Academy for Performance Excellence (APEX)

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

PlatinumGoldSilverBronzeBlue
Phillip Greilich, M.D., MSc Pranavi V. Sreeramoju, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. Susan Neill-Fogus, B.S.N., RN Jamie Morgan, M.D. Denise McCauley, BBA
Puneet Bajaj, M.D. Rodney Chen, M.D. Bradley Goettl, DNP, APRN, FNP-C Kristina Ciaglia, M.D. Summera Zaheer, M.H.A., CLSSGB
Sharon Coffie, MSN, RN, CNS Venkatakrishna Kakkilaya, M.D. Monica Saripella, M.D. Amie Swindle, MSN, CPPS  Erin Wuerz, PT, MPT
Prathima Guntipalli, M.D., M.H.A, M.B.A. John Bennett, Ph.D. Doramarie Arocha, Ph.D., CIC Salman Moti, DHA, MPH

Ciji Saju, MSN, CCRN, CNRN

    Sebastian Busto, BSIE, CLSSBB Fatemah Behina, M.D.  Tawuana Willie, RN
    Joseph Putra, EMBA, CMBB Maria Valentina Harmjanz, M.D  Suman Vadlamani (Medical Student) 
     Nakul Patel (Medical Student)  Christopher Prado, M.D  
      Perpetuah Sherman (Medical Student)  
      Brenden Garrett, M.D.  
      Peggy Bartholomew, MHSM, R.N.  
      Reema Mustafa, MPH, CHCP  
      Kishan Patel (Medical Student)  
      Veena Peraka (Medical Student)  
      Chibundum Ezenwukwa (Medical Student)  
      Christopher McLeod (Medical Student)   
      Luke Coffman (Medical Student)  
      Riddhi Patel (Medical Student)   
      George Elmquist (Medical Student)  
      Jacob Player (Medical Student)  
      Lynn Yoon (Medical Student)  
      Rohan Tummala (Medical Student)