The APIC NE Spring Conference on May 1st brought high energy and high impact to the MGM Springfield, perfectly matching this year’s theme: High Stakes, Higher Standards.

The hotel’s vibrant setting amplified a day filled with engaging sessions, innovative ideas, and meaningful collaboration, all focused on elevating infection prevention practice. Attendees exchanged powerful insights that underscored the strength of our collective expertise and our shared commitment to advancing healthcare safety.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this event a standout moment for our chapter.

View the Speaker Presentations here: Slides

or on the APIC NE Website.

Shirley Bradley Memorial Innovation Award 2025

Shirley R. Bradley’s pioneering leadership in infection control continues to inspire APIC New England. As the region’s first nurse specialist in 1969 and a founding force behind APIC and its first chapter, she shaped the profession through her vision, mentorship, and global advocacy. Her legacy lives on in the innovation and curiosity she championed.

The Shirley Bradley Memorial Innovation Award (SBMIA) honors members who embody that same spirit—those who push boundaries, introduce new ideas, and elevate infection prevention through creativity and forward‑thinking practice.

🏆 2025 SBMIA Winner

Recognized for groundbreaking innovation that advanced infection prevention practice across the region.

Manju Mathew, RN, MBA, CIC, AL-CIP, is the Chief Infection Prevention Officer and Senior Director of Infection Prevention at Baystate Health in Massachusetts. With more than 25 years of experience in infection prevention, quality improvement, patient safety, and healthcare leadership across the United States and internationally, she has led transformative initiatives focused on reducing healthcare-associated infections, strengthening regulatory compliance, enhancing outbreak preparedness and response, and advancing organizational safety culture.

Throughout her career, Manju has successfully designed and implemented system-wide prevention programs that have resulted in substantial and sustained reductions in healthcare-associated infections. She is recognized for her expertise in strategic leadership, performance improvement, infection surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes.

A board-certified infection preventionist (CIC) and recipient of the Advanced Leadership Certification in Infection Prevention (AL-CIP), Manju has received multiple professional honors, including the APIC New England Shirley Bradley Innovation Award in 2020. She is an active contributor to the profession through publications, conference presentations, and mentorship of emerging infection prevention leaders. Manju is currently pursuing a Doctor of Health Administration at the Virginia University of Lynchburg.

These honorees reflect Shirley Bradley’s enduring influence and the continued commitment of APIC New England to fostering innovation in infection prevention.

Growing the Profession - Mentoring

Looking for an Infection Prevention Mentor?

Mentorship plays a vital role in professional development, especially in the complex and ever-evolving field of infection prevention and control. Whether you are new to the field or an experienced professional looking to enhance your skills, having a mentor can provide valuable guidance, practical insights, and support in navigating challenges. A strong mentorship connection can help you grow your expertise, build confidence, and stay up to date with best practices.

If you’re interested in connecting with an infection prevention mentor, we’d love to help!

Please reach out to secretary.apicne@gmail.com to learn more about mentorship opportunities.

The 2026 APIC National Conference in Nashville brought fresh energy, bold ideas, and meaningful collaboration to the infection prevention community. APIC New England members joined colleagues nationwide for a week of innovation, hands‑on learning, and powerful discussions that strengthened both practice and professional connection.

Key themes included advancements in IPC technology, emerging pathogen management, and the growing role of research and implementation science. Sessions emphasized competency‑based training, leadership development, and tools that enhance IPC program efficiency. Public health and policy conversations expanded beyond healthcare settings, addressing schools, climate‑health intersections, and misinformation challenges.

Networking events and the Strategic Partner Program reinforced the importance of collaboration across disciplines, leaving attendees inspired and better equipped to drive innovation at home.

🧠 APIC NEws Trivia Challenge: Round 2 for 2026!

APIC NEws Trivia Challenge — Summer Edition

Ready for the next round? This month’s APIC NEws Trivia Challenge dives into the real, current mid‑year infection prevention priorities highlighted across CDC and APIC updates. No rumored July releases — just the actual, timely guidance and developments shaping how Infection Preventionists practice today.

Will you be our next trivia champ?

🌟 Congratulations to Last Quarter’s Winner!

A huge congratulations to Kristin Smith, who answered last quarter’s question correctly with Option B: Symptom-based visitor screening combined with source control and adherence to transmission-based precautions.

Rationale:

Kristin selected the strategy most strongly supported by CDC and APIC guidance for reducing healthcare-associated transmission during periods of high community respiratory virus activity:

• CDC’s Core IPC Practices (2024) emphasize symptom screening, source control, and strict adherence to transmission-based precautions as foundational measures for preventing respiratory virus spread in healthcare settings.
• APIC guidance reinforces that layered prevention strategies — including screening visitors for symptoms, ensuring masking when indicated, and maintaining appropriate precautions — are more effective and more feasible than universal N95 use or reactive visitation restrictions.
• Universal N95 use for all visitors (Option A) is not recommended by CDC or APIC except in specific high-risk situations.
• Restricting visitation only after an outbreak (Option C) is inconsistent with proactive prevention principles.
• Relying primarily on post-exposure testing (Option D) is insufficient and does not replace preventive controls.

