Educational-Award-Application

CALIFORNIA APIC EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AWARDS

I. Purpose and Scope

The California APIC Coordinating Council (hereinafter "CA APIC"), established in 1978, remains committed to the professional advancement of infection preventionists. This program provides financial assistance to members seeking to enhance their technical skills and professional competencies.

II. Award Allocation and Value

For the 2026 fiscal year, CA APIC shall grant a total of six (6) individual awards:

• Six (6) "Tier I" Awards: Valued at $1,000.00 each.

• Eight (8) "Tier II" Awards: Valued at $500.00 each.

Note: During years in which "Foundations" coursework is offered, CA APIC may authorize additional supplemental awards specifically for that curriculum.

III. Term and Reimbursable Expenses

1. Validity Period: Awards must be applied toward educational opportunities occurring in the 2026 calendar year and before December 31, 2026.

2. Expense Eligibility: Funds are provided on a reimbursement basis only. Eligible expenses include:

   • Event registration fees.

   • Travel and lodging.

   • Educational materials related to infection prevention.

3. Exclusions: Funds may not be used for Certification in Infection Control (CIC®) examination fees or recertification fees or other CBIC certification.

IV. Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for consideration, the applicant must meet the following criteria at the time of application:

• Membership: Maintain an active APIC membership in good standing for a minimum of one (1) consecutive year. Not a member? Join here.

• Affiliation: Maintain active membership within a participating California APIC Coordinating Council chapter.

• Competency Alignment: Utilize the APIC Competency Model to perform a formal self-assessment. Applicants must accurately identify their professional stage as Early Career, Mid-Career, or Advanced/Expert. (Examples to Assist with Self-Definition of IP Career Stage)

V. Application and Documentation Obligations

Applicants are required to submit a formal application form including:

1. Professional Accomplishments: A summary of three (3) distinct achievements relevant to the applicant’s current career stage. 

2. Developmental Goals: Identification of three (3) specific areas where further education or skill acquisition is required.

3. Statement of Intent: A written description of the proposed educational use of the funds and how this opportunity integrates into the applicant’s long-term competency development plan.

VI. Post-Award Obligations

As a condition of accepting the award and to satisfy National APIC non-profit compliance standards, the recipient agrees to:

• Presentation: Deliver a 5–10 minute presentation at a 2026 or 2027 CA APIC meeting.

• Content: The presentation must cover information learned during the funded educational event or a relevant topic approved by the Board.

• Submission: Final presentation materials must be submitted to the CA APIC Board for review at least one (1) week prior to the scheduled meeting date.

VII. Deadlines and Notification

• Submission: Applications must be received by the established deadlines (as published by the Council).

• Notification: Candidates will be notified of their status within one (1) week of the deadline, or as soon as administratively feasible.

  • "Marguerite M. Jackson Award" ($1000.00) May 15, 2026

  • "Mid-Career/Proficient to Advanced/Expert Stage Award" ($1000.00) May 15, 2026

  • "Foundation Award"  - ($500.00) September 4, 2026

VIII. Presentation & Awards

"Marguerite M. Jackson Award" ($1000.00)

CA APIC will award three (3) Marguerite M. Jackson Educational Awards to an advanced/expert infection preventionist.  This scholarship has been established in honor of Marguerite McMillan Jackson, R.N., Ph.D., FAAN, and her many contributions and accomplishments in infection prevention and control.  Dr. Jackson is especially well known for challenging healthcare workers to evaluate and discard "rituals without reason" and for her practical approach to infection risk reduction in the health care environment.

This will be awarded to an advanced/expert infection preventionist whose professional activities showcase expertise in leadership, management, education, consultation, advanced analysis, and strategic planning. The expert IP also promotes certification, mentors others, and demonstrates the value of the credential through advanced knowledge and skills. The expert IP is an accomplished, recognized leader and patient safety champion in their own organization, whose collaborative influence may reach beyond their employer/business to regional, national, and international audiences.

Some of Marguerite Jackson’s many accomplishments include, but are not limited to:

• Affiliate of the University of California San Diego (UCSD) for almost 33 years before her retirement in April of 2010, serving most of that time as the Administrative Director of the Epidemiology Unit.
• Director of the Administrative Unit for the National Tuberculosis Curriculum Consortium (NTCC), a multi-center NIH-funded collaborative project to improve knowledge of tuberculosis in health professions schools throughout the United States, 2004 -2010.
• Elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing in 1991 and served as the Nursing-at-Large representative to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations’ Standards and Survey Procedures Committee from 1997 through 2003.
• Co-author for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention update of the Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings, completed in 2007.
• Board Member for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) in 2007.
• Consultant to organizations that include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Hospital Association, the California Healthcare Association, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
• Member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) since 1973.
• Elected as fellow of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) in 2004.
• Served on the editorial boards of several professional journals and has been on many national level Committees and Task Forces.
• Lectured widely and has published over 90 articles and book chapters on a variety of topics, including infection prevention and control, the relationship between nurse staffing and healthcare-associated infection outcomes, and implementation of evidence-based practices.

"Mid-Career/Proficient to Advanced/Expert Stage Award" ($1000.00)

CA APIC will award three (3) "Mid-Career/Proficient to Advanced/Expert Stage Award" to an infection preventionist within this career stage. 

"Foundations Award"  - ($500.00)

CA APIC will award "Foundations Award" to an up to eight (8) infection preventionists for the 2026 CA APIC Foundations in Infection Prevention virtual coursework. https://community.apic.org/cacc/events/foundationscourse

IX. Application (APPLY HERE)

X. Award Recipient History