This nominee has helped me/Sentara Norfolk General Hospital implement a process improvement initiative to improve our bleeding rates. Given we had a great opportunity to improve, VCSQI put me in touch with other academic medical centers in the region and Inova was the first one that responded with open arms to help. I was quickly transferred to the correct person, J'nay Harshbarger, Clinical Outcomes Specialist with NCDR and Cath PCI Invasive Vascular Labs, and she was so eager to hop on a call and help us.

Judy is a walking encyclopedia of the STS data. She is omnipresent at the VCSQI meetings, where she is always willing to help someone come up with research ideas, think of different ways to look at their data, and be more effective with their data entry. She is a role model for all data managers.

She is so helpful and innovative. She is a wealth of knowledge and is willing to impart with it to help another institution.

Judy Smith is a transformational leader highly skilled in communication and applying evidence-based practice through quality improvement, program evaluation, and daily management systems. She puts so much into collaboration, Cardiac Surgery Outcomes, and helping everyone who is a member of VCSQI. She is engaged with the quality meetings and with everything outcome related, STS data collection, and outcome improvement. Judy is often the first one to recognize others or connect people to issues, concerns, or conversations. She is aware of what is going on with the STS database and who is the most knowledgeable to answer complex questions - she knows who the resources are. She is the ultimate collaborator - she is transparent in sharing of information and solutions. Judy consistently raises the bar for standards of practice and outcomes. Her commitment to evidence-based practice and her ability to inspire the team at UVA and VCSQI to embrace best practices have improved patient outcomes and have improved the team's involvement and satisfaction.

Judy is going above and beyond to review data and collaborate across institutions and promote quality.

Judy has provided guidance and assistance to anyone who has asked her for help--even before she took a position with VCSQI.

As a new Quality Director, Judy has been an incredible mentor and well of knowledge. She is responsive and goes above and beyond to explain, share, and review quality data. There is no request too small for Judy and if she does not have an immediate answer, she is always willing to direct the question to another resource or respond once she does. She is incredibly supportive and encouraging and is an advocate for quality teams and its direct impact on patient quality outcomes.

I wish I could convey to you the depth of Judy's enthusiasm for VCSQI and how she has incorporated the work into all aspects of her role. Just has an influential role here and interreacts regularly with our clinical teams and our surgeons and cardiologist. She translates findings, support and develop improvement plans, leads a monthly quality support team and is incredibly articulate and fluent in VCSQI's work.

Mike is passionate about quality, quality improvements and how he can not only help our hospital, but others in the area as well. He is dedicated to the community and his patients.

Nancy Fauber is an integral part of the Cardiology team at UVA Health. She not only maintains data registries, but also provides valuable data and feedback to our teams related to STEMI/nSTEMI calls in efforts to identify system barriers and other areas of opportunity. Nancy is able to seamlessly combine transport, providers, nurses, technicians, and ancillary services to collaborate on identifying areas of opportunities for improved patient care, patient experience and best practice. By providing recaps on STEMI/nSTEMIs, the nurses, technicians, providers and transport/EMS are able to give perishable feedback and collectively discuss system delays, opportunities for improvement and celebrate excellence. Her contribution to the heart team in invaluable and greatly appreciated.

Peter O’Brien was a visionary to realize the need to start VHAC and remarkable in his unwavering energy continuing to lead the organization since its inception. He is to be credited with continuing to reinvent VHAC, expanding its mission to include shock and soon pulm emboli care. Part of all these efforts has been his engagement with others, leveraging the skills, ideas, and energy of colleagues, to advance the care of Virginians. His successful collaborative style and his steadfastness to the broader mission, have resulted in the enduring success of VHAC. He is truly remarkable!

Dr. Lancey has shared his ideas, knowledge, and expertise through participation in workgroups, presentations at quarterly meetings, and taking on extra tasks as a board member.