White River Junction VA Medical Center, Vermont
The VA Outcomes Group: New Leadership, New Energy, New Horizons
June 23, 2015
Drs. Phil Goodney, a vascular surgeon, and Brenda Sirovich, a general internist, recently completed their first year at the helm of the VA Outcomes Group (VAOG) (www.vaoutcomes.org). The Outcomes Group, formed in 1991 by two young clinician-investigators, Gil Welch and Elliott Fisher, has matured into an internationally recognized group of clinician-researcher-educators based at the White River Junction VA Medical Center. For over two decades, this diverse group of physicians across a variety of specialties – internists and surgeons, specialists and generalists – has sought to critically evaluate the effectiveness of health care, advance the knowledge needed to improve the health of Veterans and the population, and train the next generation of clinician investigators. Dozens of physicians have begun or fostered successful academic careers in VAOG, including a number of national and internationally recognized leaders in outcomes research, quality improvement, and health care administration.
Appointed Co-Directors late in 2013, Goodney and Sirovich represent only the 3rd pair of Co-Directors in VAOG history. Phil and Brenda had both trained in VAOG and were eager to bring their unique strengths, new ideas, enthusiasm, and loyalty to reinvigorate the group as it approached the start of its second quarter century. “We’re both excited about taking on the leadership of VAOG,” commented Goodney, “and are honored and inspired by the confidence placed in us.” With strong support from Deborah Amdur, Center Director, as well as research partnerships including with The Dartmouth Institute of Health Policy and Clinical Practice and Geisel SYNERGY, VAOG has clarified its vision and rededicated itself to helping foster the success of VA WRJ. VAOG has also embarked upon several new and exciting initiatives.
First, VAOG has enhanced a 5-year collaboration with the VA Quality Scholars (VAQS) program, a national fellowship that promotes high quality health care for Veterans, and attracts highly qualified physicians to VA White River Junction, developing them into new leaders in health services research, quality, and safety. Under the leadership of newly named VAQS Senior Scholar and VAOG faculty member, Louise Davies, MD, the VAQS program now more closely than ever collaborates with VAOG faculty, allowing fellows exceptional training in both Outcomes Research and Quality Improvement, as well as an appreciation for the synergistic role they play in improving health and health care. Second, VAOG is proud to have strengthened the team through the recruitment of a new Administrative Director, Ms. Robyn Finkenkeller. Having radically reformed and streamlined VAOG operations in just one year, Robyn is now heading west and handing over the reins to exceptionally capable Cory Gaudette. Third, in partnership with Center leadership, VAOG is building new opportunities for physician recruitment and retention – efforts that have already led to the hiring of Florian Schroeck, Chief of Urology and an exceptionally promising health services researcher, who has already received pilot funding from the highly competitive American Society of Clinical Oncology, as well as funding from our own Norris Cotton Cancer Center (a “Prouty Pilot”). These efforts have also allowed Drs. Goodney and Sirovich, along with Director Amdur and SYNERGY leader Dr. Robert Zwolak, to develop the VA Outcomes Group / SYNERGY Faculty Scholar Program, a two year opportunity providing protected time and research mentoring for emerging physician-scientists. “ We are delighted,” said Dr. Sirovich, “that Dr. Brian Lucas, a hospitalist/researcher, has been named VAOG’s inaugural SYNERGY Faculty Scholar.”
Finally, VAOG is building a new VA Data Access Center, which will enable VAOG to apply its strengths in innovative research and critical thinking to the rich data resources of the Veterans Health Administration – a new direction already underway with the hiring of a first analyst, Amy Rose, and the naming of Dr. Frank Drescher as Analytic Director. Additionally, national experts in biostatistics and observational methods, Chip Cole, PhD, and Todd MacKenzie, PhD, have both been appointed to roles in the VAOG to help improve analytic efforts and approaches. “We look forward to this opportunity to build our core of statistical and epidemiologic experts, and make this new ‘piece of the puzzle’ a reality,” added Dr. Goodney.
In summary, VAOG looks forward to continuing a long tradition of excellence, leading the way in health services research and training the next generation. The group is proud and grateful that these efforts continue to be a vibrant and exciting part of the White River Junction VA Medical Center. Interested in learning more or in collaboration? Please contact us through our website, www.vaoutcomes.org.
