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Infection prevention demands strength—but when vulnerability is praised in men and penalized in women, leadership becomes performance, not authenticity. It’s time to challenge that imbalance.

IP LifeLine: Soft Power, Sharp Edges: Nice Gets You Nowhere…Unless You're a Man

Trauma bonds. How do we break free? Brenna tells us, "We must remain unified in our shared mission, supporting one another as we navigate these challenging times."

United We Stand, Divided We Fall: Breaking Free From Trauma Bonds

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Infection Control Today’s highlights for the week ending March 23, 2025. 

Weekly Rounds: Candida auris in Burn ICU, Updates on Long COVID, and More

"The greater impact of gratitude, whether localized or systemic, is to increase the opportunities for others to experience gratitude and to experience higher levels of gratitude in both personal and professional environments."

IP LifeLine: Infectious Nature of Gratitude

Discover how wise leadership in infection control transforms challenges into opportunities, fosters teamwork, and safeguards patient safety through emotional intelligence, strategic vision, and inspiring action.

The Art of Wise Leadership in Infection Control and Quality Management

A new study finds nearly 80% of hospitals lack sufficient infection prevention staffing

Study Links Inadequate Infection Prevention Staffing to Higher Infection Rates

How many infection professionals should be employed at a health care facility? A study published in the 

 reveals a direct correlation between inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) staffing levels and higher health care-associated infections (HAIs) rates. Conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Center for Research, Practice & Innovation, the study underscores the critical need for tailored staffing solutions to enhance patient safety.

executive director of APIC’s Center for Research, Practice, and Innovation, and lead author of the study.

 director of research for APIC’s Center for Research, Practice, and Innovation, and an 

 is the chief technology officer for APIC.

 spoke with Crapanzano-Sigafoos about the study.

The pilot project evaluated a novel online staffing calculator designed to provide customized recommendations for IP staffing levels. Findings showed that 79.2% of 390 acute care hospitals surveyed had insufficient staffing, correlating with significantly higher rates of HAIs such as central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), 

 infections, and surgical site infections.

“The way the calculator works is it starts out with the IP-to-bed ratio, and if you look into the literature, all that's out there,” Crapanzano-Sigafoos said. “Either an IP-to-bed ratio or IP-to-hospital ratio. And we know it's not sufficient because if you have a hospital that's 150 beds and has no ICU and no emergency department, their needs are going to be different than a hospital that [has] 150 beds has both of those things and a burn unit. The infection prevention needs vary based on the services offered and the patient population. The calculator takes into consideration those factors, and so we start with the ratio, and then the number of beds in the ratio goes up and down based on those risk factors, things like, do you have an emergency department? Do you have an ICU? Do you have a burn unit, an inpatient rehab unit, et cetera? And so, based on the responses that the infection preventionist enters, then it gives a customized staffing ratio based on those needs.”

For instance, 25% of facilities with below-expected staffing levels reported elevated CAUTIs rates, compared to just 7% of adequately staffed hospitals. Historically, hospitals relied on outdated "one size fits all" benchmarks, such as 1 infection preventionist (IP) per 69 to 100 beds, which fail to account for modern health care complexities.

In response, APIC's predictive staffing calculator provides tailored recommendations based on hospital-specific factors, including emergency department presence, specialized units, and service complexity.

The study emphasizes that modern, data-driven staffing models are indispensable for infection control in today’s health care landscape.

A new study finds nearly 80% of hospitals lack sufficient infection prevention staffing, linking understaffing to increased health care-associated infections and highlighting a need for reform.

Continuing the round table discussion, experienced IPs continue their discussion on recognizing and preventing burnout

Navigating Burnout: Insights from Experienced IPs on Recognizing, Preventing, and Addressing Challenges in Health Care Leadership

In the second of 2 installments of an insightful Round Table discussion, 4 distinguished infection preventionists (IPs) spoke with 

) to shed light on the pervasive issue of burnout in the health care sector. While sharing valuable perspectives on recognizing and preventing burnout. These seasoned professionals emphasize the significance of effective leadership, peer support, and fostering open dialogues within health care teams. Their insights examine the challenges faced by IPs, the demanding nature of their roles, and the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to tackle burnout. The discussion unveils practical approaches to alleviate the burden on IPs, offering a valuable resource for health care professionals navigating this critical issue.

