Academy for Performance Excellence (APEX)
The Academy for Performance Excellence (APEX) 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.
APEX Award Recipients
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.
| Recipient |
|---|
| Phillip Greilich, M.D., MSc |
| Puneet Bajaj, M.D. |
| Sharon Coffie, MSN, RN, CNS |
| Prathima Guntipalli, M.D., M.H.A, M.B.A. |
| Anita Hegde, M.D. |
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.
| Recipient |
|---|
| 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 Level
The Silver Quality Improvement recipient must complete the Bronze requirements and undertake increasing leadership responsibilities with quality improvement activities and more complex projects.
| Recipient | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 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, MBA, PMP |
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.
| Recipient | Recipient | Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| Jamie Morgan, M.D. | Kristina Ciaglia, M.D. | Amie Swindle, MSN, CPPS |
| Salman Moti, DHA, MPH | 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, MPH, 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, MPT |
| Summera Zaheer, M.H.A., CLSSGB | Julia Spesivtseva, MBA | Blair E Lane, BSN, RN |
| Ari Reveles, MS, CLSSBB | Ruth Fontillas Yabut Fisher, PMP, CPHQ | Margaret Oney, RN |
| Emily Broadway, MHA, PMP | Nora Tassabhji, MSHM, CLYSSB |
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.
| Recipient | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Denise McCauley, BBA | Paige Reno, CSSYB |
| Johnsly George, RN, CNOR | Ciji Saju, MSN, CCRN, CNRN |
| Tawuana Willie, RN | Suman Vadlamani (Medical Student) |
| Lida Shaygan, D.O. | Chitra Srinivasan, PT, DPT |
| Amy Pugh, BSN, RN | Ashraf Rajani, RN |
| Lida Shaygan, D.O. | Abeera Azam, M.D. |
| Fatima Mahmood, M.D. |