Beyond the Surface - an ISSA Podcast

In this episode, we dive into a completely overlooked surface and discuss a comment that was made recently as a person tried to understand what do surfaces have to do with EVS and cleaning and disinfection. Justin McKay , Co-Founder of RadCare Services, shares the personal story that sparked his mission to change how healthcare systems approach cleaning, disinfection, and accountability. After exp...

In this episode, Linda Lybert sits down with Peter Gordon , Board of Education member, UV industry veteran, and volunteer with UV4Good , a nonprofit dedicated to education around photonic disinfection. Together, they unpack the complexities healthcare leaders face when choosing and using UV systems. Peter breaks down: The different types of UV emitters (LED, mercury, xenon) and what they’re actual...

In this episode, public health leader and combat veteran Aaron Woodall joins Linda Lybert to explore the importance of collaboration across infection prevention, environmental services, and nursing teams. Together, they discuss how shared accountability, education, and proactive leadership can reduce healthcare-associated infections and strengthen safety culture in every facility. 

In this episode of Beyond the Surface , Dr. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner shares what it was like to spend 14 hours as a patient in a busy hospital emergency department. From observing cleaning practices to noticing gaps in infection prevention and staff training, Gavin offers a rare dual perspective—both as a healthcare safety expert and as someone receiving care. Together with host Linda, they discuss...

In this episode, we sit down with Iris Verdi, Director of Strategic Accounts for Healthcare at KBS, to explore the critical role of environmental services in patient safety.  With more than 25 years of experience in hospital operations and EVS leadership, Iris shares how the focus in healthcare has shifted from “looking clean” to ensuring true disinfection and compliance. She opens up about the on...

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, trained epidemiologist and senior director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™ (GBAC), joins Linda to explore the critical gap between regulatory compliance and real-world cleaning practices.  From navigating FDA requirements to addressing on-the-ground challenges in hospitals, Gavin shares stories from the front lines—including a t...

Biofilm may be invisible, but its impact on patient safety is anything but. In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Rodney E. Rohde returns to discuss how biofilm forms, why it's so resilient, and the critical role surfaces play in infection prevention. From bulletproof microbial communities to overlooked environmental factors like drywall and fabric, this conversation dives deep into the science—an...

What does it take to truly validate cleaning in healthcare? Join Linda Lybert and KleenMark COO Mike Staver as they reveal how real-world data and rigorous protocols are raising the bar for infection control and patient safety. This eye-opening episode dives into the science and strategy behind effective healthcare cleaning, spotlighting KleenMark’s rigorous case study and the critical role of dat...

Cleaning and disinfecting medical devices and patient care equipment is challenging at best. In this segment, Barbara Strain and Linda Lybert discuss the case study “Surface disinfection incompatibility with medical devices creates potential patient risks.” This deep dive provided key insights and gaps that need to be addressed.

Did you know that 1 in 20 people who seek medical care will acquire an infection completely unrelated to what they sought care for? In this podcast, Jeanine Thomas, shares her HAI survivor story after battling multiple life-altering infections. She has taken her experience and turned it into advocacy as a founder of the MRSA Survivors Network.  Glossary of Terms: • HAIs, or Healthcare Associated I...

Understanding basic microbiology is critical in the battle against Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs). Join Linda Lybert and Dr. Rodney Rohde as they discuss the acquisition and transmission of microbes.  Additional Resources:  Why Surface Materials Matter  Saving Lives in the Shadows of Healthcare | Rodney E. Rohde | TEDxTexasStateUniversity Hear more from Dr. Rodney E. Rohde   Publications...