The IPs in the Round Table discussion include the following:

Isis Lamphier, MPH, CIC, is the manager of infection prevention at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and a member of 

Heather Saunders, MPH, RN, CIC, is the senior nurse program research manager at Johns Hopkins University in the Department of Infection Disease in Baltimore, Maryland. She is also the owner of Broad Street Prevention and a member of 

Sharon Ward-Fore, MS, BS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC, an infection prevention consultant, 

Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, is currently the system director of hospital epidemiology and infection prevention at the University of California, San Francisco, as well as founder and CEO of Innovative Partners Institute, a coaching and consulting company.

During this installment, Doran explains that to help her direct reports, she asks them how they are doing. “What is top of mind? What is giving you heartburn this week?” She says she sees her role as trying to help alleviate the issues before they get bigger. Talk to them when they are tired. Remember they are individuals and find out more about them personally and professionally, so when there is a problem, you know how to help them already. “There are a lot of beautiful ways, within your 1 on 1s or in team meetings, to create space to listen to your team and also create space to talk about those challenges and provide them space to talk about solutions in a way that makes everybody feel valued and recognized.”

Recently, Lamphier went from IP to the manager of infection prevention. 

 asked her how she transitioned without burning out. 

One thing that I tried to do is remember that, before I am a manager, I am an IP. So [I am still] trying to help in any way that I can; I'm still doing our [Catheter-associated urinary tract infection] and [central line-associated bloodstream infection] surveillance, if I can help out or [surgical site] surveillance, trying to help my team in any way. If I see that someone might have a lot on their plate, I'm trying to alleviate that as well. So, I think that's critical for managers or directors so that they can help out trying to do some of those small components that make up an IP’s day but can add up to a lot of a workload." 

Saunders agreed and said that discussions on burnout aren’t happening often enough. “I think we're pushing through it thinking it's going to go away, and it's not just going to magically disappear. And so it is on the leadership, yes, to have regular meetings about this, and to strategize with their staff and have open conversations and dialogue and encourage vulnerability, peer-to-peer sharing, because I think there is still some of that stigma, and we're not talking about it enough. So, I think having regular conversations like this, and being open with what's going on…is an important first step.”

Ward-Fore said that finding someone to talk to about burnout before it worsens can start outside the infection prevention department. “Some of my favorite people or the staff on the floors, and I could lean on them, and they could lean on me. And some people I still have in touch with now, many years after leaving the hospital, are folks from environmental services, and [sterile processing department] technicians…Because burnout is not exclusive to IPs. It's everyone. And I think we all need to lean on each other a little more and maybe not be so hard on each other…and not just in health care, but in any workplace situation."

Continuing the round table discussion, experienced IPs continue their discussion on recognizing and preventing burnout, emphasizing leadership roles, peer support, and fostering open conversations in health care settings.

Video Series

Infection Control Today's Round Table on Burnout: More on Recognizing, Preventing, and Addressing Challenges in Health Care Leadership

4 infection preventionists talk about burnout

Round Table on Burnout

In the fight against infectious diseases, infection preventionists (IPs) work on the front lines, showing steadfast dedication to public health. However, the demands of this crucial role pose significant challenges, leading to a troubling issue—burnout among these health care professionals.

) spoke with 4 IPs on how to prevent burnout. In this first installment, the IPs discussed the prevalent issue of burnout among IPs and other professionals, examining the contributing factors and emphasizing the urgent need for effective strategies to alleviate its impact.

Isis Lamphier, MPH, CIC, is the manager of infection prevention at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, and a member of 

“I think we think we know what [burnout] means or how to recognize this,” Saunders explains during the Round Table. “But we've been constantly redefining this definition and understanding it better than we ever have before, especially in light of all the work stress that we've experienced over the past 4 years. … [Burnout] is chronic stress, leading to an overwhelming sense of exhaustion and cynicism about one's job. And that's what I want our audience to hear today is that chronic stress is not burnout, but chronic stress 

Lamphier explains what managers and coworkers should do when they suspect someone has burnout. “It's also important to know the team that you work with, and looking for signs or symptoms that individuals might be experiencing burnout or stress and addressing them when you notice them is also beneficial. And having those hard discussions as well [is important]. If you know someone who's a lone IP, it can be a very difficult and daunting task to reach out to those IPs who work by themselves because they might not have someone who's in a similar field [who] can check in on them, like an IP [with] a team [does].”

