Amy Kilbourne named U.S. VA Executive Director of Health Systems Research

Amy Kilbourne, PhD, MPH, Associate Chair for Research and Professor of Learning Health Sciences at U-M Medical School has been appointed Executive Director of Health Systems Research for the U.S.  Department of Veterans Affairs Health System, effective June 30, 2024. 

In this role, Dr. Kilbourne leads the national VA Health Systems Research (HSR) portfolio, overseeing more than $127 million in intramural scientific funding involving over 850 funded investigators that conduct more than 435 ongoing research projects aimed at improving the health of and care for U.S. Veterans. 

As Director, Dr. Kilbourne also supports the HSR Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) program with the goal to accelerate translation of research evidence into real-world practice, and through the VHA Evidence-based Policy Subcommittee, VA’s fulfilment of the Foundations for Evidence-based Policymaking Act, facilitating over 100 evidence and evaluation initiatives to ensure programs and policies work for Veterans.

“Our ultimate goal is to become a national thought leader in how innovative learning health system approaches can improve access, quality, safety, experience, and value of health care for all,” said Kilbourne.

Before serving as Acting Director of HSR, Dr. Kilbourne was Director of QUERI, where she led over 50 centers devoted to implementing evidence-based research into clinical practice that improves the health and healthcare of Veterans. She is a national expert in implementation science, partnered-oriented research, and evidence-based policy. 

Moreover, Dr. Kilbourne brings with her an extensive working knowledge of VA operations and policy, through her previous national roles as Associate Director of the Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center (SMITREC), and as Director of the VA Homelessness Health Services Research Initiative, in partnership with the National Center on Veteran Homelessness.

In addition, Dr. Kilbourne has initiated several VA studies in priority areas that include mental health, care coordination, health disparities, and women's health. Her research has led to several VA national initiatives, including a VA directive on re-engaging Veterans with serious mental illness into care, a health disparities research roadmap, and a mental health patient-aligned care team (PACT) model. 

Story adapted from U.S. VA News Release