Nurses are the heart of health care, but the profession continues to face challenges with burnout and emotional exhaustion. At OSF HealthCare, leaders are finding new ways to support and empower nurses.
Join us as we discuss the Nursing Innovation Fellowship. This three-year program equips experienced nurses to think creatively, collaborate across disciplines and lead change while staying close to the patients they serve. Fellows learn to assess their practice, identify opportunities for improvement and apply innovation in real time. Along the way, they grow from fellows to mentors to innovators, helping shape a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement across the Ministry.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Melinda Cooling, DNP, MBA, FAANP, chief nurse and advanced practice provider executive and Nikki Graham, DNP, RN, vice president of clinical excellence, about how the fellowship is helping nurses find renewed purpose and drive meaningful change that benefits both caregivers and patients.
Speaker highlights:
Melinda Cooling, DNP, MBA, FAANP
Chief Nurse and Advanced Practice Provider Executive
OSF HealthCare
Nikki Graham, DNP, RN
Vice President, Clinical Excellence
OSF HealthCare
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
For more than a decade, the Advanced Imaging and Modeling (AIM) Lab at OSF Innovation has been creating 3D printed heart models to help surgeons plan complex procedures. Now, the team has taken a major leap forward, developing the nation’s only automated process for creating 4D beating heart models from CT scans.
Join us as we discuss how 4D hearts are changing surgical planning, improving patient outcomes and drawing attention from hospitals across the country. Using machine learning to segment and stitch together time-sequenced 3D images, the AIM Lab has transformed static visuals into dynamic digital twins that replicate every phase of a patient’s cardiac cycle. What once took months of manual work can now be generated with a single click, giving surgeons unprecedented insight into both anatomy and function.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Matthew Bramlet, MD, a pediatric cardiologist and director of the Advanced Imaging and Modeling Lab for OSF HealthCare, about how the technology works, the role of academic partnerships in making it possible and what the future of 4D modeling could mean for both providers and patients.
Speaker highlights:
Matthew Bramlet, MD
Pediatric Cardiologist
Director, Advanced Imaging and Modeling Lab
OSF HealthCare
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Sometimes being innovative means reimagining everyday challenges, like finding a way for kids with central venous ports to safely stay active. That’s exactly what an exercise physiologist at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois and engineer at OSF Innovation Studio did when they created PortGuard, a breakthrough protective device designed to safeguard ports during play, sports and movement.
Join us as we share the development of PortGuard, a device designed to protect medication ports so kids can stay active. For one young girl, who once had to pause her favorite activities after receiving a central venous port, PortGuard means she can safely get back to doing what she loves. Like her, many children will be able to enjoy life with fewer worries about protecting their ports when using this innovative device.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Nick Kemp, exercise physiologist at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois and Reid Jockisch, innovation engineer at OSF Innovation about their impactful work and what it means for children facing challenges with medication ports.
Speaker highlights:
Nick Kemp
Exercise Physiologist
OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois
Reid Jockisch
Innovation Engineer
OSF Innovation
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Being innovative sometimes means being willing to do something different, like using a device in a way it hasn’t been used before. That’s exactly what a team at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria did to save a young child’s life.
Join us as we share the story of a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind surgery: the successful implantation of an extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD) in a toddler, the youngest and smallest patient in the world to receive this device. After suffering cardiac arrest at home, the child was diagnosed with Brugada syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes life-threatening heart arrhythmias. The innovative procedure not only saved the child's life but also set a new global precedent for how the EV-ICD can be used in younger, smaller patients.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Mark Plunkett, MD, chief of pediatric and congenital heart surgery at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, and Sunita Ferns, MD, director of pediatric and adult congenital electrophysiology at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, about the extraordinary work of their team and what this means for the future of treating pediatric arrhythmia patients.
Speaker highlights:
Mark Plunkett, MD,
Chief, Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery
OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois
Sunita Ferns, MD
Director, Pediatric and Adult Congenital Electrophysiology
OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Succession planning for any organization can present opportunities and, sometimes, challenges. OSF HealthCare has recently undergone leadership changes with an eye to the future.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with OSF executives Michelle Conger, president, Kirsten Largent, chief financial officer, and Emily Shields, chief strategy officer, about how they are helping guide OSF into the future, grounded in Mission and driven by innovation.