Ward-Fore says she worries about the stigma of burnout. “My husband is a psychiatrist. We talk about stigma all the time. And it's still there, even though we're [as a society] more cognizant of how important our mental wellbeing is, especially coming out of—or maybe not out of—our pandemic. Those are things we need to address; how do we remove that stigma?”

Doran agrees and explains what does not work to get over burnout. “There's a lot of shame around burnout. There is a lot of misconception that burnout is really the responsibility and the problem of the individual. When we're talking about burnout, if you're sharing that with peers, sharing that with your coworkers, there can be this sense again of shame and guilt, and they think, “I should just change my attitude,” I should just go do some meditation classes [or] get an app. What we've learned about burnout is it's so much deeper; you're not going to meditate yourself out of it.”

Saunders says burnout is more than an individual or managerial problem. “We get back to [burnout is] not just an individual-level problem. For us to be able to say we need the soft skills, we need IPs to make the relationships go to the units. In addition to data management, we're saying that we need leadership, and we need systems and organizations that are going to support our IP departments. So we do prevent the snowball into burnout.”

Frontline infection preventionists (IPs) face burnout due to challenges in public health. This Round Table on IP Burnout discusses strategies to prevent and address this critical issue. The IPs emphasize the importance of understanding burnout, recognizing signs, addressing stigma, and implementing multilayered prevention strategies for both individuals and organizations.

Infection Control Today's Round Table Focuses on Burnout: Recognition, Stigma, and Prevention

Jill E. Holdsworth,  importance of prioritizing self-care and personal interests.

Balancing Act: Insights from an Infection Preventionist, Mother, and Volunteer

Juggling the demanding role of an infection preventionist, which can be both strenuous and stressful, while also managing a family requires maintaining mental balance. In an effort to understand how to navigate these challenges, 

) sought insights from someone experienced in this delicate balancing act.

Jill E. Holdsworth, MS, CIC, FAPIC, NREMT, CRCST, is the infection prevention manager at Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the Protective Barriers Committee cochair for the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and the 2022 Certification Council Chairman at the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA). She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Holdsworth is also a certified emergency medical technician (EMT) and a volunteer EMT with the Emory Emergency Medical Service program in Atlanta. She is a wife and mother to 2 young boys.

During her chat with ICT, Holdsworth also discusses how important it is for her to spend time with her husband and children. “I also want to be able to spend time with them at home and working with [my boys] on their homework doing sixth-grade math, which is really hard. I didn’t know that I was going to survive fourth or fifth-grade math,” she laughs. “It's so different going home and being the mom again because the stuff that we deal with at work is really hard. But the elementary school math has been even harder than anything I do here. But something I learned during COVID-19 was [that] I was missing a lot of family time because we were fielding calls and pages all day long. And this became a 24/7 job for almost 3 years. I had to do a reset and realize what I needed to fuel my fire to fill my cup, and I didn't want to keep missing things with my family and with my kids.”

’s listeners the importance of prioritizing family and personal interests while managing a demanding career. She emphasizes the need for open communication with supervisors about personal priorities, encouraging working parents, including fathers, to advocate for family needs.

Amidst the challenges of balancing work and family, Holdsworth reiterates her commitment to self-care and rediscovering interests during the COVID-19 pandemic. She details her involvement with EMS services, expressing the fulfillment it brings despite the challenges of night shifts. Additionally, she volunteers for organizations like AAMI and APIC, contributing to her profession and finding joy in sharing knowledge with those around her and through her writing.

Jill E. Holdsworth, MS, CIC, FAPIC, NREMT, CRCST, prevention manager, discusses the challenges of balancing work, family, and volunteering, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing self-care and personal interests.

