Meet the Experts
Nicole Russo MSN, RN, CIC®
Nicole is a CIC®-certified Infection Prevention expert with 14 years of experience delivering measurable outcomes across acute care, long-term care, mental health, dialysis, dental, and ambulatory settings. Nicole designs and implements tailored infection control strategies, conducts facility assessments, and ensures regulatory compliance with standards such as TJC, OSHA, and CARF. Her career includes extensive leadership within the U.S. Veterans Health Administration, where she directed system-wide pandemic responses, led successful accreditation surveys, and mentored Infection Preventionists to certification.
Known for her ability to drive outcomes through evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and staff education, Nicole has reduced infection rates, improved survey readiness, and streamlined infection control operations using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. She has developed system-wide policies, high-consequence infection preparedness plans, and training programs that have shaped infection prevention cultures across multiple healthcare systems.
Nicole has been a registered nurse since 2005, working in pediatrics, Intensive Care Unit, and outpatient procedural care prior to her pivot to Infection Prevention and Control.
Melinda Leggett BSN, RN, a-IPC
Melinda is an Epidemiologist specializing in Healthcare-Associated Infections with 5 years of experience partnering with hospitals, assisted living and long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, dialysis centers, daycares, and schools.
Her skills include outbreak investigation and management, planning and facilitating MDRO point prevalence surveillance and routine colonization screenings through the ARLN, and containment strategy development including tracking the results. She’s adept at collaborating with state and local health departments, as well as corporate infection preventionists, leadership, and EVS teams.
She has developed and taught infection prevention classes to staff from multiple departments including clinical, environmental, facilities, and leadership while ensuring classes are tailored for the audience and facility needs.
Her specialty is working with facilities to control C. auris and CRE outbreaks. She can also review outpatient facility SOPs for adherence to local, state, and national guidance and best practices.
Melinda has been a Registered Nurse since 2006, working primarily in Medical-Surgical and Primary Care prior to her career pivot to Public Health.
Let’s collaborate
Find out how we can help you build, improve, or expand your current infection prevention program. Schedule a free 30-minute video conference or phone call to discuss how we can provide tailored solutions to meet your organization's challenges.
