ANNUAL REPORT 2025
LETTER FROM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Carole Hemmelgarn Program Director
In 2025, the Executive Master’s in Clinical Quality, Safety, and Leadership (EM-CQSL) program marked several important milestones. We celebrated our first graduating class from the School of Health, with commencement held in Gaston Hall, often referred to as “the jewel in the crown” of Georgetown University. This occasion symbolized both achievement and a deepening connection to the University’s traditions.
The program also established an official home at the Capitol Campus, with dedicated office space at 111 Massachusetts Avenue. We hosted our first onsite session in this new location, providing learners the opportunity to engage in a vibrant, interdisciplinary graduate community in the heart of Washington, DC.This new setting enhances both the academic and professional experience for our students.
In response to the evolving demands of today’s complex healthcare environment, we developed an Executive Certificate in Human Factors and Healthcare. We look forward to enrolling our first cohort in 2026, further expanding our commitment to advancing safety and quality in healthcare systems.
The continued growth and success of the EM-CQSLprogram are made possible by our exceptional faculty, whose passion for teaching inspires excellence, and by our students and alumni, whose dedication to lifelong learning and service drives meaningful change.Together, they are advancing a vision of healthcare that is equitable, safe, and centered on patients across the entire continuum of life.
Gratefully,
Carole Carole Hemmelgarn, MS, MS
Program Director, Executive Master’s in Clinical Quality, Safety, and Leadership, Georgetown University
CLASS OF 2025
MASTER’S DEGREE RECIPIENTS
FolasadeAkala
RoushanaraAli-Khan
Selena Briggs
Daisy Butrim
Berhanu Dugasa
Brian Gay
Hilary Hancock
Alexander Howell
Hina Khawar
Andrea Kysor
Katie Manhard
Erin McLaughlin
Maria Stidham
DianaTamondong-Lachica
CERTIFICATE RECIPIENTS
Marie Russell
Executive Master’s in Clinical Quality, Safety,
and Leadership Class of May 2025
In Spring of 2024, 4 professionals with diverse backgrounds in healthcare joined the EM-CQSL program. After 16 months of learning, the students graduated in May 2025!
Roushanara Ali-Khan, BSN
Hilary Hancock, BSN
Selena Briggs,MD, PhD, MBA, CPHQ, FACs
Maria Stidham, PT, DPT, MBE, CPHQ
Executive Master’s in Clinical Quality, Safety, and Leadership Class of December 2025
In Fall of 2024, 10 professionals with diverse backgrounds in healthcare joined the EM-CQSL program. After 16 months of learning, the students graduated in December 2025!
Daisy Butrim, MBA
Alexander Howell, MBA
Berhanu Dugasa, MSc, CPHQ
Executive Master’s in Clinical Quality, Safety, and Leadership Class of December 2025
In Fall of 2025, 10 professionals with diverse backgrounds in healthcare joined the EM-CQSL program. After 16 months of learning, the students graduated in December 2025!
Hina Khawar, MBBS
Katie Manhard, BS
Erin McLaughlin, MD, MPH
Andrea Kysor, MSN, RN, NP-C
Diana Tamondong-Lachica, MD, MBA
Executive Certificate in Clinical Quality, Safety & Leadership Class of 2025
In Fall of 2024, 1 professional joined the Executive Certificate program. After 18 weeks of learning, the student graduated in Spring 2025!
Marie Russell, MD, MPH
MAY2025 COMMENCEMENT
The Executive Master’s program was part of the School of Health commencement on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Students, family, friends, and loved ones gathered in Gaston Hall to celebrate.
The School of Health was honored to welcome Maria D. Van Kerkhove, PhD as the commencement speaker for the graduating class of 2025. Dr. Van Kerkhove is the interim director of the department of epidemic and pandemic threat management at the World Health Organization (WHO).
The class of 2025 included 11 EM-CQSL graduate students and 1 certificate student. Read more about the 2025 commencement here.
STUDENT &ALUMNI NEWS
Trashawn Britt Jr. joined Children’s Mercy as a Patient Advocate.
Ruqia Wasuge, BSN, became the nursing quality improvement director at Stoddard Baptist.
Daisy Butrim, MBA, EM-CQSL C’25, was recognized as the 2025 340B Defender of the Year in March, and became the entity compliance officer at MedStar Health in August.
Erin McLaughlin, MD, MPH, EM-CQSL C’25, and her colleagues won First Place in the Nuvance Health Spark Tank Innovation Challenge for their project: “Grey Space," a machine learning model predicting violent behavior to protect patients and staff.
ALUMNI NEWS
Hilary Hancock, EM-CQSL C’25, BSN, received the CNO Excellence Award for Quality & Safety at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Annie Kysor, MSN, EM-CQSL C’25, APRN, NP-C, CPHQ, became the quality adviser at White Oak Medical Center.
Diana Tamondong-Lachica, MD, MBA, EM-CQSL C’25, was promoted to full professor at the University of the Philippines Manila.
Roushanara Ali-Khan, EM-CQSL C’25, BSN, was promoted to Director of Nursing, 2 East MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center.
ALUMNI NEWS
Selena E. Briggs, MD, PhD, MBA, EM-CQSL C’25, CPHQ, FACS presented a digital poster based on her capstone, “Dedicated Verbal and Written Patient Education Improves Patient Adherence to Prescribed VTE Prophylaxis" at MedStar Health Research Institute and Georgetown University’s research and education symposium.
