Program Overview
Scientific Program Areas
IQuEst's strategic goals collectively contribute across the health-care continuum and reflect a key area of focus in determinants of health care quality, with each area informing IQuESt research activities across our theme. Towards this end, we place a special emphasis on collaboration among investigators across research programs, with the expectation that these collaborations will result in products that reflect multiple research perspectives and address numerous research goals.
The four scientific programs are:
- The Health Policy, Quality & Informatics Program – led by Hardeep Singh, M.D., M.P.H. & Jessica Davila, Ph.D.
Members conduct multidisciplinary research to impact clinical practice, redesign care processes and inform policy development to improve quality and safety of IT-enabled health care.
- The Behavioral Health Program – led by Terri Fletcher, Ph.D.
Members test new ways to deliver proven behavioral treatments to improve the health of Veterans and the nation.
- The Clinical Effectiveness & Population Health Program – led by Drew Helmer, M.D., M.S.
Members study the distribution and determinants of health-related states, events, and outcomes in specific populations and compare diagnostic, therapeutic, and health-delivery strategies in routine critical care, with the goal of improving health outcomes.
- The Implementation, Innovation & Evaluation Program – led by Kyler Godwin, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Members translate health care innovations within learning health care systems, advance and apply concepts and methods of implementation science, and lead healthcare improvement locally and nationally. Implementation and improvement science for faculty at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine to implement and sustain healthcare innovations.
These scientific programs are supported by following cores:
- Methodology & Analytics Core – led by Shubhada Sansgiry, Ph.D.
Members provide methodological and analytical support during grant application design and writing. They assist in developing and carrying out analytic plans, participating in pilot projects, and actively participating in publications as both the contributing and primary authors.
- Administrative & Operations Core – led by Shannon Kenyon, M.B.A.
Members provide resources and expertise that further the objectives of IQuESt and its stakeholders in the areas of grant management, finance, human resources, communication and strategic planning.
- Education & Training Core – led by Natalie Hundt, Ph.D.
Members supervise postdoctoral fellows and coordinate accross all IQuESt training programs, track trainee successes and outcomes; manage seminars for fellows, faculty, and professional development opportunites; and confer education awards.
The goal of each program is to provide outstanding leadership and scholarship to produce the best science in its area of emphasis, while collaborating effectively across programs. IQuESt's principal investigator, four scientific program chiefs, along with the three core chiefs comprise the Leadership Team.
