6/16/2026 | 8:00 AM-9:00 AM
Elaine Larson Distinguished Scientist Award Presentation
Session Description: Each year, the Elaine Larson Distinguished Scientist Award celebrates the exceptional achievements of a scholar who has demonstrated significant and sustained contributions to the science of infection prevention and control. During this presentation, the 2026 recipient will present about their individual research journey and areas of interest.
Lisa Sturm
Senior Director Infection Prevention , Ascension
Lisa Sturm, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, Sr. Director Infection Prevention, Ascension, has been in the field for over 33 years. Prior to this, she was a nuclear medicine technologist, but her passion has always been rooted in The Germ Theory. Over the years Lisa has worked in various capacities of infection prevention in academic and community hospital settings, currently leading the system program at one of the largest non-profit health systems in the United States. Lisa was previously the Chair of the Public Policy Committee and the Chapter Legislative Representative (CLR) for the APIC Great Lakes Chapter. Currently she is an APIC Board Member. She is published in journals, is the author of book chapters, and has presented internationally on infection prevention. During the COVID-19 pandemic Lisa published on the impact to HAIs but her most most recent publications have been around hospital onset bloodstream infections and prevention strategies.