Tech & Health

November 18, 2024

StrategyShare 2024 highlights innovations that advance Vanderbilt Health’s mission

The highlighted efforts demonstrated commitment to increasing access to care, improving health equity and leveraging advanced technology to serve patients.

Jillian Williams, MBA, chair of the StrategyShare 2024 Committee and director of Business Development Operations in Population Health, introduces the event’s program. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Lori Martin, MBA, left, and Morgan Vaughn, MHSc, from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital explain how the center reduces three days of prep and planning appointments for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer to a single day, meaning treatment can begin two to four weeks sooner. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Clisby Hall, JD, left, and Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI, share an update on the transformative impact of VUMC’s Mutual Respect policy enacted in 2023. The policy is rooted in the principle that while patients can refuse care, this right does not supersede employees’ right to work free from racism, bias and discrimination. They encouraged employees to continue to report incidents and to complete VUMC’s Mutual Respect training. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Camp Sugar Falls, founded in 1982 by Jennifer Najjar, MD, offers more than just a summer retreat; it instills confidence and independence in children who are living with diabetes. The camp embodies the spirit of community and care synonymous with Vanderbilt Health. (photo by Steve Green)
From left, Maggie McGrady-Sumonka, MBA, Autumn Montgomery, MSPH, and Kelly Moore discuss how high-quality race, ethnicity and language data play a vital role in identifying and addressing health disparities to improve health outcomes. From front-line staff collecting this crucial information to researchers utilizing it to enhance outcomes, this work is essential. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Marie Martin, PhD, MEd, speaks about the Vanderbilt Collaborative for Global Health Equity, an innovative training program that cultivates interdisciplinary collaboration among medical residents. It provides hands-on experience, equipping residents to tackle complex health care challenges in diverse global settings.
Martha Shepherd, DO, MPH, medical director of Vanderbilt Health at Metro Nashville Public Schools, discussed Lifestyle Medicine, an evidence-based approach to health care focused on preventing, treating and reversing disease by replacing harmful habits with healthier choices. The foundational pillars are eating a plant-predominant diet, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, managing stress, avoiding risky substances and nurturing positive social connections.
Elizabeth Rose, EdD, MPH, MEd, far left, moderates a panel about pioneering projects that are reshaping health care using artificial intelligence (AI). The Pediatric Infusion Center has implemented iQueue’s AI for real-time patient assignments, achieving the addition of 19 infusion slots weekly. Tools like AI Inbasket, DAX-generated notes, and VUMC aiChat are improving diagnostic accuracy while strengthening the provider-patient relationship. Panel participants are, left to right, Yaa Kumah-Crystal, MD, MPH, MS, Chase Webber, DO, Ashley Frost, MSN, RN, CPN, Holly Tyler, RN, and Shane Stenner, MD, MS. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Heidi Schaefer, MD, and Amanda Lyles, RN, MMHC, discuss how access to lifesaving organ transplants has been improved by extending services to underserved populations. An outreach team partners with community providers to bring care to where patients live throughout the region, leading to tremendous growth in the number of transplants. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Thomas Cassini, MD, speaks on advances in diagnostic care at the Undiagnosed Diseases Program. By leveraging AI, BioVU and structural biology, VUMC significantly reduces diagnostic odysseys and health care costs for patients with rare diseases. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Patty Wright, MD, chief medical officer of Adult Ambulatory Clinics and professor of Medicine, and Adam Huggins, MD, Vanderbilt Regional Hospital Division chief of staff, speak on the significant impact of the regional hospital systems. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
Del Ray Zimmerman, director of the Program for LGBTQ Health and Office for Diversity Affairs, and member of the StrategyShare 2024 Committee, introduces a presentation. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

Jillian Williams, MBA, chair of the StrategyShare 2024 Committee and director of Business Development Operations in Population Health, introduces the event’s program. (photo by Erin O. Smith)

By: Jill Clendening and Erin O. Smith

If Vanderbilt Health’s employees, patients and patient families were asked to come up with words to define the health system, it’s a safe bet that “innovative” would be high on that list.

Many of Vanderbilt Health’s innovative thinkers and community partners shared their transformative ideas during StrategyShare 2024, an annual showcase of exciting work taking place in clinical spaces, research labs and community outreach. The highlighted efforts demonstrated Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s commitment to increasing access to care, improving health equity and leveraging advanced technology to better serve patients.

“The range of ideas is frankly breathtaking,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and CEO of VUMC and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “Cutting-edge projects with AI, caring for vulnerable populations through street medicine and accelerating prostate care at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital are just a sampling.

“Think about how the ideas align with our three Strategic Directions. Think about the impact they can have, not only on the individuals we serve, but also on the future of health care itself. Because we are here to define that future.”

Featured initiatives were gathered through IdeaShare, an online tool used by the VUMC Strategic Directions team to collect ideas that successfully address challenges and bring improvements.

“Through StrategyShare and other events, we are reminded that across the many, diverse Vanderbilt Health workstreams, we are united by our commitment to an audacious, yet simple theme — making health care personal,” said David Calkins, PhD, director for Strategic Directions and Vice President for Research.

Calkins, Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, and Senior Director of the Office of Research Susan Meyn make up the Strategic Directions team, and members of the StrategyShare 2024 Committee are chair Jillian Williams, MBA, Allison Arata, MPH, Elizabeth Rose, EdD, MPH, and Del Ray Zimmerman.

Support for StrategyShare 2024 was provided by Marketing and Engagement, Operational Support Services, the Office of the CEO and Dean, Strategy and Innovation, VUMC IT and Interpreter Services.

If you missed the event, view the StrategyShare 2024 presentations. Click the banner and log in to view. Use the chapters button in the video to jump to a specific segment.

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