1. Tell us about your experience putting together your portfolio for the AL-CIP?
Putting together my portfolio was both humbling and energizing. Infection preventionists are so focused on moving forward to the next challenge that we rarely stop to reflect on what we’ve built. Compiling my portfolio gave me the chance to look back and truly recognize the scope of my contributions—from developing innovative processes to leading our facility through a pandemic. It wasn’t just about documenting work, but about seeing the bigger picture of how infection prevention shapes patient care and organizational resilience.
2. Can you provide tips for writing a successful rationale?
Start with impact, not just activity. Instead of listing tasks, explain how your work changed outcomes for patients, staff, or systems. Use clear examples: whether that’s preventing transmission, creating a sustainable process, or influencing policy. And don’t undersell yourself; infection prevention is often invisible until something goes wrong, so this is your chance to make the invisible visible.
3. What advice would you give to someone considering the AL-CIP?
Don’t wait until you feel “ready”. You already have more experience and innovation under your belt than you realize. The AL-CIP isn’t just about achievements at the national stage; it’s about leadership in practice, wherever you are. Use this process to validate the work you’ve already done and to give yourself a platform to keep advancing the field. If you're on the fence, take the leap. You may be surprised at just how much you've already accomplished, and how this certification can amplify that.
4. What does earning your AL-CIP mean to you?
Earning the AL-CIP is more than a mere credential for me; it stands as a testament to a significant journey and years of self-taught dedication. Infection prevention is a discipline where the most profound successes often remain unnoticed because the absence of outbreaks, transmission, and harm indicates that systems are quietly operating at their safest. This certification validates those invisible triumphs and acknowledges the innovation and leadership behind them.
It represents the resilience and the persistence that guided me throughout my career. It underscores the courage required to lead through uncertainty and demonstrates a commitment to advancing our field. It’s a recognition of the tireless work done behind the scenes, which safeguards patient and colleague safety. To me, this certification instills a sense of responsibility. It isn't just a personal milestone; it’s an opportunity to champion our profession, mentor the next generation of infection preventionists, and continually elevate the standards of infection prevention. To me, it symbolizes both gratitude for the path I've walked (and what a path that was and continues to be) and an unwavering commitment to shaping the future of healthcare safety, for patients, colleagues, and the upcoming leaders in our field.