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Lisa Sturm is the senior director of Infection Prevention (IP) for Ascension, one of United States’ largest health systems. Sturm built a system-wide IP program that has connected and engaged infection preventionists at 150 Ascension locations nationwide, enabling them to reduce targeted healthcare associated infections (HAIs) and mount an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When she started in her newly created position at Ascension four years ago, Sturm built a national IP program and community from the ground up using a “systems thinking” approach. “Everything you tackle, you have to think with your systems hat on,” she said. Sturm prioritized collaboration and created structures to support it, including an internal website and chat forum for all 160 Ascension IP staff, and a bi-weekly national IP community call that is regularly attended by more than 100 infection preventionists. “They have the means to communicate directly with each other and share resources,” Sturm said. Sturm has also worked to ensure Ascension’s infection preventionists feel empowered and confident. “I encourage them to trust themselves and never underestimate the value of what they bring to the table,” she said. Under her watch, Ascension has recorded decreases in multiple HAIs. However, like in all other medical settings, Lisa saw an increase in HAIs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lisa's team is now deploying a system wide plan to reduce those HAIs. To target central-line blood stream infections (CLABSI), Sturm led a multidisciplinary team that standardized the placement and care of lines, creating a guideline for best practices, establishing competencies, and partnering with frontline teams. Ascension logged a 38% reduction in CLABSI over three years.