Balancing Act: Insights From an Infection Preventionist, Mother, and Volunteer

Mindfulness, Burnout, and Imposter Syndrome: A Conversation With Gail Gazelle, MD

Health care worker burnout is a growing concern in the health care industry, which often goes unnoticed. This crisis has the potential to undermine the very foundation of our health care system. While many blame the recent COVID-19 pandemic for this problem, it is important to recognize that the root causes of this crisis are deeper and more systemic. The issue is caused by relentless work schedules, overwhelming administrative burdens, and an intense and stressful working environment, among other factors. Urgent action is needed to address these issues and enable physicians to reclaim the joy in their practice and achieve a healthier work-life balance.

, a well-respected coach and part-time assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has written a new book called 

Mindful MD: 6 Ways Mindfulness Restores Your Autonomy and Cures Healthcare Burnout

 that offers a fresh approach to addressing the burnout crisis in health care. With over a decade of experience as a Master Certified Coach and certified mindfulness teacher, Dr. Gazelle provides valuable insights gained from personally coaching more than 500 physicians.

) about her book, mindfulness, and imposter syndrome. In an enlightening interview, she speaks on burnout, having more resilience, and how everyone—not just physicians and other health care workers—overcome the little voice in our minds that says we aren’t good enough.

 is the synthesis of everything that I've learned about how to help health care professionals feel good and thrive in their careers,” Gazelle told 

. “And, as you can see, by the title, it's about mindfulness. But it's not about sitting and meditating. It's really about what I've seen in terms of how we can become the master of the instrument that we all use, the human mind, rather than being its captive. And so what I tried to do in the book, which your listeners, by the way, can download 

, what I try to do is walk the reader through very pragmatic approaches that can help them restore a sense of autonomy, which is something that many of us in health care have lost.”

Dr. Gail Gazelle's "Mindful MD" addresses health care burnout with mindfulness, imposter syndrome, and other issues offering practical solutions and strategies for health care professionals.

Announcement of the Infection Control Today Educator of the YearTM 

Infection Control Today Educator of the YearTM 

award was fierce, with nominees hailing from diverse educational backgrounds, showcasing remarkable determination, and demonstrating unwavering dedication to the field of infection control and prevention.

The panel of judges received the nominations with all identifying information redacted. The judges’ decision was unanimous: Sharon Ward-Fore, MS, BS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC, the winner of the prestigious 2023 ICT Educator of the Year Award.

The judges said, “Sharon Ward-Fore, recipient of the Educator of the Year Award, embodies excellence in infection prevention. Her wealth of experience and commitment to public service, including volunteering at the Veterans Administration during the COVID-19 crisis, highlight her outstanding contributions. Sharon's expertise in applied resources and presentations on key topics like cleaning and disinfection underscores her dedication to education. Winning the Educator of the Year award recognizes her as a trusted professional, leaving a lasting impact in the field."

Ward-Fore has worked in health care since 1985, in both acute care hospitals and industrial research and development. She started her career in an acute care hospital microbiology lab, then transitioned to industrial microbiology research and development.

She left the research/industrial side of microbiology to begin a new career as an infection preventionist (IP) at a Chicago Veterans Administration Hospital, then moved on to an acute care academic medical center in Chicago.

Her areas of expertise include surgical services, sterile processing departments/CSS, Emergency Preparedness, Special Pathogens [personal protective equipment] training, cleaning, and surface disinfection, with a special place in her heart for environmental services.

She’s an independent infection prevention consultant, a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of 

®), and a clinical editor for the [Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology] APIC Text.

She has a bachelor of science in biology and medical technology and a master of science in clinical microbiology. She’s board-certified in infection control (CIC) and is an APIC Fellow (FAPIC).

 Educator of the Year Award, why she began her career in infection prevention, and her advice for others in infection prevention education.

: How does it feel to be recognized as the Educator of the Year in the field of infection control?

Sharon Ward-Fore, MS, BS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC:

 I have to say this recognition was last given and, I think it was 2002, to Linda Spalding. And she's an IP with an amazing career and a dedicated educator. To be able to receive the same recognition is unbelievable. There are so many wonderful IPs who are dedicated to providing education. And, every IP is an educator, whether they do it professionally or not. I never thought I'd be nominated, and I'm honored and humbled to receive this recognition.