Kristin’s answer reflects the best-supported, evidence-based approach for protecting patients, staff, and visitors during respiratory virus surges.

Excellent work, Kristin — your infection prevention expertise continues to shine. ✨

🎯 How the Challenge Works

• Submit your answer to this month’s trivia question
• Correct answers enter the prize raffle
• Winner announced in the next issue
• Your name could be featured next!

👀 Ready to Take on the Challenge?

Put your infection prevention knowledge to the test and see who rises to the top this round.

Take the APIC NEws Trivia Challenge Now!

Legislative News 

Legislative Update

• Congressional briefing: The APIC/Nozin Congressional Briefing was on May 14 in the Rayburn House Office Building. Presenters will include APIC President Kathy Ward, PPC Chair Kelly Zabriskie, APIC CEO Devin Jopp, and Lisa Tomlinson.

• Lisa (Tomlinson) attended a CDC briefing to update CDC partners on priorities for the agency, including appropriations requests. NCZEID is focusing more on food outbreaks and providing briefings to legislators. Most of APIC’s priority issues relate to CDC programs and are being level funded. CDC used to also rely on Supplemental appropriations to fund outbreak response programs, but much of that funding has been eliminated. The president’s budget request gave a small cushion to make up for those funds for state health departments. In the last year there has been an Administration-ordered communications pause from CDC. While communications have opened up a bit, CDC is not focusing on responding just to congressional offices and not the general public. Lisa Tomlinson will share additional graphics from her meeting with CDC Coalition. CDC has been focusing on preventing pathogens from coming into US from conflict zones.

• HIPAG (APIC/SHEA collaboration) have made their membership selections, so the group will begin its work soon

• A subcommittee of the Policy & Procedures Committee continues to work on the selection of best-and-worst IFUs. Devin has provided some suggestions, which the subcommittee is reviewing. The goal is to use these examples in our advocacy efforts to improve IFUs in general. The draft is also being reviewed by legal advisors to prevent any problems

• The Practice Guidance Committee is completing the Risk Assessment Toolkit. Some revisions have been made based on comments from Accrediting Organizations at the January IFU summit, and some of those AOs would like to be named in the final version.

• Devin and Government Affairs staff will be meeting with staff from CMS’s Quality, Safety, and Oversight group. We will share with CMS staff the request from Summit attendees that CMS provide confirmation in writing that a high-quality risk assessment would be acceptable as compliance with CoPs in place of inadequate IFUs.

• Now that APIC has a smaller Government Affairs staff and fewer resources for state legislative tracking, Nancy reported that the staff is exploring new ways to provide assistance to Chapter Legislative Representatives, and asked committee members for their thoughts. Recommendations included: an intro toolkit for CLRs; survey CLRs to find out what they need; create short how-to videos for CLRs and APIC members; educate CLRs about what subjects they can speak to legislators about – what chapters can comment about what subjects/issues to avoid. It was also suggested that APIC staff convene a small group of CLRs to provide recommendations.

You can find the latest Infection Prevention-related legislative bills for New England in the following📜:

Key Infection Prevention and Control Issues

APIC Coalition Letters

Regulations and Comments

Legislative Report

Stay Up to Date

🎓 Fall Conference Scholarship Opportunity!

Are you a student or emerging professional interested in infection prevention and control? We’re excited to offer a scholarship opportunity to attend the Fall APIC New England Chapter Conference — and we encourage non-members and students to apply!

Scholarship recipients will receive free conference registration, and in return, will assist with conference setup and/or member registration the morning of the event. (Please note awardees must be available to arrive by 7:00 AM on conference day.)

This is a great chance to:

• Network with local infection prevention professionals

• Gain behind-the-scenes experience at a professional conference

• Learn more about APIC NE and our work across the region

📌 Membership in APIC NE is not required to apply.

📌 Students are highly encouraged to apply!

Apply here Application for Chapter Financial Support or visit the APIC NE Website.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow in the field of infection prevention!

APIC NE Board Positions for 2027 – Now Open!

APIC New England is thrilled to announce that nominations are now open for our 2027 Board of Directors!

This is a unique opportunity for passionate and committed members to step into key leadership roles, including:

• Nominating & Awards Director Elect
• Program Director Elect
• Legislative Representative



Each role is essential in shaping the future of infection prevention, providing you with a platform to drive positive change, enhance patient safety, and influence best practices across the region.

Serving on the board offers more than leadership experience, it’s a chance to collaborate with peers, grow professionally, and be part of a strong, innovative network dedicated to advancing our mission.

📧 Interested in learning more? Reach out to us at nominatingandawards.apicne@gmail.com.

📅 Applications are due by August 15th.

Let’s work together to lead the way in infection prevention and control!

Stay up to date on what's happening with our social media sites!



• We post education and event announcements on our Facebook page.
• We share relevant infection prevention, infectious disease, and public health news on our X account.
• Check our website for updates, board information, and upcoming events in the New England area.

To contact us at any time, email Communications.Apicne@gmail.com