A native of Portland, Oregon, Gloria obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Portland in 1996. After spending two years in Healthcare Administration at a surgical oncology clinic at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), she attended nursing school at OHSU, graduating Summa cum Laude with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2000.
As a registered nurse, she first worked as a cardiac nurse on a Telemetry/Step-Down Unit. She then joined the Multnomah County Health Department as a Public Health Nurse, where she served in a wide variety of roles including primary care clinic nurse, Home Visiting Nurse, EHR Nurse Consultant, and Nursing Staff Education Coordinator.
When the H1N1 pandemic hit in 2009, she discovered her calling in Infection Prevention and Control, prompting a move to San Francisco to begin her career as an Infection Control Nurse at the San Francisco VAMC. She obtained her Certification in Infection Control (CIC) in 2011. In September 2016, after 15 years of dedicated service as a nurse in the local and federal government, she joined the Infection Prevention and Control Team at CPMC, where she continues to work today.
For Gloria, the most fulfilling and joyful part of her job is collaborating with internal and external partners, leaders, staff, patients, and visitors to keep both the hospital and the community safe from infections.