I am thrilled to formally announce my candidacy for the 2009 APIC Elections. Growing up in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia in the early sixties I could never have imagined the wonderful and rich life that lay ahead. With good support from a loving family, fantastic partner and precious friends many great opportunities have been available to me. Few are as exciting, challenging and rewarding as the potential opportunity to work with the APIC members and leaders as an elected President. The APIC Nominating and Awards Committee and Board of Directors have endorsed my candidacy and elections typically begin in early September. As for all elections candiates are faced against each other. In this case whilst I don’t personally know the other candidate, Pat Kulich, we have exchanged several warm e-mails. I wish Pat the very best in her efforts to lead APIC and I celebrate that our organisation is fortunate to have two strong and committed members to select as potential Presidents. Far better than not having enough. 2008 will be an interesting year for electing officials in America. I hope that the APIC election adds to that interest and who knows it could be the year that previous trends are overturned. Are we ready for a non-US APIC President, I sure hope so. For your interest my philosophy and biography as they will appear on the slate are reproduced below. Good voting and best of luck to Pat.
Biographical ProfileAssociate Professor Cathryn L Murphy RN, MPH, PhD, CIC, MRCNA, holds an academic position in the Faculty of Health Services and Medicine, Bond University, Australia. In 1995-96 she was the elected President of the Australian Infection Control Association and subsequently a Founding member of the Asia Pacific Society for Infection Control (APSIC). She is currently serving a second term as the only active non-North American member of the APIC Board. Dr. Murphy’s career highlights include working in the Division of Healthcare Quality and Infection Prevention at the CDC, Georgia, USA in 2000 and for WHO throughout Southeast Asia during the height of the 2003 SARS Outbreak. She managed the largest state government HAI Prevention and Control Program in Australia from 1997 until December 2004 with programmatic responsibility for more than 200 hospitals. She is currently an independent, international consultant. In 2006 WHO invited Cath to join its Infection Control Expert Advisory Network. In 2007, the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare invited her to chair their Infection Control Implementation Committee. This committee is similar in function and reach to the USA’s HICPAC Committee. Widely published, Dr. Murphy is a member of the Editorial Boards of the Australian, American and IFIC Journals of Infection Control. She delivers provocative and powerful presentations with respect, humor and compassion. Personally Cath is a novice but committed tri-athlete. She subscribes to the philosophy “Love what you do and do what you love”, hence her long-term commitment to infection prevention. Her “Life is Good” and she dreams of global infection prevention harmonization.
Philosophy Statement
Although infection prevention drivers and practices vary greatly between countries ICPs around the world face similar opportunities and challenges. Imagine a world where ICPs worked in global harmony. A world where infection prevention success and innovations are celebrated. Where infection prevention frustrations are heard, criticisms acknowledged and improvements introduced. A world where like-organizations cooperate to provide safer care and much needed education. A world where healthcare workers are afforded their rightful protections against infectious disease. A world where governments, payors, corporations and citizens recognize APIC members as the world’s leading source of infection prevention expertise and capacity. As APIC members we can craft and nurture this world. It is the natural progression of an organization whose membership has invested the last forty years in refining our work, progressing our achievements and empowering our profession. As APIC President I will help the membership realize this world domestically in the USA and abroad.
Having worked as an ICP in several different continents and across a range of settings – clinical, government, academic and commercial, I will continue to bring unique perspectives and new offerings to the APIC table. Moreover I will continue to respect and celebrate APIC’s rich history, the legacies of its previous leaders and the consolidation of its bright future. Most importantly, through cautious leadership and thoughtful succession planning I will endeavor to ensure the APIC organization, its Board and its staff continue to understand and meet the many needs of its current and future members. North American APIC has made a difference. Global APIC can make a bigger difference. Electing Cath Murphy as your first non-North American APIC President is more than just a symbolic gesture. It marks the beginning of a new global era for APIC. Visit www.cmurphy.com.au to learn more about my commitment to the APIC membership.
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on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pm and is filed under Great Things, Meet Cath, Personal Leadership Philosophy, Professional Background, Running For President, Vision for APIC.
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