The Academy for Performance Excellence at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center encourages a culture of performance excellence and patient safety. The Academy provides training and a recognition program for UT Southwestern Medical Center faculty, fellows, residents, students, nurses, and staff who are committed to lifelong learning, improvement activities, and scholarship in patient safety and performance improvement (PI).

The program rewards competency-based education, practical application of performance/quality improvement knowledge, and scholarly activities related to leadership, performance improvement methodology, and high-reliability principles. Individuals who accomplish defined milestones in performance improvement education, project completion, and scholarly activity can progress through a process that recognizes their achievements and competence.

All submitted applications are reviewed by a committee of Quality Professionals. Applicants not recognized are provided feedback and encouraged to reapply.

Competence Levels

Individuals can gain membership and advance in APEX by demonstrating levels of competence in quality improvement education, project participation, and scholarship. The defined competence levels are:

• Blue
• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum

Program Activities

APEX program participants accumulate activity points in the areas of:

• Personal education
• Participation in performance improvement activities
• Publication or presentation of performance improvement activities
• Successful quality/performance improvement grant application
• Mentoring of quality improvement mentees

The APEX program is intended to recognize UT Southwestern faculty, staff, trainees, and students.

Apply to APEX

APEX Award Recipients