Garrett Lawhorn EM-CQSL C’24, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CPHQ, was promoted to the Director of Women's Quality & Patient Safety at Carilion Clinic.
Katie Manhard, EM-CQSL C’25, started a new position as senior patient safety specialist at Piedmont Healthcare.
Dave Holson, MD, EM-CQSL C’24, received a grant for his capstone project that focused on changing the narrative for sickle cell patients. This grant was funded with support from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Department of Global Health and Health System Design, and the Arnhold Institute for Global Health, in partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst and NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NYC Health +Hospitals or Mount Sinai.
ALUMNI NEWS
Anthony Guerrero, MHA, CPHQ, NDCT C’24, served as the Interim Senior Practice Manager for Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern Medicine.
Kimberly Benson, DPT, PT, EM-CQSL C’23, became the Clinical Quality Improvement Manager at Inova Health.
Megan Walling, PA-C, EM-CQSL C’23, presented at the IHI Patient Safety Congress in March.
Paddy McVeigh, MBA, MS, NDCT-CQSL C’22, was promoted to Interim Director, Quality Training and Knowledge Management, US Dept of Veterans Affairs.
ALUMNI NEWS
Umair Jarral, MD, EM-CQSL C’21, was promoted to Senior Medical Scientist at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals.
Heather Daugherty, MD, FAAFP, EM-CQSL C’21, became the Medical Director at The Cigna Group.
Erin Conroy, MD, EM-CQSL C’21, became a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine.
Col. Steven Coffee, EM-CQSL C’20, presented at the Fleming Infection Prevention and Infectious Diseases Symposium and Uniformed Services University.
CPHQ Certifications
These alumni earned their CPHQ credential in 2025:
● Diana Tamondong-Lachica, MD, EM-CQSL C’25, CPHQ
● Annie Kysor, MSN, EM-CQSL C’25, APRN, NP-C, CPHQ
● TaLiah Ames, EM-CQSL C’24, CPHQ
● Stephanie Vernooy, EM-CQSL C’24, BSN, CPHQ
Summer 2025 Executive Master’s Onsite
What did you learn in the onsite that you will apply in your professional career?
“Learn to ask questions, to be curious, managing one's state and be present in the moment. I learned the importance of communication, collaborative problem-solving, and the fundamentals of difficult conversations.”
“So many things! I learned the value of influencing behaviors, slowing down, recognizing and understanding context and emotions, effective presentation skills, having difficult conversations, and safety issues in AI. Additionally, I learned a lot of teaching strategies particularly simulation.”
What did you enjoy most about the onsite?
“EVERYTHING. The people, vulnerability, seeing my cohort, Ed's presentations, Seb's catharsis, presenting, the simulations, group activities, food, riding a bus with my cohort, art gallery- I enjoyed EVERYTHING! I cannot imagine this course and program without the on-site. I feel connected to my faculty and cohort.”
“I enjoyed having the opportunity to connect with an interact with my fellow cohort members and faculty in an an in-person setting for a prolonged period of time. The simulation with the actors/model patients was extremely worthwhile in my opinion.”
Fall 2025 Executive Master’s Onsite
The Fall 2025 On Site was hosted in the beautiful new Capitol Campus at 111 MassAve. Students enjoyed a special breakfast with Dean Christopher King on the final day, where he shared his inspiring journey to Georgetown and his passion for shaping the School of Health’s future.
What did you enjoy most about the onsite?
“I enjoyed the interactions and staff that we got to meet in person!The amount of knowledge we gathered in different realms was invaluable!”
“What I liked best was the experiential nature of the onsite. Each session fully engaged me in exercises that asked (me) us to work together, reflect, and get in touch with ourselves.”
What did you learn in the onsite that you will apply in your professional career?
“I learned how much self-trust, curiosity, and presence impact the way I show up. I’ll apply this in my career by listening better, responding more intentionally, and strengthening the connections that make teams thrive.”
“What I learned was that it starts with us first. It can be easy to put the blame on others not pulling their weight or thinking that it's "All we can do", but when you manage your state and find new ways to have difficult conversations and stay curious, you'll be successful.”
LEADERSHIPAND FACULTY
Carole Hemmelgarn, MS, MS
Program Director, Executive Master’s Program
Christopher Bonk, MSN, RN, CNL
Instructor, School of Health
Gerard Castro, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, School of Medicine
Jackie Stark, MSM-PM, PMP
Associate Director of Graduate Studies, EM-CQSL
Bryan Buckley, DrPH, MPH, MBA,ACC
Assistant Professor, School of Medicine
MMM, CPE, FAAPL
Associate Professor, School of Medicine
Richard “Tony” Calabria, MA, CPHQ, CSSBB
Instructor, School of Medicine
Rollin “Terry” Fairbanks, MD, MS
Professor, Emergency Medicine
FACULTY
Karen Frush, MD, BSN, CPPS Instructor, School of Health
Kelly Haynie, DHA, MPAFACHE
Assistant Professor, School of Medicine
Sadaf Kazi, PhD Assistant Professor, School of Medicine
Barbara Pelletreau, RN, MPH
Instructor, School of Health
Mary Herold, EM-CQSL
C’19, BSN, RN, CPPS, PROSCI
Instructor, School of Medicine
Kristen Miller, DrPH, MSPH, MSL, CPPS
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine
Raj Ratwani, PhD
Professor, School of Medicine
FAAP, FACP, DFASAM, CPPS Professor, School of Medicine
Douglas Paull, MD, MS, FACS, FCCP, CHSE, CPPS
Professor, School of Medicine
Edmund Tori, DO, FACP, CHT
Assistant Professor, School of Medicine
Eskandar “Alex” Yazaji, MD, FACP
Assistant Professor, School of Medicine
DEPARTMENT NEWS
Raj Ratwani, PhD
Raj received the George Mason University - College of Humanities and Social Sciences Distinguished AlumniAward in Psychology.
