APIC Announces Heroes Implementation Research Scholar Award Program
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) announces the formation of the Heroes Implementation Research Scholar Award program to identify success strategies most likely to benefit other infection prevention programs.
The Heroes Implementation Research Scholar Award program is an extension of the Heroes of Infection Prevention Award program, which was introduced in 2006 and has recognized more than 80 individuals and groups for their exceptional work in the infection prevention field.
APIC will grant up to two Heroes Implementation Research Scholar Awards of $50,000 each to support innovative research projects to:
 Identify successful strategies as exemplified within the Heroes group
 Determine potential ways to implement these findings across the infection prevention community
Proposals will be evaluated based on their potential to support professional development in one or more of the core areas or future-oriented domains of infection prevention (as identified in the APIC Competency Model for the Infection Preventionist); strength of the proposed methodology, including analysis of data obtained from previous recipients of the Heroes award; and potential for the project to demonstrate the use of implementation science to help advance the infection preventionist role.
Implementation science refers to moving scientific evidence into action that practitioners can use to protect patients at the bedside.
Today, more than 80 talented infection preventionists have been recognized as Heroes of Infection Prevention, either individually or as teams, says Michelle Farber, RN, CIC, APIC's 2012 president. As this group continues to expand, APIC seeks to learn from their success, and using the principles of implementation science, bring these innovations to a much wider audience.
Awards will be granted in 2012 with the requirement that the project be completed no later than December 2013. The deadline for project proposals is September 30, 2012.
Visit the Research Opportunities section of APICs website to access eligibility and selection criteria. Address questions to research@apic.org.
The 2012-2013 Heroes program is supported by a grant from BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company).
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
