Sepsis Alliance Symposium: Healthcare-Associated Infections 2025

Karen D. Estela, MPH, RN, CIC, FAPIC, is a distinguished healthcare leader at the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, with extensive expertise in quality, clinical nursing, and health equity. Board certified in Infection Prevention and Control and a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), Karen has made significant strides in reducing hospital-acquired infections through active surveillance, analysis, and education. She has held prominent leadership positions, including President of the APIC River Region Chapter, and serves on APIC’s Practice Guidance Committee, helping to shape standards in infection control. Karen’s work includes presenting at national conferences and publishing research, such as her study in PLoS ONE on SARS-Cov-2 B.1.1.529 infections and recent writing in Prevention Strategist about digital quality measures for hospital-onset bacteremia and fungemia. Her achievements have been recognized with honors including the 2022 Celebrate Nursing Award, the 2022 Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana Honor, and the 2025 Nightingale Award for Outstanding Community Achievement by a Nurse. Through her leadership and advocacy, Karen continues to drive improvements and promote inclusiveness in healthcare.

Katie V. Taylor, MD, is the Medical Director of Infection Prevention at Our Lady of the Lake Health and is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC). She received her BS in Biochemistry from Louisiana State University and her MD from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Taylor completed her Internal Medicine residency at LSUHSC in Baton Rouge followed by Infectious Diseases fellowship at University of Florida. During medical school and residency, she was awarded for excellence in teaching by her peers. Her clinical duties include supervising LSU Infectious Diseases service at Our Lady of the Lake Health. She is the principal investigator for the research article published in PLos ONEon the clinical characteristics and outcomes of SARS-Cov-2 B.1.1.529 infection. She has presented oral abstract and posters on reducing hospital-acquired infections and infectious prevention.

Darlene K. Jubah, DNP, MPH, RN, CIC, NEA-BC, is a nurse with over 20 years of healthcare experience. As of 2022, she works as the Regional Manager, Infection Prevention at Inspira Health Network in New Jersey. Previously, she worked as an Infection Preventionist at other acute care facilities in the Philadelphia and New Jersey areas. She also currently serves as the president-elect for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology-APIC, Chapter 011- New Jersey.

Dr. Jubah is the owner and consultant at Keita Public Health Consulting. She offers expert advisory on healthcare, community and acute care prevention, and control practices as well as health promotion and disease prevention to community and organization leaders and executives.

Through her passion for education and coaching, Dr. Jubah serves as a part-time Clinical Adjunct Instructor. She is very passionate about empowering others through lived experiences and a shared vision of nursing empowerment and health equity.

Dr. Jubah is double board certified in Infection Control (CIC) and Nurse Executive Advanced (NEA-BC) and is a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. She holds a doctorate in Nursing Practice and a Master’s in Public Health.