Skip to Main

Recognition and Impact

logo for APEX

The Academy of Performance Excellence (APEX) provides training for students, working professionals, and a recognition program for faculty, residents, students, nurses, working professionals, researchers, and staff who are committed to lifelong learning, improvement activities, and scholarship in patient safety and performance improvement (PI).

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Office of Quality, Safety, and Outcomes Education developed and administers the Academy for Performance Excellence (APEX) recognition and awards program. The APEX program honors a culture of performance excellence and patient safety while supporting healthcare professionals and learners in their journey to excellence.

The APEX 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. The APEX Awards Committee will review applications and documentation.

Levels of Quality Improvement Mastery

Blue Award

The Blue Performance Improvement professional is one who is aware of quality and performance improvement, primarily through education activities. At this level, there is a basic understanding of how to function effectively as a team member and to show accountability for organizational success by recognizing and elevating the need to improve in their work area.

Bronze Award

The Bronze Quality Improvement professional has the knowledge and experience to participate effectively in quality improvement projects as a team member or team leader for simple projects. The Bronze level recipient can lead a QI project by developing a plan based on an examination of the problem's extent, using appropriate PI methodology and tools.

Silver Award

The Silver Quality Improvement recipient must complete the Bronze requirements and undertake increasing leadership responsibilities with quality improvement activities and more complex projects.

Gold Award

The Gold Quality Improvement recipient must complete all of the Silver requirements, demonstrate a deep understanding of QI methodologies and tools, and successfully direct QI projects. The candidate at this level has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to scholarly activity.

Platinum Award

The Platinum Level is reserved for QI professionals who have demonstrated long-term commitment and success in health care quality education, improvement, and scholarship activities. Recognition at this level is by nomination.

Recognition LevelEducationParticipationScholarshipMinimum Points
Blue 1 1 1 3
Bronze 3 3 2 8
Silver 4 6 4 14
Gold 5 9 8 22
Platinum 6 12 15 33

 Please QIED@UTSouthwestern.edu for questions or request a list of qualifying activities and definitions. Subject line "APEX"

Apply to APEX

APEX Award Recipients:

  • Platinum

    Platinum Level

    The Platinum Level is reserved for QI professionals who have demonstrated long-term commitment and success in health care quality education, improvement, and scholarship activities. Recognition at this level is by nomination.

    Recipients

    • Phillip Greilich, M.D., M.Sc.
    • Puneet Bajaj, M.D.
    • Sharon Coffie, MSN, RN, CNS
    • Prathima Guntipalli, M.D., M.H.A, M.B.A.
    • Anita Hegde, M.D.
  • Gold

    Gold Level

    The Gold Quality Improvement recipient must complete all of the Silver requirements, demonstrate a deep understanding of QI methodologies and tools, and successfully direct QI projects. The candidate at this level has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to scholarly activity.

    Recipients

    • Pranavi V. Sreeramoju, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
    • Rodney Chen, M.D.
    • Venkatakrishna Kakkilaya, M.D.
    • John Bennett, Ph.D.
    • Shelby Tavolacci, MOT, OTR
  • Silver

    Silver Level

    The Silver Quality Improvement recipient must complete the Bronze requirements and undertake increasing leadership responsibilities with quality improvement activities and more complex projects.

    Recipients

    • Susan Neill-Fogus, B.S.N., RN
    • Bradley Goettl, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
    • Monica Saripella, M.D.
    • Doramarie Arocha, Ph.D., CIC
    • Sebastian Busto, BSIE, CLSSBB
    • Joseph Putra, EMBA, CMBB
    • Nakul Patel (Medical Student)
    • Kishan Patel (Medical Student)
    • Kyle Collins, M.B.A., PMP
  • Bronze

    Bronze Level

    The Bronze Quality Improvement professional is one who has achieved the knowledge and experience to participate effectively in quality improvement projects as a team member or as a team leader for simple projects. The Bronze level recipient can lead a QI project by developing a plan based on examination of the extent of the problem by using appropriate PI methodology and tools.

    Recipients

    • Jamie Morgan, M.D.
    • Kristina Ciaglia, M.D.
    • Amie Swindle, M.S.N., CPPS
    • Salman Moti, D.H.A., M.P.H.
    • Fatemah Behina, M.D.
    • Maria Valentina Harmjanz, M.D.
    • Christopher Prado, M.D.
    • Perpetuah Sherman, M.D.
    • Brenden Garrett, M.D.
    • Peggy Bartholomew, MHSM, R.N.
    • Reema Mustafa, M.P.H., CHCP
    • 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, M.D.
    • Lynn Yoon (Medical Student)
    • Rohan Tummala (Medical Student)
    • Maria Del Mundo (Medical Student)
    • Grant Flindt (Medical Student)
    • Ruchita Iyer (Medical Student)
    • Tenzin Palkyi (Medical Student)
    • Aakash Padakandla (Medical Student)
    • Andrew Murphy, M.D.
    • Erin Wuerz, PT, M.P.T.
    • Summera Zaheer, M.H.A., CLSSGB
    • Julia Spesivtseva, M.B.A.
    • Blair E Lane, B.S.N., RN
    • Ari Reveles, M.S., CLSSBB
    • Ruth Fontillas Yabut Fisher, PMP, CPHQ
    • Margaret Oney, RN
    • Emily Broadway, M.H.A., PMP
    • Nora Tassabhji, M.S.H.M., CLYSSB
  • Blue

    Blue Level

    The Blue Performance Improvement professional is one who has an awareness of quality and performance improvement, primarily through education activities. At this level, there is a basic understanding of how to effectively function as a member of a team, show accountability for organizational success by recognizing and elevating the need to improve in their work area.

    Recipients

    • Denise McCauley, B.B.A.
    • Paige Reno, CSSYB
    • Johnsly George, RN, CNOR
    • Ciji Saju, M.S.N., CCRN, CNRN
    • Tawuana Willie, RN
    • Suman Vadlamani (Medical Student)
    • Lida Shaygan, D.O.
    • Chitra Srinivasan, PT, D.P.T.
    • Amy Pugh, B.S.N., RN
    • Ashraf Rajani, RN
    • Lida Shaygan, D.O.
    • Abeera Azam, M.D.
    • Fatima Mahmood, M.D.
Back-to top