APIC Honors Its 2018 Heroes of Infection Prevention

Article

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) announced the recipients of the Heroes of Infection Prevention Award, which honors infection preventionists who have successfully helped to reduce infection, raise awareness, and improve the health and well-being of patients, healthcare workers, and the public.

"Our 2018 Heroes have positioned themselves at the frontline of infection prevention and control through advocacy, patient safety, and process improvement,” said 2018 APIC president Janet Haas, PhD, RN, CIC, FSHEA, FAPIC. "We applaud these individuals and teams for their contributions to advance the science of infection prevention and control.”

Recipients will be recognized during APIC’s 45th Annual Conference, June 13-15, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The following individuals and teams are being recognized:
Cindy Hou, DO, MA, MBA, FACOI
Jefferson Health New Jersey
Voorhees, New Jersey
Category: Patient Safety

Marc Meyer, RPH, BPharm, CIC, FAPIC
Southwest Health System
Cortez, Colorado
Category: Advocacy and Influence

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Category: Process and System Improvement

Excela Health CDI Lean Team
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Category: Patient Safety

Mountain View Hospital
Las Vegas, Nevada
Category: Process and System Improvement

University of Louisville Hospital Infection Control Team
Louisville, Kentucky
Category: Advocacy and Influence

APIC established the Heroes of Infection Prevention Award in 2006 to recognize infection preventionists who have developed and implemented innovative infection prevention programs. More than 100 individuals and groups have been recognized to date for their exceptional work in reducing healthcare-associated infections. The Heroes program is supported by a grant from BD, an APIC Strategic Partner.

Source: APIC

Recent Videos
Mark Wiencek, PhD
Rebecca Crapanzano-Sigafoos, DrPH, CIC, AL-CIP, FAPIC
The CDC’s updated hospital respiratory reporting requirement has added new layers of responsibility for infection preventionists. Karen Jones, MPH, RN, CIC, FAPIC, clinical program manager at Wolters Kluwer, breaks down what it means and how IPs can adapt.
Studying for the CIC using a digital tablet and computer (Adobe Stock 335828989 by NIKCOA)
Infection Control Today's Conversations with the HSPA President, Arlene Bush, CRCST, CER, CIS, SME, DSMD, CRMST
Infection Control Today's Conversations with the HSPA President, Arlene Bush, CRCST, CER, CIS, SME, DSMD, CRMST
Cheron Rojo, BS, FCS, CHL, CER, CFER, CRCST
Matthias Tschoerner, Dr Sc
Standardizing Cleaning and Disinfection
Concept images of Far-UVC (Adobe Stock 316993517 by hopenv)
Related Content
Infection prevention personnel in a training class. (Adobe Stock 1196827000 by Carlo)

A Profession Without a Path: Reforming Infection Prevention and Control Education and Workforce Development

Shahbaz Salehi, MD, MPH, MSHIA;Anna Arifin, MD, MBA, MT, CIC
June 20th 2025
Article

Despite its critical role in patient safety, infection prevention and control (IPC) remains one of health care’s most misunderstood and understructured professions. While COVID-19 thrust IPC into the spotlight, the field still lacks a clear entry path, standardized training, and broad institutional recognition, leaving many professionals to learn on the job with minimal guidance.

Dr Erin Allmann Updyke and Erin Welsh, co-hosts of “This Podcast Will Kill You.” (Image credit: author)

Combating Contagion, Confusion, and Public Mistrust: The Infection Preventionist’s Role in the Infodemic Era

Carole W. Kamangu, MPH, RN, CIC
June 19th 2025
Article

Infection preventionists are at the forefront of the infodemic; the keynote session offered suggestions on how they can combat and mitigate misinformation.

Antimicrobial and Diagnostic Stewardship at APIC25

From Contamination to Clarity: Leveraging Urine Culture Review for Antimicrobial and Diagnostic Stewardship

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
June 18th 2025
Article

A hospital’s surveillance validation process uncovered a hidden threat to antimicrobial stewardship: contaminated urine cultures leading to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. This prompted a collaborative effort to improve specimen integrity and reduce inappropriate antimicrobial use through targeted diagnostic stewardship.

APIC Heroes at APIC25

APIC Salutes 2025 Trailblazers in Infection Prevention and Control

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
June 18th 2025
Article

From a lifelong mentor to a rising star, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) honored leaders across the career spectrum at its 2025 Annual Conference in Phoenix, recognizing individuals who enhance patient safety through research, leadership, and daily practice.

Increasing Middle Eastern Certified IPs at APIC25

Building Infection Prevention Capacity in the Middle East: A 7-Year Certification Success Story

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
June 17th 2025
Article

Despite rapid development, the Middle East faces a critical shortage of certified infection preventionists. A 7-year regional initiative has significantly boosted infection control capacity, increasing the number of certified professionals and elevating patient safety standards across health care settings.

Manufacturers's Instructions for Use at APIC25

Streamlined IFU Access Boosts Infection Control and Staff Efficiency

Tori Whitacre Martonicz
June 17th 2025
Article

A hospital-wide quality improvement project has transformed how staff access critical manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs), improving infection prevention compliance and saving time through a standardized, user-friendly digital system supported by unit-based training and interdepartmental collaboration.