Kelly Haynie, DHA, MPA, FACHE
Kelly named one of Becker's Healthcare Hospital Review’s 2025 Rising Stars: Healthcare Leaders Under 40. He transitioned to the Chief Executive Officer at Ochsner Medical Center Westbank Campus.
Douglas Paull, MD, MS
Doug was elected to serve as Secretary General of theAssociation for Medical Education In Europe (AMEE) Patient Safety Special Interest Group (SIG).
Tony Calabria, MA
Tony, Patrick Gaume, and Miriam Fischer received the Circle of HonorAward at the Mid-Atlantic Patient Safety Center conference for their research focusing on System-Wide Sepsis Mortality Improvement Initiative.
DEPARTMENT NEWS
Gerry Castro, PhD, MPH
Gerry presented with Mark Graber during the IHI Patient Safety Congress on Using Root CauseAnalyses to Improve Diagnostic Safety.
Terry Fairbanks, MD, MS
Terry was recognized with the Eisenberg IndividualAchievementAward by the Joint Commission.
Carole
Hemmelgarn, MS, MS
Carole presented with colleagues Jenn Myers, MD, Geoffrey Silvera, PhD, MHA, andAnjalaTess, MD, at IHI National Forum.
Kristen Miller, DrPh, MSPH, MSL, CPPS
Kristen appointed to a 3-year term on the U.S. Department of VeteransAffairs Health Systems Research Scientific Merit Review Board Subcommittee on Healthcare Informatics andAccess to Care.
WELCOME NEW FACULTY
Karen Frush, MD, BSN, CPPS Instructor, School of Health
Dr. Karen Frush is a physician leader and pediatric emergency physician who has spent the majority of her 35-year healthcare career improving the quality and safety of patient care and the well-being of the healthcare team. She began her career as a nurse, having attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing and graduated summa cum laude with a BSN.
Dr. Frush is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She is the former Medical Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Duke and became Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Professor of Nursing at Duke University. She served as the Chief Patient Safety Officer of the Duke University Health System for 14 years and as Chief Quality Officer of the Duke Quality Network and Vice President for Quality at LifePoint Health for 5 years. In 2017, Dr. Frush and colleagues received the John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and QualityAward, for the Duke-LifePoint National Quality Program. In 2018, Dr. Frush was named Chief Quality Officer at Stanford HealthCare in PaloAlto, CA; she also served as Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics;Associate Dean for ClinicalAffairs in the Stanford University School of Medicine and co-Executive Director of the Stanford Medicine Center for Improvement. Dr. Frush has a special interest in interprofessional training, high performing teams and transforming healthcare culture. She is aTeamSTEPPs MasterTrainer and completed the National Patient Safety Foundation’s HRETPatient Safety Leadership Fellowship. Dr. Frush is a certified professional in patient safety and served on the Board ofAdvisors and Board of Directors for the National Patient Safety Foundation. She also served as Chair of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety for three years and was named in Becker’s Hospital Review as one of 50 experts leading the field of patient safety for over 5 years.
Georgetown Executive Certificate in Human Factors in Healthcare
We are pleased to announce the launch of the Executive Certificate in Human Factors in Healthcare in Fall of 2025.
This new program is designed for healthcare leaders seeking to strengthen safety, quality, and system performance through the application of human factors science.The curriculum focuses on designing clinical and operational systems that better align with how people work in complex healthcare environments.
The certificate is intended for executives, clinicians, and quality and safety professionals who aim to advance safer, more reliable care delivery within their organizations.
The Executive Certificate was designed in partnership with the MedStar Health National Center for Human Factors. The MedStar Health Center for Human Factors in Healthcare is the largest human factors program embedded within a healthcare system in the U.S.
PUBLICATIONS
Bryan Buckley
Schubel, L. C., Rivera Rivera, J., Pratt-Chapman, M. L.,Astorino, J.,Taylor,T., Littlejohn, R., Smith, J. L., Sabatino, S.A., White,A., Buckley, B. O., King, C., Mandelblatt, J., Gallagher, C., &Arem, H. (2025). Social risk factors screening preferences among breast and prostate cancer survivors:Aqualitative study. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 43(5), 717–735.
Gerry Castro
Bradley, E., Goodson, K., Castro, G., Salvador, D. (2025Apr). Four Pillars for Sustainable Centers of Excellence. Publication No. 25-0041. Rockville, MD:Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Cosby, KS., Baron-Lee, JM., White-Brown, I., Castro, G., Deutsch, ES. (2025Apr). Exploration of FoundationalTerminology and Paradigms for Improving Diagnosis. Publication No. 25-0043. Rockville, MD:Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Carole Hemmelgarn
Hemmelgarn, C. L., McManus, M.A., Peoples, K., Singh, R., & Meisnere, L. B. (2025). Patient Safety in Transition from Pediatric toAdult-Centered Care. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Gandhi,T. K., & Hemmelgarn, C. (2025).ToAchieve Zero Harm, We MustAddress Financial Harm. Journal of Patient Experience, 12, 23743735251383264.
