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Fellowship Innovations

Learn about the transformative breakthroughs emerging from VHA IE Fellowships

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Joint Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Collaborative Virtual Diabetes Self-Management Training and Education Program

Created by Mary Julius, RDN, LD, CDCES, 2024 Senior Innovation Fellow

Diabetes Self Management and Training /Diabetes Self Management Education and Support (DSMT/DSMES) helps people with diabetes learn, integrate, build trust and maintain behaviors as part of their overall treatment program. Providing DSMT/DSMES via multiple platforms including virtual, face to face and telephone improves access to care.

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High-risk Eye and Limb Preservation Program (HELPP)

Created by Dr. Nichol Salvo, DPM, 2024 Senior Innovation Fellow

HELPP increases access to podiatry basic foot care services for patients who are at increased risk for amputation by embedding intermediate care technicians (ICTs) into rural VA clinics. This reduces the travel burden for patients who are rurally located and ensures consistent, routine podiatry care.

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FastTrack PGx Results: empowering timely tailored prescriptions and precision medicine

Created by Dr. Rona Relova, M.D., 2024 Senior Innovation Fellow

This innovation envisions a near-future where every Veteran could benefit from Pharmacogenomics (PGx). PGx drives tailoring medications based on an individual's genetic profile. PGx can be leveraged to optimize drug effectiveness while limiting side effects. By utilizing PGx, clinicians can eliminate the trial-and-error and guesswork in prescribing: the RIGHT drug at the RIGHT dose for the RIGHT patient.

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Image of doctor handing patient a bottle of prescription medication.

Perinatal Reproductive Education Planning and Resources (PREPARe)

Created by Melissa Tran, PMH-C, 2023 Senior Innovation Fellow

PREPARe's mission is to create accessible, in-house, specialized services that provide integrative care, education and support to Veterans and their families on their reproductive journey. Providing services at the VA will allow for specialized Veteran centric care and assist in promoting and maintaining positive health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum Veterans and their families.

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Arches

Created by Dr. Amanda Lineau, Ph.D 2020 Senior Innovation Fellow

Arches is a data platform where users can readily access usable data to improve care for Veterans. The cloud-native platform, complete with a rich set of computational tools, harnesses the power of collaboration and innovation to provide a one-stop data workshop for VA employees and external collaborators. Users can easily collaborate and work together to produce solutions that drive the quality of patient treatment and outcomes.

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Expanding Harm Reduction Services and Implementation of Syringe Services Programs (SSP) within Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Created by Dr. Minh Ho, D.O., and Dr. Beth Dinges, Pharm.D., 2024 Entrepreneur in Residence Fellows

Syringe services programs are community-based prevention programs which provide evidence-based, life-saving services for people who use illicit drugs, including access to syringes, naloxone, fentanyl test strips, infection screening and linkage to treatment

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Up close image of someone handing another person clean syringes.

Compassionate Contact Corps (CCC)

Created by Lori Murphy, MSW, LISW-S, 2024 Entrepreneur in Residence Fellow

Compassionate Contact Corps is a social prescription program that offers friendly phone and video visits between trained volunteers and Veterans. The volunteer calls their matched Veteran once per week to provide compassionate conversation and companionship. This program has been proven to reduce loneliness and improve overall well-being in Veterans.

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Veterans Socials: Veteran Outreach Into the Community to Expand Social Support (VOICES)

Created by Dr. Jay Gorman, Ph.D., 2024 Entrepreneur in Residence Fellow

Building social support systems with Veterans in the community is an important part of ensuring Veterans’ overall health. Veterans Socials enhance communication and foster bonds among Veterans and others in the community. They are a place to meet friends, find resources, and have fun with other Veterans and community members. These Socials come in many forms, and we encourage hosts to shape them based on attendees’ needs and preferences.

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Mobile Prosthetic and Orthotic Care (MoPOC)

Created by Eli Kaufman, CPO, 2022-2021 Entrepreneur In Residence Fellow

MoPOC increases access to Orthotic & Prosthetic (O&P) specialty service for Veterans that struggle to travel to VA Medical Centers. By traveling to smaller VA clinics located in rural communities, MoPOC reduces or eliminates the patient travel burden, helping to ensure that Veterans are able to choose VA for lifelong O&P care.

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Transforming Health and Resiliency through Integration of Values-based Experiences (THRIVE)

Created by Candis Connel, Psy.D. and Jacquelyn Paykel, M.D., M.B.A., 2023 Senior Innovation Fellows

THRIVE enhances well-being for both Veterans and staff alike by engaging people in a transformational experience. In short, the program empowers individuals to improve their quality of life through exploration of their values and strengths, a positive psychology concept.

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