Priya Pandya-Orozco, DNP, MSN, RN, PHN, CIC

Bernadette “Priya” Pandya-Orozco, DNP, MSN, RN, PHN, CIC, is the manager for infection prevention at O'Connor Hospital, which is part of the County of Santa Clara Hospital and Health System. She has served in several critical leadership roles in the field of infection prevention and communicable disease over the last 25 years. Most recently, in 2019, she became the manager of O' Connor Hospital infection prevention, where she serves as a subject matter expert to hospital staff and leaders for infection prevention and control. She has worked for highly reliable organizations to reduce hospital-acquired infection rates. She encourages the use of creative performance improvement projects which utilize evidence-based practices to engage frontline champions and leaders. Priya attributes her successes to her ability to understand and value every member of a health care system, recognizing how each person in a hospital can affect infection prevention efforts and contribute to performance improvement.

Priya has spent her career working in Bay Area hospitals and also precepted nursing students from local schools, in both Public Health Nursing and Communicable Disease. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from California State University Hayward, in 1998, she went on to receive her Masters of Science in Nursing from Holy Names University, in 2007, and is currently enrolled in her Doctoral of Nursing Practice at San Jose State University.

From all of her collective experiences, Priya has learned the importance of waking up every day, ready to share her love and passion for infection prevention. Her drive for excellence is deeply rooted in her desire to provide a safe environment for every patient who crosses through her hospital’s doors.