Recent PhD graduate Mary Jo Knobloch and recipient of The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Graduate Student Award (AGSA) was formally recognized at the APIC Annual Conference in June.

Knobloch participated in the “APIC scholars present – Facilitators and barriers to implementing interventions: Stewardship and leadership” session presenting her findings on her project entitled, “Leadership Rounds to Reduce Healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs): A Case Study Approach.” She provided an in-depth evaluation of HAI Leadership Rounds at one facility to report “what it takes” to create a learning climate that fosters psychological safety among staff to problem-solve when adopting new guidelines, elements that may be critical for sustained evidence-based, and best practices. Further, it addressed how discovering specific leader communication behaviors and structural factors that contribute to psychological safety may be powerful in helping to move evidence to practice in reducing HAIs.

The award supports APIC’s patient safety mission and commitment to promoting research for infection prevention. Application evaluations were based on implementation science, demonstrating its value, and implications for infection prevention and quality efforts across clinical settings.

Knobloch completed her graduate research under the guidance of Betty Chewning, Professor in the Social and Administrative Sciences Division. She is a Research Health Scientist with the Madison VA and also a researcher with the School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Medicine, Infectious Disease. She works closely with Dr. Nasia Safdar on research pertaining to healthcare-associated infections, antibiotic stewardship and patient engagement.

APIC’s mission is to create a safer world through prevention of infection. The association’s more than 15,000 members direct infection prevention programs that save lives and improve the bottom line for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. APIC advances its mission through patient safety, implementation science, competencies and certification, advocacy, and data standardization.