Recognition August 2015

• 6 GHRI affiliates are Top Docs
• CCHE shares insights on HIAs
• Van Borkulo joins MacColl faculty

GHRI affiliate researchers, clinical associates among Seattle’s Top Docs

Congratulations to Group Health’s 95 physicians and seven physician assistants who were named 2015 Top Doctors in Seattle Magazine and Seattle Met! Among the physicians recognized are several Group Health Research Institute (GHRI) affiliate researchers and clinical associates.

Affiliate researchers are longtime GHRI collaborators whose primary research appointment is at another institution. Two affiliate researchers—Group Health physicians with faculty appointments at the University of Washington (UW)—were ‘top docs’ on both lists:

• Kathy Leppig, MD, Group Health Chief of Genetic Services; UW Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pathology
• Andrew Shors, MD, MPH, Group Health Dermatologist; UW Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Dermatology

Clinical associates are Group Health colleagues appointed for actively supporting, facilitating, and share their expertise for GHRI research studies. Four Group Health clinical associates made one or both lists:

• Sean Adelman, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon
• Eric Chen, MD, PhD, Program Chief, Hematology/Oncology
• Jane Dimer, MD, Physician, Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Charles Jung, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon

Do health impact assessments make a difference? CCHE shares insights at national conference

The 2015 National Health Imp0act Assessment Meeting, held June 16-18 in Washington, DC, featured findings from GHRI’s Center for Community Health and Evaluation (CCH0E). With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, CCHE led a three-year evaluation of health impact assessments (HIAs) in the United States. HIAs are evidence-based analyses that predict health benefits and risks and inform policy decisions related to land use, transportation, housing, energy, agriculture, and other sectors.

CCHE’s evaluation found that HIAs contribute to the decision-making process and help achieve policy outcomes that improve health. CCHE’s Carol Cahill, MLS, a research associate and program manager, shared these findings in a conference session exploring the effectiveness of HIAs. Ms. Cahill’s talk was titled, “Do HIAs make a difference? A national evaluation of HIAs in the United States.” Her co-authors were CCHE Operations and Development Manager Emily Bourcier, MPH, MHA, and Research Associate/Program Manager Dianna Charbonneau, MA.

MacColl welcomes new research associate Nicole Van Borkulo

GHRI’s MacColl Center for Health Care Innovation recently welcomed Research Associate Nicole Van Borkulo, MEd. Ms. Borkulo has more than 15 years of experience in education and health care quality improvement (QI) methodology and patient and family engagement. She has worked with a variety of ambulatory care clinics, clinical teams, and other health care professionals to improve patient outcomes and increase patient, provider, and staff satisfaction. Her expertise includes facilitating trainings, coaching staff, developing curriculum, and conducting workshops on how to use QI strategies to implement and sustain positive changes.

Ms. Van Borkulo was a senior QI consultant for Qualis Health, where she provided technical assistance to practice coaches in the Safety Net Medical Home Initiative (SN0MHI). In her new role at MacColl, Ms. Borkulo is directing the Healthy Hearts Northwest practice coaches learning community. She received her master’s degree in education from Seattle University.