Benjamin, E. M., Peterson,A., Schweitzer, L., Calcasola, S., Korn, F. E., Lodato, P.,Bradley, J., Hemmelgarn, C. (2025).The Power and Pain of Words: How Language Matters in Responding to Patients after Harm. Frontiers in Health Services, 5, 1513670.
Sokol-Hessner, L.,Adams, J., Hemmelgarn, C., Miller, B., O'Connor, D., Parkerton, M., Leilani Schweitzer.,Austin, J. M. (2025). Measuring how healthcare organizations respond after patients experience harm: perspectives and next steps. Frontiers in Health Services, 4, 1488944.
Vincent, C., Irving, D., Bellandi,T., Higham, H., Michel, P., Staines,A.,Adams, S., Brown, J., Hibbert, DH., Hemmelgarn, C., Joseph, L., Pires, K., Sheridan, S., Sunol, R., Ushiro, Shin., Zambon, L. (2025). Systems analysis of clinical incidents: development of a new edition of the London Protocol. BMJ Quality & Safety
PUBLICATIONS
John Hopper
Shaughnessy SA, Hankes KC, Garrow V, Hopper JA, Dahlem CH.The Lookout Project:AStudent-Run Mail-Based Overdose Response Kit Distribution ProgramThrough Social Media During COVID-19. Subst Use Addctn J. 2025;46(2):364-368.
Sadaf Kazi
Zabala, G., Foresman, G., Unno,Y., Bennett, S., Blumenthal, J.,Tidwell, M., Muthu, N., Kazi, S. (2025).ASystems EngineeringApproach to Optimize Pediatric Medication Safety. Poster presented at the 2025Annual Symposium of the American Medical InformaticsAssociation,Atlanta, GA.
Kristen Miller
Daughtry M, Miller K, Brennan D, Brodine J. (2025). Patient engagement pilot for uncontrolled hypertension: Implications for quality, safety, and population health. Frontiers in Health Services, Patient Safety. Volume 5.
CarrA, JenkinsA, Jonklaas J, Gabriel K, Miller K, Graves K. (2025). Patient and Provider Perspectives of a Web-Based Intervention to Support Symptom ManagementAfter Radioactive IodineTreatment for DifferentiatedThyroid Cancer: Qualitative Study. JMIR Formative Research. 9.
Schubel L, Busog D,TabaieA, Lemke M, Foltz D, Badolato G, Goyal M, Miller K. (2025). Leading the Way in Pediatric Sexual Health Screenings: Evaluating Pediatric Emergency Department Workflows for the Integration of STI Screening Tools. Frontiers in Health Services, Patient Safety
SrivarathanA, BradfordA, Shearkhani S, Heimlich L, Jefferson S, Miller K, Smith K, Haskell H, GiardinaT. (2025) Bridging diagnostic safety and mental health: a systematic review highlighting inequities in autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. BMJ Quality & Safety.
Hose BZ, RoundsAK, Nandwani I, Busog DN, GiardinaTD, Haskell H Smith KM, & Miller KE. Use of ChatGPTin urinary symptom management for individuals with spinal cord injury/disease: Qualitative study. JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol. 2025 May 29;12:e70339. doi:10.2196/70339. PMID: 40440564; PMCID: PMC12140369.
Williams R,Taylor K,Adams-Campbell, Miller K, Whealan J, Glassmeyer K, SangraulaA,Yee P, Camidge K, Foley K, Luta G, Lin K, Barnes R, DyBoyce W. (2025). Providing reminders and education prior to lung cancer screening (PREP): feasibility and acceptability of a multilevel approach to address disparities in lung cancer screening. Translational Behavioral Medicine. Volume 15, Issue 1, ibaf008.
Kiraly J, BerziA, El-Kareh R, Sebestyen E, Ujvarosy D, Emri M, Bhattoa H, Kappelmayer J, Miller K, Toth G*. (2025). Breaking the guidelines: how financial unawareness fuels guideline deviations and inefficient DVTdiagnostics. Diagnosis.
Kristen Miller
PUBLICATIONS
Raj Ratwani
Ratwani, R., and Booker, E. (2025). We need a federal framework for health careAI. Health Affairs Forefront.
Hose B, Handley JL, Biro J, Reddy S, Krevat S, HettingerA, and Ratwani, R. (2025).Development of a Preliminary Patient Safety Classification System for GenerativeAI. BMJ Quality & Safety;34:130-132.
