2014
Department of Health and Community Services

Marion Yetman’s work in the public service has achieved better health for those whose lives she has touched and for the population of the province. Marion has worked in the nursing profession for over 35 years. She has worked for the Department of Health and Community Services for the past eight years as Provincial Infection Control Nurse Specialist and as a leader in infection prevention and control.

Infection prevention and control involves the prevention of infections through surveillance, education, policy and guideline development and implementation, and consultation and collaboration. Marion’s expertise in infection prevention and control was recognized in 2004 when she was invited to be a member of the Provincial Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases in Health Institutions and Ambulance Services.

Marion has led the province for infection prevention and control related responses during pandemic influenza in 2009 and Ebola preparedness in 2014. Throughout her time working with government, she frequently went above and beyond her work hours to ensure that work was completed.

Marion has also provided input on the national development of infection prevention and control practices in Canada. She has further developed these best practices within Newfoundland and Labrador, creating the Provincial Infection Control-NL committee. She has had a career dedicated to improvement of the health of the population, prevention of infectious disease and the response to cases and outbreaks.

Through her leadership, commitment, relationship building within the province and across the country, and her promotion of excellence and exemplary performance in her role, the province is now better positioned than it was 10 years ago to meet the challenges related to infection prevention and control.

Marion has been a mentor to many, giving guidance and sharing her wealth of knowledge. Her dedication and her life work have been focused on the belief in safer healthcare. It is her profound empathy with all those giving and receiving care across the healthcare continuum that makes Marion a strong advocate.