TSICP Leadership
Val Sparks, MSN, RN, CIC
PRESIDENT
Infection Preventionist and Occupational Health / Worker’s Compensation Coordinator at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, TX. Val has been certified in Infection Control since 1992. Val is passionate about Infection Prevention with EVERY hospital employee and believes that infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility.
She has been on the board of TSICP since 2007 serving as president in 2009 & 2010 and as treasurer 2016-2018. She is currently on the APIC Nominating & Awards Committee and has authored a chapter in the APIC Text. Val has enjoyed the TSICP network around the state teaching Essentials and CIC Review classes. Val looks forward to representing you at the state level.
432-221-1647
PRESIDENT ELECT
I am a Registered Nurse, Senior Infection Preventionist at Christus Health of Southeast Texas. After graduating with my associate degree in 2012 from Lamar University in Beaumont, TX, I sought out my place in healthcare working in the emergency room and perioperative services before becoming an infection preventionist in the summer of 2018. I don’t feel I chose infection prevention; rather, infection prevention found me. When I was approached about the position, I recognized my previous work history was a great fit and I brought a new perspective to the infection prevention team. I was exactly where I was intended to be!
I obtained my Certification in Infection Control in December 2021. Obtaining my certification has opened new professional opportunities, such as, expanding my role within my organization and feeling confident about applying to sit on the Texas Society of Infection Control and Prevention Board. My proudest moment as an infection preventionist has been the sustained 60% reduction SIR rate of CAUTI and CLABSI within our facility over the last two-years.
I recently returned to school for my BSN at Grand Canyon University and have an expected graduation date of June 2023. I serve on our local Nurse Practice Council and Nurse Leadership Committee, as well as the outgoing Chair of our system wide Christus Infection Prevention Council. My personal goals are lifelong learning and sharing what I know with others. I strongly believe in our Christus Health mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and strive to advocate for an environment that improves the lives of the individuals we touch and the community where we live
Mobile
Karie Singleton, RN-CIC
Lance Anderson, RN, CIC
PAST PRESIDENT
Infection Preventionist and Occupational Health / Worker’s Compensation Coordinator at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, TX. Val has been certified in Infection Control since 1992. Val is passionate about Infection Prevention with EVERY hospital employee and believes that infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility.
She has been on the board of TSICP since 2007 serving as president in 2009 & 2010 and as treasurer 2016-2018. She is currently on the APIC Nominating & Awards Committee and has authored a chapter in the APIC Text. Val has enjoyed the TSICP network around the state teaching Essentials and CIC Review classes. Val looks forward to representing you at the state level.
lance.anderson@longviewregional.com
903 720-1125
DIRECTOR of EDUCATION
I am certified in Infection Prevention and have been a practicing RN for 20 years. I have been in Employee Health and Infection Control for 11 years. I have been President of the Local chapter of APIC and past president of Texas Society of Infection Prevention and Control. I have received several APIC D/FW STAR Awards and the Gerry Haynes Award from TSICP. I have published articles in AJIC and AJHCQ. I have been with TSICP for 15 years, and taught many classes, as well as developed the CIC curriculum and helped with state grants.
Regional Director of Clinical Compliance and Accreditation Baylor Scott & White
903 337-5111
Brenda Helms, RN, BSN, MBA/HCM, CIC
Doramarie Arocha, PhD, M.S., MT(ASCP)SM,CIC, FAPIC
TREASURER
Director of Infection Prevention for UT Southwestern Health System in Dallas, Texas.
Doramarie graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1985. She attained a Master of Science Degree from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas in 1994 and her PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Walden University in 2016.
Doramarie worked as a Medical Technologist in Microbiology at Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas, Texas. She obtained her ASCP certification and a Microbiology Specialty Certification. Trained in Infection Prevention, she has 17 years of experience with clinical public health interventions, disease surveillance and monitoring. Doramarie’s infection control skills include knowledge/expertise in microbiology, epidemiology, statistics, infectious diseases, antibiotic usage, sterilization/disinfections, along with consultative and teaching skills. She helped create a Special Pathogens Task Force at UT Southwestern which became the Assessment Facility for North Texas.
Doramarie has been active in TSICP and APIC serving as Board of Directors, President and Treasurer for TSICP and served on the Nominating and Awards Committee for National APIC. Was recognized and received the Fellow Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (FAPIC). She was honored as one of APIC’s Heroes of Infection Prevention and was the recipient of the Rising Star Award from APIC-DFW in 2011. Dr. Arocha was recognized for Outstanding Infection Prevention Support during the Hurricane Response in 2017. Selected as one of the COVID Heroes in DFW. Honored for her humanism (Gold Humanism Honor Society) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
doramarie.arocha@utsouthwestern.edu
214-633-4699 (Office)
214 362-1163 (Pager)
SECRETARY
Infection Preventionist and Occupational Health / Worker’s Compensation Coordinator at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, TX. Val has been certified in Infection Control since 1992. Val is passionate about Infection Prevention with EVERY hospital employee and believes that infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility.
She has been on the board of TSICP since 2007 serving as president in 2009 & 2010 and as treasurer 2016-2018. She is currently on the APIC Nominating & Awards Committee and has authored a chapter in the APIC Text. Val has enjoyed the TSICP network around the state teaching Essentials and CIC Review classes. Val looks forward to representing you at the state level.