Melnick,T., Ratwani, R.M. & Pines, J. (2025). Boarding In Emergency Department Hallways Medicine Circa 2025: Why OlderAdult Patients Deserve Better. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Wang, H.,Yang, R.,Alwakeel, M., Kayastha,A., Chowdhury,A., Biro, J. M., Sorrentino,A. D., Handley, J. L., Hantzmon, S., Bessias, S., Economou-Zavlanos, N. J., Bedoya,A.,Agrawal, M., Ratwani, R. M., Poon, E. G., Pencina, M. J., Pollak, K. I. & Hong, C. (2025).An evaluation framework for ambient digital scribing tools in clinical applications. npj Digital Medicine
Biro, J., Handley, J. L., McCurry, J.M., Visconti,A., Weinfeld, J.,Trafton, J.G., & Ratwani, R., (2025). Opportunities and Risks ofArtificial Intelligence in Patient Portal Messaging in Primary Care. npj Digital Medicine
Biro, J., Handley, J.L., Mickler, J., Reddy, S., Kottamasu, V., Ratwani, R.M., Cobb, N.K., (2025). The Value of SimulationTesting for the Evaluation ofAmbient Digital Scribes:ACase Report. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
Herrero, L., Cano, M., Ratwani, R. M., Sánchez, L., Sanchez, B., Sancibrián, R., & Peralta, G.A, (2025). Review of Human Factors and Infusion Pumps: Lessons for Procurement. Frontiers in Digital Health, 7,1425409.
Peralta, G., Sánchez, B., & Ratwani, R.M. (2025). Exploring the diversity of health innovation labs: models, roles and impact in modern healthcare. BMJ Innovation.
Raj Ratwani
Unno,Y., Pruitt, Z. M., Ratwani, R., Krevat, S., Fong,A., Zabala, G., &Adams, K. (2025). Enhancing Patient Safety EventAnalysis Using Artificial Intelligence:APilot Study of anArtificial Intelligence–Powered ReportAnalysisTool. Journal of Patient Safety.
Faculty Collaborations
Hill, M.A., Haskell, H., Dainty, K.N., Kuluski, K., Shea, C., Heimlich, L., Kazi, S., Sochaniwskyj, M., Priore,A., Mason,T.L.M., Coppinger,T., Isani, S., Scala, N., Shearkhani, S., Kazi, S., Giardina, T.D., Miller, K.E., Smith, K.M. (2025). Scoping review of patient and family engagement interventions in diagnosis: a paradox of too much, yet so little. BMJ Quality & Safety.
Kazi S, Littlejohn R, Smith K., Busog D, Blumenthal J, Mathur S, McGill Z, DeBold D, HettingerA, Miller K. (2025). Extending care beyond the clinic: integrating patient-reported outcomes in chronic pain management through human factors engineering. Frontiers in Health Services, Vol 5.
Kazi, S., Pruitt, Z., Franklin, E., Hettinger,A.Z., Ratwani, R.M., & Weir, C. (2025).The Impact of Inpatient MedicationAdministrationTechnologies on NursingAutonomy and Practice:A Meta-Ethnographic Synthesis of the Qualitative Literature. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. ocaf080.
Foresman G, Biro J,TranA, MacRae K, Kazi S, Schubel L, ViscontiA, Gallagher W, Smith KM, GiardinaT, Haskell H, Miller K. (2025). Patient Perspectives onArtificial Intelligence in Health Care: Focus Group Study for Diagnostic Communication andTool Implementation. J Particip Med 17:e69564
PRESENTATIONS
Bryan Buckley
Choucair, B., Buckley, B., Cohen M., Bagdasarian, N., and Harvey, M. (2025) Why State, Local, and Regional Health Leadership Matters MoreThan Ever. Common Health CoalitionAnnual Meeting. Common Health Coalition.
Berry, K., Buckley, B., Choucair, B., and Milavetz, D. (2025).The Innovation Imperative: Shifting from Treatment to Chronic Disease Prevention.AHIP Executive Leadership Summit.
Buckley, B. & Kingsley, P. (2025). Reimagining Community PartnershipThrough Place-Based Investment:The Village at Mondawmin. NCQAHealth Innovation Summit. NCQA.
Kelly, R., Buckley, B., Gilbert, L., Hughey, L., Gregory,A., and Klein, S. (2025). ReclaimingAI and Innovation for Digital Invisible. 54thAnnual Legislative Conference. Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.
Frame, B., Gianes, K., Oronsaye, W., and Buckley, B. (2025). Men's Leadership andAchievement in Healthcare. Black Health Connect Conference. Black Health Connect.
Buckley, B., Friedberg, M., and Sheen, E. (2025). Leveraging Data toAchieve Whole Person Health. AHIP2025.
Buckley, B. (2025). Keynote:The State of Maternal Health. Maternal Health Summit. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.
Buckley, B. (2025). Keynote:The State of Health Equity across the US. Public HealthAccreditation Board.
Buckley, B. & Davis, L. (2025). CareFirst’s Community Hub. NCQAHealth Quality Forum.
Buckley, B., Brooks-Williams, D., Butts, D., and Davis, M. (2025). Leadership Insights: Strength in Unity: Lessons and Insights into the Joint Venture of Henry Ford Health andAscension Michigan. 2025 Congress on Healthcare Leadership.ACHE.
Bryan Buckley
Ramjohn, D. & Buckley, B. (2025). Mind the Gap: CareFirst’s Journey to Connecting Technology, Social Needs, and Health Outcomes. HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition.
Buckley, B., Fisher, L., Brawley, O., and Felder, T. (2025). Cancer, So young?. CIAAHealth + Mental Wellness Conference.
Buckley, B. (2025). Improving Health Where We Work. Bridging Health EquityAccelerator. DiscoverU Health.
Tony Calabria
Calabria, R. (2025). Mid-Atlantic Patient Safety Center Patient Safety Webinar: Series: System-Wide Sepsis Mortality Improvement Initiative.
Terry
Fairbanks
Fairbanks, R. (2025). What’s next for the health workforce well-being movement? (Speaker/Panelist), Session 4 of ‘Charting the Future of the Health Workforce Well-Being Movement.’NationalAcademy of Medicine, Keck Center, Washington DC.
