Awards
Paul Batalden Award
The VA Quality Scholars (VAQS) Alumni Award, now known as the Paul Batalden Award, recognizes a VAQS graduate’s outstanding accomplishments in the field of healthcare improvement and patient safety. The winner of the award is invited to speak at the annual program conference: VAQS Summer Institute.
All VAQS Alumni who completed fellowship May 2016 or earlier are eligible. Current VAQS faculty are eligible to apply if they are VAQS alumni. The award is a cumulative career award and recognizes the individual’s accomplishments throughout their career.

2022 Award Recipient: Dr. Christianne Roumie
Dr. Christianne Roumie, MD, MPH
Nashville VAQS Alumni, 2004

2021 Award Recipient: Dr. Kierstin Kennedy

2020 Award Recipient: Dr. Mamta Singh

2019 Award Recipient: Dr. Suzie Miltner

2018 Award Recipient: Dr. Susan Kirsch
Rising Star Award
3The Rising Star Award, our newest Alumni Award, recognizes a recent graduate’s outstanding accomplishments in the field of healthcare improvement and patient safety. The winner of the award will also be invited to speak at the annual program conference: VAQS Summer Institute.
All VAQS Alumni who completed fellowship within the past 5 years (no earlier than June 2017) are eligible for the 2023 Rising Star Award. Current VAQS faculty are eligible to apply if they are VAQS alumni. The award recognizes the individual’s accomplishments during and since completion of the fellowship.

2022 Award Recipient: Dr. Shanina Knighton
Shanina Knighton, PhD RN CIC
Cleveland Alumni, 2018
