The team focused on the Democratizing Data project is addressing the challenges of leveraging vast amounts of VHA clinical data to better understand, present, and respond to Veteran issues. Amanda Purnell, a Clinical Data Specialist for the Care and Transformational Initiatives Portfolio of the VHA Innovation Ecosystem discusses how excited the team is to win a 2021 Innovation Award.

Amanda Purnell, Clinical Data Specialist

Amanda has been working as Clinical Data Specialist for the Care and Transformational Initiatives Portfolio of the VHA Innovation Ecosystem since October 2020. Prior to that year, she was the Senior Innovation Fellow, working on projects to democratize data to serve Veterans. She has also held roles as an Innovation Specialist within Innovators Network since October 2016. She loves to empower others, ignite curiosity, and wonder about what’s possible. Prior to her work in the VHA Innovation Ecosystem, she held leadership roles in implementing programs for prevention, integrative and complementary care, and health behavior change at the VA. She has extensive experience and training in facilitation and advancing learning in adults. She has a PhD in Counseling Psychology from The Ohio State University.

VHA Innovation Ecosystem

VHA IE is the catalyst for enabling the discovery and spread of mission-driven health care innovation to advance care delivery and service that exceeds expectations, restores hope, and builds trust within the Veteran community. As part of VHA Office of Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks, VHA IE leverages the collective power of innovation champions from across VA, academia, and industry to operationalize innovation in the Nation’s largest integrated health care system.

Check out the full list of 2021 Innovation Award winners.