Fairbanks, R. (2025). Creating a Human Factors Center of Excellence:The MedStar Experience. Hershey Conference onAI and Human Factors, Hershey PA.
Kelly Haynie
Haynie, K., Donelon, M., Lebouf, S., Moldaner, B. (2025).Ask the Experts Panel. IGNITEYoung Professionals Leadership Summit. Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.
PRESENTATIONS
Carole Hemmelgarn
Hemmelgarn. C. (2025). The power and pain of words: How language matters in responding to patients after harm. Collaborative forAccountability and Improvement. Virtual.
Hemmelgarn, C. (2025). AI at Work: Better Quality Less Hassle – Panel Discussion. July 2025 CMS Quality Conference, Baltimore, MD.
Hemmelgarn, C. (2025). Measuring how healthcare organizations respond after patients experience harm. Collaborative forAccountability and Improvement. Virtual.
Hemmelgarn, C. (2025). How Co-Designing with Patients Improves Diagnostic Safety and QI Results: Tools and Strategies. IHI Patient Safety Congress, San Diego, CA.
Sadaf Kazi
Sander, G., Duong, J. Kazi, S. (2025). A Multifactorial Analysis of CPS Referrals During Pregnancy: The Role of Substance Use and Social Determinants. 2025 Student Research Day, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.
Zabala, G., Foresman, G., Unno,Y., Bennett, S., Blumenthal, J.,Tidwell, M., Muthu, N., Kazi, S. (2025). A Systems Engineering Approach to Optimize Pediatric Medication Safety. Poster presented at the 2025Annual Symposium of theAmerican Medical InformaticsAssociation,Atlanta, GA.
Kim,T., Zhang, K., Patchen, L., Bennett, S., Blumenthal, J.,Tabaie,A.,Tanjutco, P., Unno,Y., Weintraub, W., & Kazi, S. (2025, May). Characterizing Health and Legal Outcomes of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Poster presented at the 2025 Medstar Health- Georgetown University Research & Education Symposium; Rockville, MD.
Mary Herold
Gelaw, D., Herold, M.,Abdi,K., Bomhoff, S.(2025). “C. differently” Clostridioides difficile Reduction: A SMART Project. Poster Presentation. MedStar Insights to Improvement (I2I) Summit, Washington DC.
Herold, M. (2025). “C.differently” Clostridioides difficile Reduction: A SMART Project. Poster Presentation. DCHAHealth Care & Innovation Summit, Washington, DC.
Gelaw, D., Herold, M.,Abdi,K., Bomhoff, S.(2025). “C.differently” Stopping Clostridioides difficile (C. diff ) Should not be Difficult. Poster Presentation. Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Forum. San Diego, CA.
Sheehan, J.,Tanjutco, P., Bennett, S., Blumenthal, J., Tabaie,T., Rogovin, H., Unno,Y., Weintraub, W., & Kazi, S. (2025). Prevalence and Characterization of Single and Polysubstance Use Among Pregnant Individuals Who Delivered in a MidAtlantic Health System. Poster presentation. 2025 Medstar HealthGeorgetown University Research & Education Symposium; Rockville, MD.
Kristen Miller
Miller K, Smith K, GiardinaT, Haskell H. (2025). Educate, Engage, Empower: What is the Best Strategy for Involving Patients in Diagnosis? DEX25 Diagnostic Excellence Meeting. Workshop.
Miller, K. (2025).Small Patients, Big Safety: How Human Factors Can Shape Pediatric Care. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Pediatric Grand Rounds.
PRESENTATIONS
Kristen Miller
ChowY, Miller K, Sadeghian M, Mulry R. (2025). Autonomous Allies: How AI Agents Are Transforming Healthcare Operations. Panel Presentation. HealthIMPACTForum NYC 2025.
Miller K, Smith K, Hose B,Alfred M,Yao X, O’Reilly K. (2025). A Systems Engineering Approach to Meaningful Patient and Family Engagement in Safety Research. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2025 Healthcare Symposium.
Arellano F, Rani R, GaoY, Sandling J, Chen Em, NguyenA, Garg D,Ahmad Z, Shroff N, Barnes K, Biro J, Miller K. (2025). Physician Perceptions of Large Language Models in Clinical Practice: A Mixed-Methods Survey Study. Poster Presentation. 39th Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS 2025). San Diego, CA.
Hose BZ, Dargie S, Bartel R, Corina I, JohnsonT, Wyatt R, Miller KE. (2025). FlashBuild: A co-design approach for accelerating patient-partnered tools. Poster Presentation. DEX25 Diagnostic Excellence 2025 Meeting.Ann Arbor, MI.
KathuriaY, Capan M, Miller K, Selden E, Gallagher W. (2025). An Order-Based Network to Analyze Diagnostic Delay and Type 2 Diabetes-Related Outcomes. Poster Presentation. INFORMSAnnual Conference 2025.Atlanta, GA.
Kim M, Graves K, Chou J, Miller K, Snee I, Lai V. (2025). Financial Navigation in Patients with Thyroid Cancer: An Exploratory Randomized Pilot Study. Poster Presentation.American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2025. Chicago, IL.
