TSICP Leadership

PRESIDENT

Hello fellow IPs, I am a registered nurse and work as the Infection Prevention Lead at Christus Health of Southeast Texas in Beaumont.  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 and just recently earned my Advance Leadership in Infection Prevention in November 2025. My proudest moment as an infection preventionist has been the sustained 99% reduction in the Standard Infection Rate of CAUTI and CLABSI within our facility over the last four years.

My personal goals are lifelong learning and sharing what I know with others.  I strongly believe in the 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.

- Karie Singleton, RN, CIC, ALCIP

Email: karie.singleton@christushealth.org

Mobile: 409-236-3838

PRESIDENT-ELECT

I began my nursing career in 2003 with an Associate's Degree in Nursing . My experience includes telemetry, intermediate critical care, cardiology, perioperative care, post anesthesia care, and infection prevention / employee health. I began Infection prevention and employee health in 2011 and obtained a Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology (CIC) in 2013. I completed my Bachelors in Nursing during the Pandemic in 2020. I have been fortunate to be involved in many improvement projects including reduction of hospital associated infections, outbreak mitigation, and process improvement. I have a passion for training new nurses in infection prevention, protocol development, and collaborative action planning. My current role is Director of Infection Prevention and Control, Employee Health and Wound Care and Ostomy Services at UMC Healthsystem. I finished my Masters in Nursing with a specialization in Infection Control and Epidemiology in 2024. I am blessed to be a part of an amazing team at UMC and to facilitate Infection Prevention and Employee Health with a team of Infection Preventionists, Employee Health nurses and wound care and ostomy nurses who are skilled in their expertise. I enjoy all things in infection prevention, collaborating with other departments, coaching nurses, and supporting new IP's in professional growth. She currently serves on the Board for the Texas Society of Infection Control and Prevention and assists with education development and delivery. 

Jennifer Clary MSN, RN, CIC

Email: jennifer.clary@umchealthsystem.com

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 2015. Val has served as treasurer 2016-2018. Val has authored a chapter in the APIC Text on healthcare personnel immunizations. Val has enjoyed the TSICP network around the state teaching Essentials and CIC Review classes. Val looks forward to continue representing you at the state level.

TREASURER

Lead Infection Preventionist at Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo, TX. Kevin has been a certified Medical Laboratory Scientist since 2007 and was Microbiology supervisor for more than 10 years before transitioning intoInfection Prevention. He has been in this role for over four years and certified in Infection Control since 2023. With help from the rest of the Infection Prevention team, they help to ensure the safety of all patients, associates, visitors and the community. In his free time, Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife and watching or playing sports with his son.

kevinjustiss@shannonhealth.org

DIRECTOR of EDUCATION

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)

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

jose.salas@elpasochildrens.org

BOARD MEMBER

Amanda Shotts, MPH, CIC, was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas. She began her career in the medical field as a surgical technologist over twenty-five years ago. Amanda continued her education and developed many skills over the years, including as a Surgical Assistant and EMT. She began working as an Infection Preventionist and Quality Improvement Officer in 2014. Amanda earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Hardin-Simmons University in 2018 and continued her education, earning a Master of Public Health from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2020. Afterwards, Amanda had the pleasure of educating undergraduates at Hardin Simmons as an Adjunct Professor of Microbiology. In 2023, Amanda moved back home to Lubbock and began work as a Disease Surveillance Epidemiologist and Infection Preventionist with the Lubbock Public Health District. In 2024, she achieved her Certification in Infection Control (CIC) from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. While Amanda serves on the board of the Texas Society of Infection Control and Prevention (TSICP), she is also the treasurer for the local chapter of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). She participates in the South Plains Child Fatality Review Team. Amanda is the proud mother of two grown boys, and when not spending time with family, she enjoys camping and kayaking.

BOARD MEMBER

I have twenty five years of nursing experience with most of my time at Longview Regional Medical Center.  This is my eighteenth year as an Infection Control Practitioner for about a 250 bed facility and have also consulted for Psychiatric Facilities in the past.  I obtained my certification in Infection Control in 2011 after attending an Essentials Course by TSICP. Prior to my role as Infection Preventionist, I worked in ICU, CVICU, ED, and House Supervisor.  I have been on the TSICP board now for 13 years. In 2010, I was one of two guest presenters chosen by Joint Commission to take part in a national webinar about increasing vaccination rates for healthcare workers.  At the time we had 86% vaccination rates for voluntary vaccination.  In 2023, I presented a presentation at the annual TSICP Conference called COVID-19 Pandemic Personal Reflection and Aftermath. I have been a member of the Infection Control Advisory Council which is a part of Community Health Systems (corporate for LRMC).  This group is a working IP group for corporate that reviews and develops IP related policies and act as a resource and voice to corporate from a number of facilities across the country. I am excited to see my 2 boys following their parent’s careers, my oldest is finishing his doctorate in pharmacy and my youngest is finishing his nursing degree.  They both graduate in 2026.