August 19, 2025

For Patrice Pryce-McCalpin, a career in microbiology began with an interest in what cannot be seen but what can change everything. As a Medical Technologist with a concentration in microbiology, she has spent years identifying pathogens and investigating antimicrobial resistance. But over time, her work revealed a larger story, one about prevention, policy, and public health systems that could be strengthened to stop outbreaks before they start.

That broader perspective inspired her to pursue a Master of Science (MS) in Infection Prevention and Control at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health. The program, offered entirely online, allowed her to study from her home while continuing to work full-time and raise her child as a single mother. The flexibility of the program was crucial, but so was the rigor. It challenged her to further her thinking beyond the lab and approach infection threats with a population-level mindset.

“Juggling shift work and school deadlines often meant late nights and early mornings, but I stayed organized and grounded by keeping a structured schedule and remaining focused on my goals,” Patrice shared. “My passion for microbiology and for helping protect community health kept me motivated even on the toughest days.”

Patrice’s decision to pursue the MS also came from years of seeing firsthand the toll that multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) take on patients and healthcare systems. While her lab work helped detect and report these infections, she wanted to move upstream into prevention, preparedness, and policy. The program allowed her to explore those dimensions through coursework in epidemiology, infection surveillance, outbreak response, and leadership.

For her capstone project, Patrice designed a surveillance plan tailored to long-term care facilities, where infection prevention is especially complex due to the vulnerability of residents and the challenges of high-touch care environments. The project not only reflected her scientific background but also demonstrated her ability to apply academic knowledge to real-world systems, where meaningful change can protect lives.

Even as she continues working in the lab, Patrice has been applying her education in concrete ways. She’s become a stronger liaison between laboratory teams and clinical departments, ensuring that critical diagnostic information is communicated efficiently and that emerging resistance patterns are addressed early.

That next step, Patrice shares, is transitioning into an official infection preventionist role in a hospital or long-term care setting, where she can contribute directly to improving protocols, training staff, and influencing organizational policy.

“I plan to use this foundation to transition into infection control, where I can contribute to surveillance strategies and policy development,” Patrice shared. “When the opportunity comes, I’m more than ready to make an impact.”

Patrice’s story underscores the critical role that the field of infection control and prevention plays in shaping safer, stronger health systems and how one person’s determination can create ripple effects that extend far beyond the lab.

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Apply here before August 25 to join our next cohort.

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