APIC Announces Heroes of Infection Prevention

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) announces its 12 recipients of the 2010 “Heroes of Infection Prevention” Award. The recipients include individuals and groups who have worked tirelessly to prevent infections and improve patient safety. The following individuals and groups are being recognized:

-- Gail Bennett, RN, MSN, CIC, of ICP Associates in Rome, Ga.

-- Stephanie Brooks, RN, BSN, CIC, of Mercy Health Partners in Knoxville, Tenn.

-- Nancy Church, RN, MT, CIC, of Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Ore.

-- Janet Johnson, BSN, RN, MSAS, CIC, of Avera Sacred Health Hospital in Yankton, S.D.

-- Brian Koll, MD, FACP, of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, N.Y.

-- Kathleen Lucente, MT, RN, CIC, of Paoli Hospital in Paoli, Pa.

-- Nan Maddox, RN, BS, CIC, of Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Ga.

-- Faisal Masud, MD, FCCP, of Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston, Texas

-- Mary Buchanan, BSN, ARNP-BC, CIC and Ted Newton, RN, BS, BSN, MHA, CIC, CHSP, of Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, Ga.

-- Northeastern Infection Control Educators (NICE) of Princeton, N.J.

-- Julie Spallino, CAN, CRCST, AGTS, of Kindred Hospital Las Vegas-Flamingo in Las Vegas, Nev.

-- Wisconsin Division of Public Health Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Improvement Team of  Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Bureau of Communicable Diseases and Emergency Response, in Madison, Wis.

"From eliminating central-line bloodstream infections in the neonatal intensive care unit, to organizing statewide HAI prevention initiatives, to improving employee influenza vaccination rates -- this year's Heroes demonstrate what improvements in patient safety can be accomplished when focused commitment and unrelenting determination coexist," said APIC’s 2010 president Cathryn Murphy, RN, PhD, CIC.  "We are proud to honor our award recipients for their hard work, leadership and success in preventing infections and saving lives. They inspire us enormously.”

APIC established the Heroes of Infection Prevention Award in 2005 to recognize infection preventionists who have served their profession in an outstanding manner. The 2010 Heroes receive complimentary registration to the 2010 APIC Annual Conference in New Orleans and will be honored at an Awards luncheon on July 12.