: What motivated you to pursue a career in infection control education?

 I've always loved rounding in the hospital; it was my thing, [as well as] talking to the staff. I always found that a good opportunity to share knowledge informally; it is a conversation that you have with people. You learn a lot, and you see a lot. So, I was approached by a couple of organizations to provide infection control consulting, and one of them asked me to present a webinar on their behalf. And that is when my educational IP career took off. Now, I don't know if I'm allowed to do this, but I have to credit this one company with my success. They saw my potential; they had faith in me. And this opened the door to a lot of other opportunities. Without them, I probably wouldn't be receiving this recognition today.

That is Metrex; they have supported everything I do and truly believe that infection prevention education is important. So it's nice to work for a company with the same mission, right?

: Can you tell us about some of the most significant challenges you've encountered as an educator in this field?

 Virtual presentations are mostly what I do. Besides those never-ending technical challenges, it's hard to know if you're reaching your audience because you can't see or hear them. Now, sure, you've got that little thing at the bottom of the screen that shows you the number of participants. And you can see things popping up in the Q and A. But you know someone's out there, but it's nothing like standing in front of a group. In person, you can see if your audience is engaged, or you can also see if they’re all on their phones or they're checked out sleeping. But you know, immediately if you've captured your audience, so although I love presenting virtually, those limitations can be hard to deal with because you don’t get a lot of feedback.

: What advice would you give aspiring infection control educators who want to make a meaningful impact in the field?

 First and foremost, know your stuff. And know a lot [about] it; expose yourself to all the amazing hospital areas and departments. So, you can learn firsthand what the actual practices in the field are. Protocols and policies are great, but when you have that protocol and policy in hand, and you go to the actual unit and watch it maybe being performed, sometimes there's a disconnect. So I think that real—I always call it “boots-on-the-ground”—experience makes for a really good educator; I think you need to read all you can about topics that are of value to IPs and then share that knowledge.

I think IPs are consultants. So, we provide a lot of education—just as an IP on the floor. So, as an IP educator, it's the same thing, only now we're doing it maybe to a bigger audience or we're doing it virtually—so [it's the same] kind of thing. Know your stuff.

: Could you highlight a particularly memorable or rewarding moment from your career as an educator and infection control?

 So, this was before I branched off on my own, but again, IPs are educators, right? So yes, I have one that sticks in my mind that probably will never go away; it’s burned into my brain. So I was one of several IPs [who] covered the OR (operating room), the surgical services. And the operating room can be a challenging area for anyone. And I rounded pretty regularly there and got to know a lot of people, especially the OR nurse educator.

We were preparing for our Joint Commission survey. And I would round, and I'd share my findings in real-time with the staff. And sometimes I got a lot of pushback for calling out deficiencies, but I figured better me than a surveyor, right?

When the survey happened, I didn't know the findings. I was off doing something else. But shortly afterward, the nurse educator came up to me and said, “You were right. We should have listened to you and corrected everything you told us.”

Now I have to tell you, I almost cried; I finally felt supported and maybe even a bit appreciated, which doesn't happen often with the OR. They're their own beast; they have their own culture. If you're the IP covering that area, you need to know your stuff. But you also need to understand you're just there as a consultant; you're helping that department rise to the level of whatever the guidelines and recommendations are. And to be told by the nurse educator that I was right was like, to this day, I'm still shocked. And I'm also pleased that they realize that.

: In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues or developments in infection control that professionals should be aware of?

 So, there are 3 that come to mind. They aren't glamorous, and they're not even new. And the first one I think about is hand hygiene [adherence], which will always be an issue. We've tried everything to increase [adherence], but we're still stuck at about 48%.

When I think about hand hygiene [adherence], I think we should emphasize hand hygiene [adherence] with environmental hygiene and treat the 2 [issues] as a bundle to get more traction because we know health care workers are busy. They all try to do the best they can. But hand hygiene is one part of that, and environmental hygiene (EVS) is the other part. If we worked on both of those at the same time, there would be more hand hygiene [adherence], more environmental [adherence], and maybe a reduction in HAIs (health care-associated infections).

