Dr. Kinta Alexander ‘98
Dr. Kinta Alexander, director of Infection Prevention and Control at New York City Health + Hospitals/Harlem and Kingsborough Community College alumnus
KCC ALUMNI FOCUS: Dr. Kinta Alexander ‘98 — View From The Frontline Of The Coronavirus Pandemic
Born and raised on Union Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Kinta Alexander came to the U.S. to pursue her college education. After graduating from KCC in 1998 with a degree in biology, she earned a bachelor’s in biology/chemistry from Hunter College, a master of public health from East Stroudsburg University, a master of science in medical microbiology from Richard L. Conolly College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and a doctorate of public health from New York Medical College Graduate School of Health Sciences and Practice & Institute of Public Health.
While at Kingsborough, Alexander had planned to go to medical school. “The clinical and biological aspects of microbiology were specifically of interest to me as a student in Dr. Loretta Taras’ general biology class,” she noted.
Her plans changed after working as a clinical research assistant during her junior and senior years at Hunter College. “I realized I loved public health. I wanted to be on the preventative side of medicine, rather than the treatment aspect: an ounce of prevention is greater that a pound of cure.” She discovered her calling after learning hospitals had a department dedicated to infectious disease epidemiology and prevention.
Now director of Infection Prevention and Control at New York City Health + Hospitals/Harlem, her duties require that she research, evaluate, and incorporate evidence-based practices into routine practice. She also consults and collaborates with local, state, and federal public health officials, and community health organizations to advocate for patient safety, health worker safety, and safe practices.
The role of infection prevention and control puts her center stage in the COVID-19 pandemic. “To prevent health-care associated infections, you must be passionate and collaborative,” she stressed. “Like many, I’ve worked in infection prevention during times of pandemic —H1N1 in 2009—and throughout various outbreak such as Candida auris, Ebola, SARS, and MERS.
“I never imagined a situation like COVID would occur in my lifetime, especially under my leadership. COVID-19 requires attention from the housekeeper to the CEO because we are all at risk from a personal and professional standpoint. It’s been amazing to see my team rise to the unique challenges this pandemic has created. I’ve never been prouder to be counted as an infection preventionist. The team building and success – and the amount of sleep we’ve collectively lost wondering if we missed something important – will forever be part of be part of this journey.”
Alexander’s past accomplishments have been recognized with a United Hospital Fund’s Excellence in Health Care Award for reducing hospital-acquired infection rates, particularly for the protocol she developed at Mount Sinai Brooklyn to prevent and control the transmission of the multi-drug resistant, hard to identify, and often deadly threat of Candida auris. The protocol was adapted by the entire Mount Sinai Health System and is used as a guide by the New York State Department of Health for hospitals throughout New York State.
Coming full circle, Alexander now shares her considerable experience knowledge and experience with KCC students as an adjunct lecturer teaching “Introduction to Modern Concepts of Biology.” The course focuses on major biological topics and principles, with an emphasis on how biology influences human issues and problems.
She was also recently appointed to the KCC Foundation Board, where she will be able to use her unique experience as both an alumnus and respected medical professional to advocate on behalf of students.
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