The AAMI Foundation has teamed up with Johnson & Johnson to create the Kilmer Fund, which will award scholarships and research grants to students and professionals in the microbiological quality and sterility assurance community.
The new fund has generated nearly $120,000 in contributions—about 60% of the $200,000 goal—paving the way for the program to award scholarships or grants for the first time later this year.
Steve Campbell, executive director of the AAMI Foundation, and chief operating officer at AAMI, said: “The Kilmer Fund is part of the AAMI Foundation’s new mission to expand its focus on awarding scholarships, grants, and awards to deserving healthcare technology professionals. Thanks to the support of so many generous contributors, we’re off to a good start. But we still have a fair amount to raise in order to launch the program.”
Through the Kilmer Fund, up to three scholarship awards or research grants will be given annually through a selection process and committee.
The Kilmer Scholarship Award (KSA) will provide academic assistance to individuals entering or continuing in the field of microbiological quality or sterility assurance. The scholarships can be applied to field-related undergraduate or graduate programs, including industrial microbiology, engineering (chemical, electrical, mechanical, or biomedical), physics, and pharmacy.
The Kilmer Research Grant (KRG) will provide funds to individuals or groups seeking to advance the science of microbiological quality or sterility assurance through collaborative research. KRG funds will typically be used to offset costs associated with securing materials, products, or services that are critical to the research.
The Kilmer Committee is being formed to develop the scholarship and grant criteria, which is expected to be finalised this spring. If all goes according to plan, the criteria will be publicised later this spring and the committee will select this year’s winners by the fall.
