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Fellows gain valuable project promotion and expansion opportunities, access to renowned mentors, subject matter experts, and a supportive community of innovation peers. VHA IE Fellowships offer a structured and supportive environment with monthly enrichment experiences, up to 20% protected time for your fellowship project, and peer collaboration engagements.
The application portal will open on May 14, 2024, and the deadline for submission is June 14, 2024, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. To be eligible, applicants must have successfully implemented their innovative solution in at least one facility and have projects that are relevant to VHA mission, strategic priorities, and/or operations. The FY25 VHA IE Fellowships Application Guide is now live! The application guide provides an overview of the application process, including eligibility, timelines, and additional resources to craft a complete application. The application guide can be found on the Fellowships Application website or here.
MIT Catalyst Fellowship Application
Applications for VHA IE's third fellowship program, MIT Catalyst Fellowship, is also open now will open. Information sessions will be held on Tuesday, May 28 at 1PM ET and Wednesday, July 10 at 6PM ET. All those interesting in learning more about the MIT Catalyst Fellowship Program, register by clicking here.
MIT Catalyst is built on a principled methodology for needs identification and opportunity development, and an organizational model that fosters a vibrant multi-stakeholder community. The Catalyst mission is to increase the potential impact of biomedical research and improve the likelihood that newly developed solutions will address unmet health care needs.
Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance mental health care for Veterans was the central focus of the AI and Mental Health Summit convened by innovators across VA from April 11 - 12, 2024. Preventing Veteran suicide was the paramount concern, highlighting the urgent need for technological advancements in mental health care.
Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks, underscored AI's potential to revolutionize Veterans' health care:
“AI has enormous potential to greatly benefit Veterans' health," said Dr. Clancy. “Suicide prevention is our number one priority. We need to continue to increase the technology we offer to help Veterans in times of need.”
Dr. April Foreman, VA Director of Technology and Innovation, and Dr. Amanda Lienau, Director of Open Innovation, spearheaded discussions on AI's applications in mental health care. Breakout sessions facilitated intimate dialogues among participants, leading to innovative AI implementation ideas, including early intervention strategies, real-time patient monitoring, and high-risk patient identification.
Dr Lienau closed the summit by noting the productive conversations and thought-provoking interventions made over the two days. The brainstorming was documented from each breakout room and will be shared with VA leadership during VA AI Community of Practice conversations that will be held in the future.
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Warrior Surf Foundation (WSF) provides free surf therapy, wellness coaching, and yoga programing to Veterans experiencing PTSD, transition issues, and other mental health matters. Since April 2023, over 800 Veterans, plus their family members have had the opportunity to learn new skills, increase mobility, and enhance their mental well-being through WSF’s holistic and evidence-based practices. Located in Folly Beach, South Carolina, WSF uses a comprehensive approach to promote physical and psychological well-being through mindfulness, nature connection, and community. Founded by Stephanie Dasher in 2015, WSF creates tangible access to mental and physical health care, majorly through its core 12-week surf therapy program available to Veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.
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Warrior Surf and Veteran Engagement
Dasher connected with Stephanie Brown, Innovation Specialist at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System in Charleston, to collaborate with local Veteran Service Organizations (VSO). “I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to meet Veterans during our VSO engagement and hear first-hand how WSF has given them a community to bond and heal. Organizations like this that combine therapy, recreation, and community are providing invaluable healing opportunities for those who have sacrificed so much,” said Brown. Innovation Specialists like Brown inform local VSOs of the innovative work happening at their local VA and ways their members can get involved to foster a stronger sense of community.
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On May 1 and 2, VA physical therapists, providers, and nurses gathered at the national SimVET center in Orlando, for the second Clinical Decision Making Workshop-Embedding Physical Therapy into Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT PT). The workshop, co-hosted by the PACT PT team, Diffusion of Excellence, SimLEARN, the Office of Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and the Office of Primary Care, aimed to educate attendees on the key components of PACT PT.
Day one kicked off with insightful opening remarks from VA Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Shereef Elnahal, National Physical Therapy Program Manager for VA Office of Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services, Dr. Mark Havran, and Director of Primary Care Operations for VHA Office of Primary Care, Dr. Thomas Mattras.
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Throughout the two days, participants engaged in case studies, simulations, and implementation planning. These interactive sessions facilitated teamwork and networking to promote the successful replication and scaling of the PACT PT program, which is currently available at over 194 sites across 113 VA health care systems. The workshop boasted over 50 attendees spanning 13 VISNs and 22 VA sites, each bringing their own experience and expertise to the workshop. Attendees learned the value of integrated team care utilizing physical therapists to increase Veteran access to care, reduce community care referrals, provide cost savings, and increase provider and nursing satisfaction across VHA.
“I had a fantastic time and learned a lot,” shared one attendee. “I am happy to support this worthy cause and see it spread across VHA. Rarely do leaders get to engage in such a worthwhile undertaking in their career.”
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