Inaugural Robert L. Jesse Award for Excellence in Innovation Given by VA Secretary
On October 23, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) presented the inaugural Robert L. Jesse Award for Excellence in Innovation during the VA’s State of Innovation conference, the Innovation Experience, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
“Dr. Robert Jesse had a clear ‘why’- delivering exceptional care to Veterans. Throughout his roles at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as Chief of Cardiology at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Chief of Academic Affiliations, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, and Acting Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Jesse never lost sight of this purpose and ultimately dedicated over 30 years to advancing health care for Veterans.”
“Known as an early adopter, Dr. Jesse invested in digital technologies in the mid-2000s and advocated for a VA National Simulation Program in 2010, equipped with immersive, simulation-based training for medical professionals.”
“As the son of a Veteran, and life-long learner, Dr. Jesse used his visionary leadership and expertise to advocate for new perspectives and helped set the tone for a culture of innovation where ideas and people can thrive.”
This award recognizes and honors VA employees who have demonstrated excellence and enabled the discovery and spread of health care innovation that exceeds expectations, restores hope and builds trust.
The inaugural award was given to Dr. Thomas Osborne, director of the VA National Center for Collaborative Healthcare Innovation (NCCHI) and the Chief Medical Informatics Officer (CMIO) at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.
“Dr. Robert Jesse was an incredible innovator and leader and his innovations and reforms in VA emergency care led to significant improvements in the quality of care provided across the VA health care system,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “I would like to thank the Jesse family for their permission and support in using Dr. Jesse as the namesake for this award and congratulate Dr. Osborne for his contributions to VHA’s role as a leader of health care innovation in the U.S. and the world.”
The two award finalists, recognized for their tireless pursuit of excellence in innovation, were Kathleen Frisbee, executive director of Connected Health under VHA’s Office of Connected Care and Dr. Beth Ripley who also holds a doctorate in neuroscience and serves as a senior innovation fellow and radiologist from VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
The winner and finalists were selected by a committee composed of leadership from across VHA. The committee selected participants on a variety of criteria, including vision, community involvement/service, interpersonal effectiveness and Veteran-centric outcomes.
The VA’s State of Innovation Report explains how to innovate like Dr. Robert Jesse:
Embrace Possibility - Dr. Jesse pursued the “what if?” and pushed for VA to predict and create the future. As part of his many accolades, he pioneered research in cardiac biomarkers, expedited cardiac catheterization for acute heart attack patients, and led the modernization of emergency departments at VA.
Don’t Go it Alone - Dr. Robert Jesse embodied “delivering more, together.” His advocacy for VHA’s longtime partnership with the nation’s medical schools best showcases his belief that greater value is built when capabilities are shared and integrated.
Walk the Walk - Dr. Robert Jesse understood the power of disrupting the status quo. His legacy at VA is marked by his contributions as a thought-leader, and the establishment of the National Genomic Service, Office of Patient Centered Care, Office of Quality, Safety, and Value, and Office of Health Equity, each of which continues to play a vital role in the Veteran experience today.
VA and the VHA Innovation Ecosystem (VHA IE) are the catalysts for the advancement of care delivery and service through mission-driven innovation. VHA IE includes the VHA Innovators Network, Diffusion of Excellence, Care and Transformational Initiatives, and the VHA Innovation Community. These programs aim to identify and scale innovation and promising practices across VA by empowering and enabling their employees.
We hope this award inspires people to think forward and innovate with passion - we're looking forward to next year’s inspiring projects and nominees!