Leadership Series: Chronicles of a Nomadic IP: Strategies for Effectiveness

Diana Maria Stark, BS, BSN, MS, RN, CIC, is a Colombian-American Infection Preventionist who has been practicing in the field since 2016. She holds degrees from the University of Central Florida College of Nursing and the University of South Florida College of Medicine. Diana's true passion lies in Infection Prevention, a field that combines her love of science, microbiology, education, and clinical care. She became Certified in Infection Control in 2017 and is currently pursuing a Masters in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality at Johns Hopkins University. Diana continuously aspires to bring positive change in healthcare practices that enhance safety and reliability in healthcare delivery.

For Diana, Infection Prevention is not just a profession; it's a calling to inspire meaningful change at the bedside. She firmly believes that everyone can play a pivotal role in preventing infections and is dedicated to empowering healthcare providers to do just that. Diana believes that this can be accomplished by implementing robust policies and procedures that will serve as a foundation for a culture of safety, where every individual takes ownership of Infection Prevention.


With her infectious enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to patient safety, Diana exemplifies the epitome of an Infection Preventionist, inspiring those around her to join hands in the noble cause of infection prevention. Her motto, "everyone is an Infection Preventionist," serves as a guiding light for individuals to embrace their responsibility in the fight against infections.


Diana currently practices at a 295-bed acute care teaching facility in Orlando, Florida, and enjoys spending quality time with her loving family while exploring all that Central Florida has to offer.