VA Quality Scholars

The VA Quality Scholars program has been training leaders and scholars in healthcare improvement for the VA for over 20 years, leading 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.
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.

VAQS Fellowship Benefits

The benefits of our program are numerous. But here are just a few highlights.

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Two-year healthcare improvement & leadership curriculum

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Networking with national experts & leaders

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Professional development

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Expansive alumni network

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Stipend and federal government benefits

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Data analysis training and consultation

Featured Scholars

Jennifer Robles, MD, MPH, VAQS Alumni Nashville 2019

Dr. Robles was recently promoted to be the Section Chief of Urology at Nashville VA! VUMC Urology said, “She is a tremendous clinician, QI warrior, and urologic leader“!

Kenneth Lam, MD, VAQS Fellow San Francisco

Dr. Lam was quoted in New York Times for a recent editorial he published in JAMA IM!
Read more here!

Browse VAQS Sites

Atlanta

Atlanta

Our SitesFaculty at our Atlanta VAQS site are sought after for their expertise in implementation science, system redesign, interprofessional education, and curriculum design, particularly in the areas of quality improvement, health systems, patient safety and...

Birmingham

Birmingham

Our SitesOur program site is known for interprofessional training, quality and safety education, health services research, surgical outcomes, and inpatient quality care (nurse-led interventions and others). Our site includes fellows from nursing (pre/post PhD and DNP...

Charleston

Charleston

Our SitesThe 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...

Cleveland

Cleveland

Our SitesFaculty at our VAQS site are sought after for experience in Quality Improvement (QI), education experts in QI, Implementation science – de-implementation, Interdisciplinary education, operations-related projects, and experience with quality and safety...

Durham

Durham

Our SitesOur program site benefits from the robust and innovative clinical, training,and research programs offered at the Durham VA Health Care System (DVACHS).  DVAHCS cares for 70,000 Veterans in central-eastern North Carolina region, and serves as a rich training...

Greater Los Angeles

Greater Los Angeles

Our SitesThe VA Greater Los Angeles Quality Scholars site is not currently accepting applications. Thank you for your interest! Faculty at our VAQS site are sought after for expertise in implementation science, program evaluation, primary care, mental health, women’s...

Iowa City

Iowa City

Our SitesFaculty at our VAQS site are sought after for their expertise in research methods and specific content. Expertise includes nurse-physician communication, rural health, infection control, pharmacy and statistical methods. In addition, expertise in...

Minneapolis

Minneapolis

Our SitesAs a five-star facility, the Minneapolis VA Health Care System (MVAHCS) has established a system of quality improvement and patient safety (PS) that has served as a catalyst for our leadership in improving Veteran health. Our approach is to provide...

Nashville

Nashville

Our SitesFaculty at the Nashville VA Quality Scholars site are sought after for their breadth and depth of experience in quality improvement, implementation science, health services research, clinical epidemiology and outcomes research, health behavior, and clinical...

San Francisco

San Francisco

Our SitesOur program site is known for training in study methodology, including very active and educational weekly Works-in-Progress session. Implementation science certificate program, affiliation with UCSF School of Medicine and UCSF School of Nursing, including...

Toronto

Toronto

Our SitesFaculty at our VAQS site are sought after for research, productivity and mentorship. Fellows come to our VAQS site to gain an expertise in academic quality improvement and patient safety. Our program site is known for national and international organizational...

White River Junction

White River Junction

Our SitesThe VA White River Junction Quality Scholars site is not currently accepting applications. Thank you for your interest!The VAQS fellowship program at the WRJ VA Medical Center (WRJ VAMC) is an interprofessional fellowship program offering opportunities for...

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.

More Information

"VAQS fast tracked me to leadership! I graduated with the ability to implement clinical programs, conduct continuous quality improvement and lead healthcare change from the formal curriculum, excellent mentorship and experiential learning. It would have taken me years to learn those skills without VAQS."

-Jessica Eng, MD VAQS Alumni 2014

“My time and experience in the VAQS program was invaluable! I gained theoretical & practical experience in leading teams, consensus building, measuring/monitoring clinical data, scholarly writing, and most importantly, how to make positive improvements in healthcare.”

- Alvin Jeffery, MSN, RN-BC, CCRN, FNP-BC, VAQS Alumni 2017

"I can honestly say that my experience in VAQS, first as a fellow and later as faculty, has been deeply rewarding, and that the training, networking, and development experiences related to VAQS have helped me to develop a successful trajectory as an improver, leader, teacher, and scientist."

- Brant Oliver, PhD, NP, MSN, MPH, APRN-BC, VAQS Alumni 2012

"The VAQS program has significantly impacted my academic career and scholarship. The program provided me with individualized mentorship which promoted my QI and research projects enabling me to contribute as a pre and postdoctoral nurse scientist to improve patient outcomes."

-Christine Horvat Davey, PhD, BSPS, RN, VAQS Alumni 2019

"VAQS put me on the fast track to leadership! I graduated with the knowledge and skills to implement clinical programs, continuous quality improvement and healthcare leadership from a combination of formal curriculum, excellent mentorship and experiential learning. It would have taken me a years to learn those skills without VAQS."

-Jessica Eng, MD, MPH, VAQS Alumni 2014

“My time and experience in the VAQS program was invaluable! I gained theoretical & practical experience in leading teams, consensus building, measuring/monitoring clinical data, scholarly writing, and most importantly, how to make positive improvements in healthcare.”

- Alvin Jeffery, MSN, RN-BC, CCRN, FNP-BC, VAQS Alumni 2017

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