Doramarie Arocha, Ph.D., CIC, AL-CIP, FAPIC: 30 Years
Director
Health System Infection Prevention & Control Department
First UTSW job: Assistant Professor in the School of Allied Health (now the School of Health Professions).
Best part about my job: It is the opportunity to improve patient safety on a large scale. My position allows me to analyze data, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and implement evidence-based practices that prevent healthcare-associated infections.
How co-workers describe me: Passionate about my role and team, willing to help anybody at any time, energetic, and vivacious. They also say I’m a cheerleader who continuously encourages others.
Best UTSW memory: During an outbreak investigation, I went to the Professional Office Building to collect air samples from the air handler system. It felt like stepping into a wind tunnel. When I returned for a meeting, my hair was full, frizzed, and completely out of control – like I’d stuck my finger in a socket. I can only imagine what my colleagues were thinking. The bigger highlight was that we pinpointed the source of the outbreak and resolved it.
My proudest UTSW accomplishment: I am very proud of growing the Infection Prevention program from a single Infection Preventionist to a team of 12, creating the infrastructure needed to support a large academic health system. This expansion involved standardizing practices, strengthening surveillance and reporting, increasing education and collaboration, enhancing regulatory readiness, and supporting proactive strategies to reduce healthcare-associated infections.
I’m really good at: Recreational target shooting and playing softball and basketball.
Hobbies: I enjoy traveling, hiking, softball, golf, and Pilates.
Claims to fame: I was named “Homecoming Queen,” “Band Sweetheart,” “Most Friendly,” All-District Volleyball, and All-District Basketball – all in the same year. Also, I became a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, which honors leading advanced practitioners of infection prevention, and I received the Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s Champions of Humanistic Care award in 2021 (COVID-19).
Final note: I genuinely care about people and the role we play in protecting them. I want to always be caring and kind, because we never know what struggles others may be experiencing. I have been blessed with many opportunities, especially here at UTSW, and am sincerely grateful!