CANANDAIGUA – UR Medicine Thompson Health Director of Infection Prevention/Disaster Preparedness Kristen Beideman recently received the 2022 Emerging Leader in IP Award from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
The award presentation took place in Indianapolis on June 15 during the closing general session of APIC’s annual conference. According to the organization, the award recognizes new infection preventionists who have demonstrated a commitment to the field and their professional growth.
A Macedon resident and nurse who previously worked for Ontario County Public Health, Beideman first joined Thompson in 2019.
In an APIC article, it was noted that in addition to showcasing her skill and leadership through Thompson’s response to the pandemic, Beideman led implementation of the infection prevention module for the hospital’s new electronic health record system and mentors infection preventionists from smaller hospitals within UR Medicine using the same module. The article also noted Beideman introduced a program to further engage frontline staff in infection prevention and is also in the process of creating and implementing sets of evidence-based practices to further standardize surgical practices within Thompson.
"Beideman represents the future of IPC (infection prevention and control) and the power of emerging leaders to significantly impact on our community, our patients and our colleagues," the article said.
Thompson Health Executive Vice President/COO Kurt Koczent agreed.
“Kristen is a dedicated, talented professional who has proven to be a valuable asset to our institution and community,” he said. “We are very proud of her much-deserved recognition.”