APIC Honors Philadelphia Infection Prevention Leader With Its Highest Award

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) announces that Mary Lou Manning, PhD, CRNP, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, FAAN, professor at the Thomas Jefferson University and former APIC president, will be honored with the Carol DeMille Achievement Award for her visionary leadership and significant contributions to the field of infection prevention and control (IPC).

The award, which will be presented during the opening session of APIC’s 46th Annual Conference, June 12-14 in Philadelphia, is given annually to an infection preventionist who best exemplifies the ideals of Carole DeMille, a pioneer in the field. 

“We are honored to recognize Mary Lou with this award for her innovative leadership and exceptional infection prevention practice,” said 2019 APIC president Karen Hoffmann, RN, MS, CIC, FSHEA, FAPIC. “Mary Lou has not only been a local Philadelphia hero in infection prevention, but has also advanced the field on both the national and international levels.”  

Over the past three decades, Manning has contributed extensively to clinical practice, research, and education in IPC. An active APIC member since 1991, she served as 2015 APIC president and as president of the Delaware Valley and Philadelphia chapters in Pennsylvania. Manning currently is a Professor at the Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing in Philadelphia. Prior to this role, she held numerous leadership positions at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, launching a number of key initiatives, including the Center for Process Innovation and Center for Quality and Patient Safety.

On the global front, Manning has provided consultation and education in numerous countries including Indonesia, where she was a member of a post-tsunami Indonesia Disaster Recovery Program team in 2007. During the 2014 Ebola crisis, she served as a faculty member of the CDC Safety Training for Healthcare Workers going to West Africa.

In 2018, Manning led the development of a joint APIC position paper on antibiotic stewardship with the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists, and chaired APIC’s Consensus Conference, which culminated in insights that will move the infection preventionist profession forward in meeting the healthcare needs of the 21st century.

Skillfully bridging academia and practice, Manning has effectively introduced the most cutting-edge science into her work at every level, earning dozens of awards and recognitions over the course of her career, including APIC’s 2018 Distinguished Scientist Award. She has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications exploring topics critical to infection prevention, ranging from the role of nursing in antibiotic stewardship to the global implications of emerging infectious diseases. Manning is also a member of the editorial board of the American Journal of Infection Control.

APIC 2019 Annual Conference, June 12-14 in Philadelphia, is one of the most comprehensive infection prevention conferences in the world, with more than 100 educational sessions and programs led by experts from across the globe and attended by nearly 5,000 professionals. The conference aims to provide infection preventionists, physicians, researchers, epidemiologists, educators, administrators, and medical technologists with strategies that can be implemented immediately to improve prevention programs and make healthcare safer. Join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #APIC2019.

Source: APIC