2024
Chapter Leader Award: Jessica
Jessica served as the Legislative Director on the Board of the Southern New Jersey Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC).
Jessica's passion for public policy evolved as she served on the National APIC Public Policy Committee from 2019-2022, lobbying on behalf of the organization in Washington, D.C., and providing public comment on infection prevention and control-related legislation and regulations. She maintains her involvement with the APIC Public Policy Committee through the National APIC Regulatory Review panel and serves on the National APIC Communications Committee (2023).
2023
Chapter Leader Award: Jennifer
Jennifer served for seven years as the Public Health Epidemiologist for the local County Health Department before joining a hospital as an infection prevention manager in 2011. In 2014, she accepted the newly created position of Director of Infection Prevention where she oversaw the infection prevention program for the system. In 2018, she moved into the role of Director of Epidemiology with a focus on data analysis and infection prevention-related policy development for the system. Jennifer is board certified as a clinical specialist in community health nursing, certified in infection control (CIC) and is licensed in New Jersey as an advanced practice nurse. She has served on the Board of Southern NJ APIC since 2014 and has been in the role of President since 2020.
She has been the cohesive force which maintained the continuing education of Chapter members during the COVID pandemic. The Chapter continued to flourish under her guidance during Chapter Zoom meetings.
We are privileged to have a colleague dedicated to the advancement of our profession. Our chapter has been enriched by her participation and our members have benefitted from her knowledge and dedication.
2020
Chapter Leader Award: Cathi
Cathi has been an Infection Preventionist for more than 30 years. She began her infection prevention career working at a 1200 bed state facility for the developmentally disabled. Along with her IP activities, she was the Laboratory and Radiology Manager. After retirement, Cathi formed her own consulting company and provides services to ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis facilities, rehabilitation centers and many other medical settings. In addition, she also works for a Health System as an Infection Prevention Practitioner.
Cathi is certified as a Medical Technologist and a Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician. She is Certified in Infection Control, CIC, and in 2016 received the Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, FAPIC.
Cathi has served her local chapter, APIC- Southern New Jersey #11 in many positions including President, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership, Bylaws and Nominating. Currently she is the Website and Communications Director. In addition to chapter activities, she was a member of the APIC Member Services Committee.
Cathi is also a Facilitator in the Northeastern Infection Control Educators (NICE) basic infection prevention course which has received the Heroes of Infection Prevention award in 2010 and a Difference Maker in 2013.
2019
Chapter Leader Award: Michele
Michele has worked in the field of Infection Prevention for the past 15 years, joined APIC Chapter #11 in 2004 and achieved CBIC certification in 2013. She began her service on the APIC-SNJ Chapter 11 board in 2011 as a member of the Chapter Nominating Committee, went on to serve as Chapter Secretary from 2013-2014.
Michele became the Chapter’s President-elect in 2015, but assumed responsibility as Chapter President a year early, in 2016, when the Chapter President abruptly resigned. Michele also assumed responsibility as Chapter Treasurer while serving as President in late 2016 due to the abrupt resignation of the elected Chapter Treasurer. Despite these challenging circumstances, Michele worked diligently for 3 years to advance the goals of our Chapter and encourage member participation in key initiatives. Utilizing new technology and resources available through the National APIC Chapter Leader Resource Center, Michele implemented strategies to improve the stability of the Chapter and re-energize the Chapter board. But the story doesn’t end there, as Michele has agreed to continue serving on the board as Chapter Treasurer for an additional term, through 2019.
It is clear that the Chapter membership has benefited greatly from Michele’s participation as a member and her years of service to the APIC-SNJ Chapter #11 board. She is an energetic and dedicated colleague who has demonstrated excellent leadership abilities, and deserves to be recognized for her contributions to the continued success of the Chapter.
2018
Chapter Leader Award: Susan
Chapter #11- Southern New Jersey is proud that Susan received the Chapter Leader Award in Minneapolis June 2018. Susan has worked in Infection Prevention for 14 years in Home Health Care, as an Infection Prevention Program Manager and most recently as the Infection Prevention Program Director., Clinical Standards and Leadership Offices. Susan also worked as a Nursing supervisor, Staff Development Coordinator, as well as a Community Health Nurse.
