Innovators Convene at Inaugural VISN 10 Innovation Summit and Gulf Coast VA Health Care System Innovation Expo
Veterans Health Administration Innovation Ecosystem (VHA IE) fosters and spreads employee-driven innovation across the network of VA Medical Centers, Veteran Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), and other VA facilities. Innovators are supported through programs ranging from Go Fish! and Spark-Seed-Spread to Shark Tank and VHA Innovation Fellowships, and a variety of other programming and events.
This month, teams of innovators and leaders gathered for two events that both celebrated the past and looked to the future of healthcare innovation across VA: the VISN 10 Innovation Summit and the Gulf Coast VA Health Care System (GVHCS) Innovation Expo.
VISN 10 Innovation Summit
From April 11 – 12, 2023, teams from across VISN 10 gathered at the Dayton Historical Center and Dayton VA Medical Center (VAMC) to learn about, celebrate, and plan for innovation across VA. The event launched with opening remarks from Mr. Mark Murdock, Dayton VA Medical Center Director, and VA Chief Historian Mr. Mike Visconage, who presented on the history of innovation at VA.
Programming included spotlights on VISN 10 Innovation and Diffusion Best Practices, sessions led by both Matthew Knight, Programing Curator for VHA Innovator’s Network (iNET) and Danielle Hagan, Diffusion Specialist with VHA Diffusion of Excellence. Together, they facilitated breakout sessions where attendees crafted strategies to enable employee innovation and tackle challenges with a design-thinking mindset.
Other sessions included exploring what occurs beyond innovation, introductions to hack-a-thons, which inspire employees to seek novel solutions to Veteran and VA employee problems, and VISN 10 Success Stories, including that of Spark-Seed-Spread recipient Kevin Johnson, who is an MRI technologist at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.
 
Above: Innovators gather in Dayton, Ohio for the VISN 10 Innovation Summit.
Gulf Coast Innovation Expo
On April 4, 2023, the Gulf Coast VA Health Care System in Biloxi, Mississippi, kicked off their Innovation Expo with an informational workshop to allow employees to learn more about iNET, local innovation programs, and educational opportunities. The inaugural Innovation Expo was a huge success, with over 300 Veterans, caregivers, and employees in attendance. The event showcased innovative healthcare practices, local innovation projects, and opportunities for both employees and Veterans to learn more about innovation at GCVHCS.
During the expo, GCVHCS also had a Veteran Virtual Reality Lounge, where Veterans and employees were able to experience a variety of virtual reality technology. The GCVHCS Innovation Specialists, Liz Williams and Sheena Strong, along with Allison Amrhein, iNET Director, visited over 60 VA employees working the night shift to provide information that was presented at the expo, as well as share innovation opportunities.
“The nightshift road show was an incredible opportunity to network and reach employees on off tours to spread awareness to the innovation program and resources available to the employees,” said Elizabeth Williams, GCVHCS Innovation Specialist.
 
Above left: Innovators present their projects at the Gulf Coast VA Health Care System Innovation Expo.
Above right: Demonstrations of immersive technology at the Innovation Expo.
Get Involved in Innovation
Want to become an innovation hero? Visit our website to learn more about opportunities for involvement in innovation at VA.
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