The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2024 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 20, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 21.
Next is Dr. Anne Bailey, executive director of the Strategic Initiatives Lab in the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning, and finalist in the Healthcare Executive of the Year, Government, category. Here, she talks about recent achievements, shares career advice and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2024?
In 2024, we’ve expanded our footprint and support capabilities across VA’s 172 VA Medical Centers and more than 1200 sites of care, by increasing staff engagement from 2100 staff members to nearly 2900 and growing our team from three team members within one office to seven team members across two offices.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
Going forward, our primary focus areas include access and infrastructure, each supporting the other. Increasingly, veterans are seeking more and more access to immersive technologies (e.g., virtual reality) thanks to the benefits they are finding with use across indications such as chronic pain, insomnia, substance use disorder, anxiety, depression, isolation, loneliness and so many more. Our team is focused on collaboratively building the infrastructure to ensure we are increasing access to these technologies for Veterans ⏤ in the right way at the right time.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Two things: 1) Be curious, and 2) build a collaborative community. Curiosity ensures that we’re paying attention and aiming to truly understand what problems need to be solved. In my experience, a collaborative community is the only way to effectively problem-solve. Together, we can go so much further.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know about?
I’ve run a half marathon in all 50 states and visited 53 of the 63 National Parks in the process. Also, as a singer/songwriter, I recorded two albums in my teens and twenties.