806.786.1362
Renae Yates, MSN, RN, CIC
Jennifer Clary
BSN, RN, CIC, CHOP A
BOARD MEMBER
I graduated with my Associates in Nursing in 2003 from Midland College and began working in the step-down telemetry department at Midland Memorial Hospital. My career took me to Permian Cardiology as a cardiology nurse until 2007 when I was blessed with my first son. Over the next few years, I had the pleasure of working in perioperative services, the post anesthesia care unit, and the operating room at an ambulatory care facility. I was introduced to the specialty of Infection Prevention in 2011 when I began working in the Infection Control department at Midland Memorial Hospital. I was blessed to have an amazing mentor and leader who cultivated my passion for growth and challenge. I obtained my certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology in 2013 and recertified in 2018. I obtained my certification in Hospital Operations through DNV in 2019. I am honored to have been able to participate in many improvement projects throughout the course of my eleven years in Infection Prevention. Contributions consisted of root cause analysis on infections, collaboration with the direct care nurse, streamlining processes, participating in education projects, and review of best practices. My passion has been prevention of central line associated blood stream infections and surgical site infections, and NHSN data validation. I graduated with my Associates in Nursing in 2003 from Midland College and began working in the step-down telemetry department at Midland Memorial Hospital. My career took me to Permian Cardiology as a cardiology nurse until 2007 when I was blessed with my first son. Over the next few years, I had the pleasure of working in perioperative services, the post anesthesia care unit, and the operating room at an ambulatory care facility. I was introduced to the specialty of Infection Prevention in 2011 when I began working in the Infection Control department at Midland Memorial Hospital. I was blessed to have an amazing mentor and leader who cultivated my passion for growth and challenge. I obtained my certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology in 2013 and recertified in 2018. I obtained my certification in Hospital Operations through DNV in 2019. I am honored to have been able to participate in many improvement projects throughout the course of my eleven years in Infection Prevention. Contributions consisted of root cause analysis on infections, collaboration with the direct care nurse, streamlining processes, participating in education projects, and review of best practices. My passion has been prevention of central line associated blood stream infections and surgical site infections, and NHSN data validation.
Kevin Justiss, MLS (ASCP) CIC
BOARD MEMBER
Jose Luis Salas RN, BSN, BS, CIC was born and raised in El Paso in the southwest region of Texas. His journey as 1st generation in the medical field dates back 20+ years, by starting as high school graduate as an LVN and working as a wound care nurse. He obtained his bachelor's at UTEP in Biomedical Sciences and minor in Chemistry and returned .to complete his. RN. to BSN. After 10 years in wound, care, he -transitioned into Occupation Health working alongside with Infection Control, this allowed him to integrate all his previous studies into .an area of interest. In the Fall of 2018, he had the opportunity to. start an JC program at El Paso Children's Hospital. Since then, he has overcome many challenges faced by infection control practitioners such as GBS outbreaks, a community measles outbreak, emergency management activation, influx of various populations, C0VID19_Pandemic management. and implement a C0VID 19 vaccination campaign administering more than 25k doses. He is currently serving his 2nd year term as APIC Paso Del Norte President, which was reinstated post pandemic in 2022 with only 8 members and currently now with 25 active APJC members. In his free time -he serves as president for his local neighborhood association in the Sun City and he enjoys the outdoors, running (completed his 10th half marathon), hiking, photography, camping/traveling and is a foodie at heart.ear-old son.
BOARD MEMBER
I have been an IP for 17 years and a nurse for 32 years, and I’ve been the system director of infection prevention for Baylor Scott and White Health since 2017. I am also currently serving as APIC DFW’s 2024 president. I love everything about infection prevention, enjoy collaborating with others, and am passionate about supporting new and novice IPs in their professional growth. Being able to serve the TSICP members by being on the board would be a tremendous honor, and I appreciate your consideration very much.
System Director, Infection Prevention and Control
Baylor Scott and White Health System
Stephanie Kreiling, MPH, CIC
Jose Luis Salas,
BSN, BS, RN, CIC
BOARD MEMBER
Jose Luis Salas RN, BSN, BS, CIC was born and raised in El Paso in the southwest region of Texas. His journey as 1st generation in the medical field dates back 20+ years, by starting as high school graduate as an LVN and working as a wound care nurse. He obtained his bachelor's at UTEP in Biomedical Sciences and minor in Chemistry and returned .to complete his. RN. to BSN. After 10 years in wound, care, he -transitioned into Occupation Health working alongside with Infection Control, this allowed him to integrate all his previous studies into .an area of interest. In the Fall of 2018, he had the opportunity to. start an JC program at El Paso Children's Hospital. Since then, he has overcome many challenges faced by infection control practitioners such as GBS outbreaks, a community measles outbreak, emergency management activation, influx of various populations, C0VID19_Pandemic management. and implement a C0VID 19 vaccination campaign administering more than 25k doses. He is currently serving his 2nd year term as APIC Paso Del Norte President, which was reinstated post pandemic in 2022 with only 8 members and currently now with 25 active APJC members. In his free time -he serves as president for his local neighborhood association in the Sun City and he enjoys the outdoors, running (completed his 10th half marathon), hiking, photography, camping/traveling and is a foodie at heart.ear-old son.
Infection Control | EH | Sepsis Director
Jamie Kraft, BS, MAG