Health Nursing from the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to commencing her infection prevention career, she worked in Medical-Surgical settings and as a Public Health Nurse. Currently, Virginia is actively involved in program management and developing associates’ skills sets for the evolving infection prevention future. Virginia and her husband reside in Houston, Texas and are the parents of two daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, baking, knitting and reading.
Kelley M. Boston, MPH, CIC
Senior Associate
Kelley Boston holds a Masters of Public Health in international and family health, with a concentration in epidemiology from The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston School of Public Health, and an undergraduate degree in Geography with a focus on environmental resources management and medical geography from The University of Texas at Austin.
Ms. Boston began her career in infection prevention in 2004 with Infection Prevention and Management Associates, Inc. She has worked in Texas, California and Massachusetts, and has been certified in infection prevention since 2006. Her primary experience is in acute care facilities, with extensive regulatory and accreditation survey experience, and her main areas of interest include team-focused change processes and regulatory and accreditation survey preparedness.
She is currently a member of the San Antonio chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). She has served in several board positions for San Diego and Imperial Counties APIC chapter.
Ms. Boston was named in the 2010 Who’s Who in Infection Prevention list by Infection Control Today Magazine and has made a number of media appearances in San Diego and Boston discussing infection prevention issues. She has been published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and has reviewed articles for the American Journal of Infection Control.
Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC
Senior Associate
Kelly Holmes began working for Infection Prevention and Management Associates, Inc in 2004, and has been certified in the field since 2006. Ms. Holmes has experience in mentoring novice Infection Preventionists and program management in a wide range of healthcare settings including acute care, long term acute care, and rehabilitation facilities. Ms. Holmes developed a comprehensive internal training process for the company that includes focused support for Infection Preventionists who are studying for certification. In 2012 Ms. Holmes joined several colleagues in presenting the concepts of the successful training program at the National APIC conference. Ms. Holmes is a contributing author of the updated Accrediting and Regulatory Agencies chapter of the online APIC text.
Jennifer McCarty, MPH, CIC
Senior Associate
Jennifer McCarty graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1997 with a bachelor’s in biology. In 1999 she started the masters of public health program at the UT-Health Science Center Houston School of Public Health. While there she studied disease control with an emphasis on epidemiology, completing her degree in 2002. During this time she also completed an internship with the epidemiology section at the Harris County Health Department. Ms. McCarty has been certified in infection control since 2003.
In 2000, Mrs. McCarty joined Infection Prevention & Management Associates. While with IPMA she has helped develop a surveillance tracking database and assisted in the development of the education program used with new employees. From 2008 to 2015 she provided program oversight for several acute care facilities. She also served as a trainer and superuser for adaptation of a system-wide surveillance software and program. Following this period Mrs. McCarty, also served as the Interim Director for a system that included two acute care hospitals, outpatient dialysis, ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient clinics. She is currently working as the Interim Director for a large teaching hospital in the Texas Medical Center.
Mrs. McCarty has been a board member of the Houston chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology since 2003 and is currently the chapter legislative representative and webmaster. She is familiar with JCAHO, DNV and CMS survey methodologies.
Mishga Moinuddin, MPH, CIC
Junior Associate
Mishga Moinuddin MPH, CIC is a senior infection preventionist and has practiced infection prevention since 2002. She has been certified since 2003. Mishga serves as a manager for remote surveillance and also manages the Austin / San Antonio and IRF market. Mishga attended the University of Texas where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a Master of Public Health. Prior to infection prevention, Mishga worked in clinical microbiology and virology research laboratories in the Texas Medical Center. Mishga’s experience in program management includes acute care, long term acute care, rehabilitation, psychiatric, ambulatory care, and surgical specialty hospitals. Mishga has acquired considerable experience in facility program assessment and management, crisis management, regulatory agency preparedness, and state HAI validation and auditing for regulatory agencies. Mishga enjoys mentoring and training new infection preventionists as well as presenting and authoring for several leading infection prevention conferences. Mishga resides in Austin, Texas with her husband and three children. In her spare time, Mishga enjoys interior design and art.
Sketa Patel, BS, CIC
Junior Associate
Sketa Patel is the primary Infection Preventionist at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land located in Sugar Land, Texas. She has 7 years of experience in the field of Infection Control and has worked in several Acute Care, Long Term Acute Care, and Rehab Facilities. She developed an interest in Infection Control while attending the School of Public Health located in Houston, TX. Sketa Patel holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston and is working towards her Master’s degree in Public Health. She has been certified in Infection Control since 2006.
Rebecca Pawlak, MS, CIC
Junior Associate
Rebecca Pawlak MS, CIC has practiced infection prevention for over 13 years. Rebecca obtained a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Texas A&M University and completed a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center - School of Public Health. Rebecca has extensive experience in a broad range of health care facilities including small and large acute care facilities, pediatric, long term care and rehabilitation facilities. In addition, Rebecca is a lead for regulatory agency reporting, surveillance software, HAI validation and auditing. Rebecca has experience working with facilities that are DNV and Joint Commission accredited. Throughout the years, she has participated in the Houston chapter of APIC and has served as local chapter officer through president. Rebecca has been certified in Infection Control through CBIC since 2005.
Sandi Steinfeld MPH, CIC
Senior Associate
Sandi Steinfeld, MPH, CIC, has practiced infection prevention for over 18 years. Ms. Steinfeld began her career with IP&MA in 1998. Sandi attended the University of New Mexico where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree and obtained her Master of Public Health degree at the University of Texas School of Public Health. She has extensive experience in facility program assessment and management, policy development, regulatory survey preparation and remote hospital acquired infection surveillance. Ms. Steinfeld's repertoire of facilities includes acute care, long term acute care, rehabilitation, psychiatric and ambulatory surgery centers. Ms. Steinfeld is a published author in several clinical publications and has also presented for professional conferences. Sandi currently is an administrator and also is the human resources and professional development director.
Jessica Gamboa MPH, CIC
Junior Associate
Jessica Gamboa has been with IP&MA since the start of her career in infection prevention in 2008. She is a lead Infection Preventionist in the Houston area and has experience in acute care, long term acute care and surgical settings. Jessica has been certified since 2010 and is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Jessica earned her bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University and a Masters of Public Health degree with a concentration in Epidemiology from The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.