The other thing is EVS. Now, the use of all these adjunct technologies to help improve environmental disinfection, I think we need to look at that carefully.

Technology shouldn't be thought of as a silver bullet to fix inadequate cleaning. And I believe the emphasis should be on improving how we clean. Then bringing in that adjunct technology but focusing on developing a robust cleaning program. Because if you can't, if it's not clean, it's not disinfected.

In addition to that, we should support our EVS staff by factoring in more time for room turnovers, offering consistent training, providing opportunities for certification, and promoting EBS as a patient safety function because they are these things should be a priority. I think if we improve these 2 measures, I think it could make a difference in HAIs and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).

MDROs and antimicrobial stewardship are my third [issue]. We need to have more robust programs worldwide if we ever expect to get a handle on these resistant organisms.

: How do you stay current with the latest advances and best practices and infection control? And how do you incorporate them in your teachings?

 [Infection prevention] is very dynamic; things are changing all the time. So, I am constantly reading and researching my topics. And it is [publications] like 

 science section is great. And I'm also on a lot of professional websites. When I'm doing my presentations and educating, I try to provide the latest data and keep the presentations timely. You just have to keep up. That's all there is to it. Read, read, and find the things that are new and important.

: Are there any innovative teaching methods or technologies you find particularly effective in conveying infection control concepts to students or colleagues?

 One thing I've learned is that everyone learns differently. Although I wouldn't call it innovative, I think sometimes presenting facts and telling a story about something that happened, like to me as an IP, as it relates to that, makes it stick. It's more memorable and interesting if you can relate it to the job of an IP. So, I try to use a lot of storytelling. It's a way to connect because we've probably all experienced the same things. So, it makes it all more relatable.

: What future goals or projects do you have in mind, and do you continue to educate and inspire others in infection control?

 for professional education scheduled for 2024. I'm the lead author and am revising the EVS chapter for the APIC texts. So that's a that's a big lift. And I should be writing more about 

because it's a great resource for education for IPs. So those things are all really important. They're on my radar for 2024.

how do you envision the role of infection control educators evolving in the coming years, especially in light of emerging infectious diseases and global health challenges?

 That's a good one. So, IP educators will need to continue learning and sharing what they do, especially on things to the curve in the field. Unless you're involved in the day-to-day goings-on in a health care setting, you get removed from the pressing issues for an IP. And good educators want to stay up to date on topics that interest IP and are useful. Staying informed and attuned to this is important. We need to continue to learn and share.

Emerging diseases and global health challenges are always going to be there. It's a big world. There's no equity throughout. So, we need not just to think locally but also as educators learn to educate globally, too.

: Congratulations, that is such an amazing award. And we're so excited that you have won; what do you want to say to those who look up to you and hope to win this award?

 First of all, I don't know many people who look up to me, but I don't do it for recognition. I do it for the love of infection prevention. And I know that sounds corny and cliche, but you know, I found a career that I really, really enjoy, and when you enjoy it, helping others by providing education allows them to enjoy it more. So I would tell them there are good days and bad days; focus on the good days, and the little wins the baby steps. And although it may not feel like it, you are making a difference. And as educators, our job is to provide you with information that's up to date and interesting and maybe even funny at times, to help you share that knowledge so that we can all work on improving patient care. And that's the bottom line: we're all there to help each other do the best for the patients on the units and areas we cover by working together and having fun at it, too. It makes the job so much easier.

 I have to pinch myself. I can't believe it. It still hasn't sunk in. But again, I am grateful. It's nice to be recognized for things that you do, but you don't do them for the recognition. You do it, like I said, for the love of the profession. So, I hope IPs out there, if you've seen or read any of my stuff [that] found it valuable because I don't see you and I don't hear from you. So, I'll take this as meaning that, yes, it's been useful.

(The interview has been edited for clarity)

Infection Control Today is proud to announce the winner of the Infection Control Today Educator of the Year Award: Sharon Ward-Fore, MS, BS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC. Listen to the announcement and interview with the winner. 

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