VA QUALITY SCHOLARS

Developing Leaders and Scholars to Improve Healthcare

The VA Quality Scholars program trains leaders and scholars in healthcare improvement for the VA and leads change nationally and internationally. 

The VA Quality Scholars program consists of eleven sites across the United States, as well as an affiliate site in Toronto, Canada. Each site in the US consists of a partnership between a VA hospital and an academic institution. It has an interprofessional emphasis with physicians, doctoral-trained nurses, clinical psychologists and pharmacists as fellows and faculty.

updated vaqs map

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The Coordinating Center is excited to announce the VAQS program expansion following the recent program renewal! The competitively selected new sites include: Charleston, Durham, and Minneapolis. The VAQS program now reaches 11 sites nationally (existing sites include: Atlanta, Birmingham, Cleveland, Greater Los Angeles, Iowa City, Nashville, San Francisco and White River Junction).

The VAQS program is supported by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations and includes the Houston Coordinating Center, national program sites, and partnerships with the VA Rural Scholars program and the Toronto Quality Scholars program. 

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Fellows and Alumni

  • Interdisciplinary Fellowships

  • Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists & Psychologists

  • Network of hundreds of graduates

  • 30%  alumni in federal leadership 

  • 40% alumni in academic positions 

  • Two-thirds in VA, take leadership positions

  • Alumni network: CEO’s, CMO’s & more

  • Nationally recognized research funding 

Sites

Iowa City
Faculty are renowned for their expertise in research methods and specific content. Fellows gain an expertise in locally driven quality improvement and access to VA data sources and robust research infrastructure.
Toronto
Known for national and international organizational involvement, fellows come to gain an expertise in academic quality improvement and patient safety. Faculty are sought after for research, productivity, and mentorship.
Birmingham
Fellows are known to come from such interdisciplinary backgrounds as social work, geriatrics, infectious disease, public health, and pharmacy to learn from faculty with expertise in signature programs and areas of excellence.
Minneapolis
As a five-star facility, the Minneapolis VA Health Care System has established a system of QI and patient safety that has served as a catalyst for our leadership in improving Veteran health. Our approach provides faculty and staff the ability to incorporate improvement into their strategic priorities and daily work.
Nashville
Known for its quality improvement programs and close collaborations with Vanderbilt University, Nashville attracts fellows in search of an individualized learning plan to fit their future goals.  Faculty represent broad and deep experience in quality improvement, implementation science, health services research, clinical epidemiology and outcomes research.
San Francisco
Fellows achieve mastery in study design and research methodology, implementation science, and clinical program evaluation. In addition to nurse and physician fellows/scholars, this site also includes fellows/scholars from clinical psychology and pharmacy.
Atlanta
With Magnet recognition at both the Atlanta VA Medical Center and its primary affiliate, Emory University, Atlanta is recognized for its strength of collaboration with regional partners. Faculty provide expertise in implementation science, system redesign, interprofessional education, and curriculum design.
Cleveland
Faculty are especially sought after for their experience with quality and safety education for nurses at a site with strong interdisciplinary teams and information technology. Fellows receive training in QI, operation-related projects, implementation science, and leadership.
White River Junction
Fellows gain expertise as part of multidisciplinary groups of health professionals at a site known for emphasis on effective communication, strong mentoring, and avoidance of over-medicalization.  Faculty are known for research support in advanced quantitative and qualitative techniques.
Greater Los Angeles
With faculty expertise in women’s health, vulnerable populations, and mental health, among other areas, the GLA program is known for a strong health services research program, diverse activities and interests, and close connections to UCLA and RAND.
Durham
The Durham VAHCS has an array of robust QI structures in place demonstrating our dedication to continual process improvement of care. All QI efforts and results are reported directly to the Executive Leadership Team demonstrating support and buy-in for facility QI from the highest level of leadership.
Charleston
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (RHJVAMC) is a SAIL 5-star rated, level 1A VA healthcare system. Our facility has won 4 separate “Zero Harm” Awards in 2017 from the South Carolina Hospital Association and has developed award-winning multidisciplinary programs to improve opioid safety and reduce opioid-benzodiazepine co-prescribing.

Summer Institute

Summer Institute is the culmination of VA Quality Scholars year-long works and the international collaborative that springs forth initiatives for future endeavors. Scholars, Faculty, and Fellows enjoy a week-long conference featuring world-renowned guest speakers, innovation, and scholarly activity.