Kristen Miller
Kiraly J, BerziA, El-Kareh R, Sebestyen, E, Ujvarosy D, Emri M, Bhattoa H, Kappelmayer J, Miller K,Toth G. (2025). Breaking the guidelines: how financial unawareness fuels guideline deviations and inefficient DVT diagnostics. Oral Presentation. The Institute of Health and Society and the Institute of Economic and Social Research. EuHEA12thAnnual PhD & Supervisor Conference 2025. Brussels, Belgium.
Lotfibagha P, Miller K, Bennett S, Foresman G, Spaar P, Selden E, Gallagher W, Capan M. (2025). Impact of Demographic and Healthcare Access Factors on Time to Diagnosis in Type 2 Diabetes. Oral Presentation. Institute for Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE). IISEAnnual Conference & Exposition 2025. Atlanta, GA.
Miller K, ViscontiA, Sutton K, Kazi S, Biro J, UnnoY, Izzo J, Gillam M. (2025). Equity Engines: Co-Designing a Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Program. Poster Presentation. BMJ International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare Utrecht. Utrecht, Netherlands.
Bigelow L, Foresman G, Schubel L, Spaar P, Bennett S, KathuriaY, Lotfibagha P, Liauchonak H, Sutton K, Selden E, Capan M, Gallagher W, Miller K. (2025). Mapping Clinician Workflows for Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis: Facilitators and Barriers to Clinical Practice in Primary Care. Poster Presentation. MedStar Health-Georgetown University Research Symposium. Bethesda, MD.
CarrA, JenkinsA, Pocchia J, Moclair R, Lorenzo N, Graves K, Miller K, Jonklaas J. (2025). Radioactive Iodine Support (RAI Support) in Adults with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Post-RAI Treatment: An NIH ORBIT Model Phase IIa Proof of Concept Study. Poster Presentation. MedStar Health-Georgetown University Research Symposium. Bethesda, MD.
PRESENTATIONS
Kristen Miller
Foresman G, Schubel L, Spaar P, Bennett S, KathuriaY, Loftibagha P, Bigelow L, Sutton K, Selden E, Gallagher W, Capan M, Miller K. (2025).The Role of Electronic Health Record Data and Display in Promoting Diagnostic Equity: Insights from Clinicians and Health Equity Experts. Poster Presentation.Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care.Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
CarrAL, JenkinsAM, Jonklaas J, Moclair R, Pocchia J, Miller KE, Littlejohn RA, Graves KD. (2025). A Usability Analysis of a Web-Based Intervention for Radioactive Iodine (RAI) Symptom Management among Thyroid Cancer Survivors. Poster Presentation.American Psychosocial Oncology Society 22ndAnnual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA.
Doug Paull
Parra D,Ang S, Paull DE. (2025). Meet the experts. Patient safety education. AMEEAnnual Conference, Barcelona, Spain.
Parra D, Newton R, Paull D, Owen K, BalakrishnanA, Aldardnair N. (2025). Kick starting patient safety teaching. Practical tips generated from successful experiences, from curriculum integration to the challenges of assessment. AMEEAnnual Conference, Barcelona, Spain.
Koh, N., Newton, R., Paull, D., Wagner R. (2025). Piloting a toolkit to formatively assess patient safety in the clinical learning environment. International Society for Quality in Healthcare, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Raj Ratwani
Ratwani, R. (2025). AI and Patient Safety: Promise, Pitfalls and the Path Forward. Leapfrog 25thAnnual Meeting, National Harbor, MD.
Ratwani, R. (2025). From Confusion to Confidence: Demystifying AI for Patients. Georgetown University Hospital Patient and FamilyAdvisory Council Meeting. Washington, D.C.
Ratwani, R. (2025). AI and the Federal Landscape: Hype, Hope, and Hard Truths. Plenary Speaker. Medical Professional LiabilityAssociation. Denver, CO.
Ratwani, R. (2025). Integrating Precision Medicine and Health Systems into AI Innovation. National Health Council Science of Patient Engagement Symposium: Elevating Innovation. Washington, D.C.
Ratwani, R. (2025). AI in Healthcare: Opportunities, Risks, and the Road to Trust. Optima Health. Virtual.
Ratwani, R. (2025). Congressional Briefing. Learning from Patients, Harnessing the Power ofAI:Achieving the Promise of a Safer Health Care System. Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Faculty Collaborations
Miller K, Schubel L, Biro J, Foresman G,TranA, Kazi S, MacRae K, ViscontiA, Coffee S, GiardinaT, Haskell H, Smith K (2025). Talking Tech: Patient Perspectives and Communication of AI in Healthcare.Oral Poster Presentation. BMJ International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare Utrecht, Netherlands.
Fairbanks R. & Miller K. (2025). Creating a Human Factors Center of Excellence: The MedStar Experience. Artificial Intelligence and Human Factors in Health Care Quality & Safety Conference. Hershey, PA.
MEDIA
Kristen Miller
Miller, K. (2025). Kristen Miller:AGuiding MedStar for the Patient’s Journey. PatientAdvocacy NOW:The Official Podcast of the Greater NationalAdvocates podcast.
