When a young Shaunté Walton stumbled into the world of infection prevention, she never knew it would lead her to working at UCLA Extension and UCLA Health. But as soon as she immersed herself in this hidden career path, she knew she wanted to make sure others could find their way to it, as well.

Walton currently serves as the system director of clinical epidemiology and infection prevention at UCLA Health. And in pursuit of making her profession more known, she became an instructor at UCLA Extension where she is designing a pipeline for the next generation of infection prevention leaders.

“I have been in infection prevention for over 18 years, but my foundation is in molecular microbiology.” she said. “Early on, I was drawn to a few career paths, but once I found this field, it was clear this is where I could make the greatest impact.”

Walton initially planned to pursue medical school, but a formative hands-on experience during her undergraduate studies exposed her to infection prevention and ultimately redirected her career path.

“Interestingly, I’ve always had a deep passion for microbes and initially thought my career would remain in the laboratory,” Walton said. “But while working at a children’s hospital, I was introduced to infection prevention and epidemiology.”

That experience marked Walton’s entry into infection prevention in 2008. Early in her career, she quickly recognized both the complexity of the work and how little visibility the field had. It became clear that increasing awareness could open the door for others to pursue a career with meaningful impact.

“Infection prevention isn’t typically a career people are exposed to early on. It’s often something they find along the way.” Walton said. “That reality revealed a critical gap in how we prepare the workforce. My own experience navigating the field without clear direction informed my vision. I presented my ideas to the dean’s office of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and we were able to work together and create this curriculum to be taught at UCLA Extension."

Infection prevention focuses on reducing the spread of infections and making sure the environment is safe for patients, healthcare workers and visitors. By preventing infections before they occur, the field plays a direct role in improving patient outcomes. Walton designed the courses to prepare students with the knowledge and perspective needed to enter this essential workforce.

While Walton is the leading creator of this curriculum, she also serves as an instructor. She, like many, has formed great memories at UCLA Extension.

“While I don’t directly teach the introductory courses, they’re among my favorites because they represent the entry point into our profession. Seeing students engaged with the material and develop a genuine interest in infection prevention reinforces the importance of building a strong pipeline.” she said. “My focus is on helping cultivate that interest and supporting the development of future leaders in the field.”

Walton puts great detail into creating a learning environment where the students have everything they need to grow as both learners and individuals. The connections built at UCLA Extension are ones that can last a lifetime.

“There have been so many people that I’ve met because of UCLA Extension, and they’ve all inspired me. I hope the same goes for future UCLA Extension attendees and graduates.” she said.

Walton so believes in connection, that she regularly creates events where students can network with industry professionals including leaders at UCLA Health.

“For those interested in the field, networking is essential,” she said. “Infection prevention can be challenging to break into, and learning from individuals working in the field provides valuable insight and guidance. I want to make sure that individuals interested in this field have everything they need to succeed. Supporting their growth and contributing to meaningful learning experiences is something I care deeply about.”