In the latest episode of the 5 Second Rule podcast, guest Chris Smith delves into the collaboration between the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and APIC, resulting in the development of a school-based IPC Toolkit for Missouri Schools. This initiative equips the school community with valuable resources to enhance infection prevention practices in K-12 schools. Learn more about the toolkit’s components, the TEAMS (Training, Education, Assistance, Mentorship, and Support) model approach, impact assessment through pre/post evaluations, and its potential to enhance population health beyond the healthcare sector.

Hosted by:

Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC and Lerenza Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB

We recognize how important it is for our students to be in school to achieve learning objectives and this toolkit really helps prevent absenteeism due to illness.

~ Chris Smith

About our Guest

Chris Smith, MHA, Program Manager for APIC

Chris A. Smith, MHA, is currently a Program Manager for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), acting as the project manager for the MO KIDS IPC Toolkit project. Ms. Smith has worked in the public health and medical fields for the last 30 years. Roles that she has held include Environmental Health Specialist and Bio-terrorism Response Planner for Columbia/Boone County Health Department, Communications and Emergency Preparedness Manager for University of Missouri Healthcare, Emergency Preparedness Director for Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston), Senior Program Manager of the Boston Medical Intelligence Center, Boston Public Health Commission, and leading training development projects for workforce development for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Field Operations Directorate. Ms. Smith is also an adjunct professor for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, teaching Public Health Issues in Emergency Management. She earned her Master’s in Health Administration (MHA) from the University of Missouri – Columbia.