Susan brings varied experiences to APIC-SNJ Chapter 11 as a member starting in 2003. She has participated as a member of the New Jersey Home Care Association Infection Control Workgroup. Bringing a different perspective to our chapter and assisting in making our chapter diversified in the health care settings. Susan started serving an APIC-SNJ Chapter 11 board member in 2010 as Chapter Membership Chair, President-elect and is currently presiding as Chapter President.
Our chapter is proud of Susan's activities in APIC-SNJ Chapter #11 and is a valued, dedicated colleague. She continues to encourage advancement for our new members and engaging in certification activities and the newest initiative of our Chapter Mentor Program.
2015
Chapter Leader Award- Mary
Mary has worked in Infection Prevention for 21 years and has experience across the spectrum of patient care. Prior to entering the Infection Prevention field, Mary served as an Administrative Supervisor, staff RN, and community educator. She currently works as an Infection Preventionist at a 169 bed acute care community hospital in New Jersey.
Mary has been an instrumental part of the Southern New Jersey chapter of APIC since 1993. From 2004 to 2009, she served as Membership Chair followed by a position on the Strategic Planning Board. For the last two years, Mary has served as Treasurer for which she is running for a second term. She has also assisted with conference planning and has been a valued source of information and support to her fellow Infection Preventionists. We are privileged to have a colleague dedicated to the advancement of our profession. The Chapter has been enriched by her participation and our members have benefitted from her knowledge and dedications.
2014
Chapter Leader Award-Caren
Southern New Jersey APIC, Chapter #11, is proud to announce that Caren Anuszewski was selected for the 2014 Chapter Leader Award.
Caren is an acute care Infection Preventionist who currently practices in a 200 bed facility. She is credited with increasing hand hygiene compliance throughout her facility and is the acting Chairperson of the Hand Washing Committee. In addition to promoting “Clean Hands Saves Lives”, Caren fulfills her role as an educator for physicians, nurses and ancillary staff by endorsing her facility’s policies for the standardization of care.
Prior to her career in Infection Prevention, Caren worked as a clinical microbiologist for 10 years in a major teaching acute care facility. She is credentialed as a medical technologist and brings to Southern New Jersey APIC a refreshing approach to the field of Infection Prevention. As a clinical microbiologist, Caren compliments the nursing perspective of Infection Prevention by showing how the field is enhanced by her unique understanding of a microorganism’s inner workings. Caren provides a well-rounded microbiology education to her South New Jersey colleagues that contributes to their growth and enhances their practice.
She continues to contribute to the knowledge and development of her Infection Prevention colleagues by participating as a program speaker for the Northeast Infection Control and Epidemiology (NICE) program in New Jersey. The program is held bi-annually and is designed to prepare the novice Infection Preventionist with the basic skills needed in the first two years of practice. It is a week long program held at the New Jersey Hospital Association. Caren has been teaching the “General Microbiology” course at the NICE program since 2010 and is credited for enlightening her audience with the world of microorganisms.
During Caren’s tenure with our chapter, she has been a board member since 2004. Caren started for one year on the Nominating Committee and then served for three years as the Programs Chair. During her busy APIC career, Caren started a family in 2007 by welcoming twins into her world! As if that wasn’t enough, Caren continued to advance in Chapter # 11 by serving as President Elect during 2010-2011, and then as our chapter President throughout 2012-2013.
Concurrent with her advancement in the Southern New Jersey APIC Chapter, Caren has continued to serve on the IDSA APIC Joint Conference Committee since 2005. This conference provides education to all members in Infection Prevention and Infectious Disease on the various novel topics and issues that are occurring throughout the healthcare system. Caren donates her time to this committee to ensure the process of registration, securing vendor participation and acquiring grant money enhances the conference experience. Finally, Caren currently participates with New Jersey’s HQSI and has been a dedicated member of the multi-disciplinary CDI (C. difficile Infection) committee since 2011. She has chosen to dedicate her time and impart her knowledge to this committee in order to provide a standard which will hopefully decrease C. difficile infection within the state.
In conclusion, our membership is privileged to have a colleague so dedicated to the advancement of our profession. Our chapter has been enriched by her participation and our members have benefited from her knowledge and devotion.