Raj
Ratwani
Ratwani, R. (2025). OpenAI Releases HealthBench Dataset toTestAI in Health Care. U.S. News and World Report. (quoted researcher)
Ratwani, R. (2025). Doctors didn’t catchAI’s mistakes. What does that mean for human-in-the-loop? STAT News (featured researcher)
Ed Tori
Tori. E. (2025). Podcast. #110: RealTalk with Dr. EdTori - Keynote Speaker, Influence and Communication Coach. RealTalk with Grade Redman
RESEARCH & GRANTS
Sadaf Kazi
Kazi, S.Assessing health outcomes of polysubstance use during pregnancy through EHR data. NU01DD000028-02-01, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 9/30/23 – 9/29/27. Role: Principal Investigator
Kazi, S., Muthu, N.ASystems EngineeringApproach to Improve Pediatric Medication Safety. R18 HS029291,Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 4/1/2023-3/31/2026. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.
Kazi, S. Disseminating Screening for Substance Use Disorder among Pregnant and Parenting Individuals within the District. Government of the District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health. 07/15/2025 – 09/29/2025. Role: Principal Investigator.
Kristen Miller
Miller, K. Castle Diagnostics. Maryland Industrial Partnerships. 6/1/2025 – 6/30/2026. Role: Site PI.
Miller, K.Astek Diagnostics.YCombinator (S21). National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Role: Site PI
Miller. K. Safe Babies Safe Moms: Expansion of Services in DC – Planning Grant Human Factors and Systems. Government of the District of Columbia Department of Health Community HealthAdministration 7/1/2025 – 9/30/2025. Support. Role: Human Factors Lead
Raj Ratwani
Gold, Bates & Ratwani. R18HS029345. Diagnostic Accuracy throughAdvancing EHR Display, Education and Surveillance.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 9/30/2022-9/29/2026. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.
Ratwani & Booker. R18HS029117 Safe and EquitableTelehealth for Chronic Conditions (SafE-TC2) Learning Laboratory.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 9/30/2022-0/29-2026. Role: Principal Investigator.
SERVICE &ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Bryan Buckley
Advisor, NationalAcademy of Medicine, Building Trust in Health ScienceThrough Community Partnership and Lived ExperienceAction Collaborative (2025-present)
Commissioner, Maryland Department of Health, Commission on Health Equity (2024-Present)
Board Member, Creating Healthier Communities (CHC), (2024-present)
Faculty,American College Of Healthcare Executive, (2024-Present)
Board Member, Food & Friends (2022-Present)
Board Director,American HeartAssociation (AHA) Greater Washington Region (2021-Present)
Executive Board Member,American Public Health Association (APHA) (2021-2025)
David Dull
Chair, Board Quality Committee, Southwest Health System Board of Directors (2025)
Kelly Haynie
Advisory Board Member, Capella University School of Business,Technology, and Health CareAdministration (2025 – Present)
Chair & Board Member,The Center Club Baltimore –Young Members (2024 – 2025)
Board member, Maryland Healthcare Education Institute (MHEI) (2023- Present)
Mary Herold
Associate Member, MedStar Georgetown Patient and Family Council for Quality and Safety
MedicalAdvisory Board for the Student Health Center, Georgetown University
Carole Hemmelgarn
Co-Chair Initial Recognition and Management Committee, Batelle (2025-Present)
Board of Directors, Leapfrog (2024-Present)
Board of Directors, Solutions for Patient Safety (2023-Present)
Founding Member, Patients for Patient Safety US (2022- Present)
KeyAdvisor, District of Columbia Perinatal Quality Collaborative (2024-Present) Sadaf Kazi
Kristen
Miller
Patient Summit on Diagnostic Excellence:A Community Building Event (2025).
Member, Patient Safety Community (2025)
Planning Committee member,Artificial Intelligence and Human Factors in Health Care Quality & Safety Conference (2025).
SERVICE &ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Douglas Paull
Secretary General for theAssociation Medical Education Europe (AMEE) Patient Safety Special Interest Group (SIG) (2025)
Raj Ratwani
MedStar Health Wellness Committee (2020-present)
MedStar Institute for Quality and SafetyAdvisory Board (2018-present)
Barbara Pelletreau
Member, Pascal MetricsAdvisory Board (2023-present)
Member, California HospitalAssociation Hospital Quality Board (2021-2025)
Member, C-PlanAdvisory Board (2023-present)
Policy Committee Chair,The Center for Harm Response (formerly Collaborative for Accountability and Improvement - sponsored by the University of Washington and Johns Hopkins) (2021-2025)
Member,The Center for Harm Response (formerly Collaborative forAccountability and Improvement - sponsored by the University of Washington and Johns Hopkins) Board (2025-present)
Member, El Camino Healthcare Quality Committee Board (2025-present)
MedStar Health & Georgetown Research Symposium Organizing Committee (2018-present)
Georgetown-MedStar Scientific Council (2018-present)
Jewish Healthcare Foundation Patient Safety Technology ChallengeAdvisory Board (2022-current)
AlexYazaji
Chair. Multidisciplinary risk management committee. MedStar Union Memorial Hospital & MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.
SAVE THE DATE
Commencement Weekend: May 16, 2026
For more news and events from the School of Health: go here.
MAKEAGIFT
Gifts to the School of Health support transformative teaching, research and scholarship, meaningfully advancing our work dedicated to improving health and the human condition. We invite you to explore the ways in which you may have a direct impact on our community and the next generation of leaders capable of driving positive and effective change for populations across the nations –andaroundtheglobe.
2025ANNUALREPORT
Carole Hemmelgarn WRITERS
Jackie Stark
EDITORS
Jackie Stark
Angel Phan (ExecutiveAssistant, School of Health) DESIGNERS
Jackie Stark