Join us as we discuss their new roles at OSF, highlighting the organization's commitment to developing leaders from within. The conversation touches on each leader’s career journey, the challenges they’ve overcome, especially as women in health care, and how their personal and professional experiences shape their leadership styles. They also reflect on the inspiration drawn from the Sisters who founded OSF and share insights into balancing life beyond the workplace. As they look ahead, they discuss the challenges and opportunities facing OSF and offer advice they’d give their younger selves.
Speaker highlights:
Michelle Conger
President
OSF HealthCare
Kirsten Largent
Chief Financial Officer
OSF HealthCare
Emily Shields
Chief Strategy Officer
OSF HealthCare
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Relax, it’s not brain surgery.” We’ve all heard the phrase used to downplay difficulty. It’s become shorthand for tasks that don’t require extraordinary precision or have life-altering consequences, but when it actually is brain surgery, every millimeter matters. OSF HealthCare is pioneering an innovative new way to remove brain tumors with NeuroBlate.
Join us as we explore how this new, minimally invasive tool can provide ease and comfort to those experiencing brain lesions or unwanted tissue associated with tumors. Unlike traditional surgery, NeuroBlate uses an MRI-guided probe to create a small opening in the skull to robotically deliver laser light energy to destroy the affected tissue. We’ll discuss just how minimally invasive this procedure can be and what recovery looks like.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Andrew Tsung, MD, vice president at OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute, about NeuroBlate. They’ll explore how the new tool is transforming the landscape of safe and accessible brain surgeries.
Speaker highlights:
Andrew Tsung, MD
Vice President
OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
The 17th-century proverb goes, “A stitch in time saves nine.” It’s a metaphor that suggests that addressing an issue right away can prevent it from escalating into a bigger, more costly, or more difficult problem later. It’s a reminder to be proactive and to take care of problems before they become overwhelming. That proverb is the perfect lens through which to view the pilot of DAX Copilot at OSF HealthCare.
Join us as we explore how this generative AI technology is becoming an essential “stitch in time” for clinicians, easing the burden of documentation and giving time back to providers. It utilizes ambient listening to capture patient-clinician conversations, generate summaries and integrate with electronic medical records. We’ll reflect on the journey that began more than a year ago with the introduction of DAX Copilot and share early results from the pilot, including promising data on time savings and provider satisfaction.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Tyler Fitch, MD, chief medical information officer for OSF HealthCare/Pointcore, about lessons learned and next steps. We’ll also hear firsthand from two early adopters: Jenna Dionisio, DO, a primary care physician, and Ami Dose, APRN, a family nurse practitioner with OSF Medical Group – Primary Care. They discuss how DAX Copilot works during patient visits, the positive feedback they’ve received and the tangible impact it’s made on their day-to-day workflows.
Speaker highlight:
Tyler Fitch, MD
Chief Medical Information Officer
OSF HealthCare/Pointcore
Jenna Dionisio, DO
Physician
OSF Medical Group – Primary Care
Ami Dose, APRN
Nurse Practitioner
OSF Medical Group – Primary Care
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
The medical community is connected across the country and beyond in many ways. It’s how medical innovations and advances are shared, celebrated and learned from. That’s true here in Central Illinois, a hub for groundbreaking pediatric heart care, thanks to innovative technologies and collaboration with world-class experts.
Join us as we discuss pediatric heart care with two renowned pediatric cardiac surgeons. One got his start in Central Illinois; the other is sharing his talents right here at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois. This episode is a compelling look at how expertise, history and forward-thinking unite to shape better outcomes for children with complex heart conditions.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Joseph Turek, MD, PhD, chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Duke Health, and Mark Plunkett, MD, chief of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois. They discuss recent advancements at their respective institutions, including Dr. Turek’s pioneering work in performing the first living mitral valve replacement in a child, and Dr. Plunkett’s milestone as part of the first surgical team to implant an EV-ICD in a child — a device previously used only in adults. They share insights on how programs prepare for groundbreaking work and reflect on what’s ahead in the future of pediatric heart surgery, emphasizing the importance of continued innovation and collaboration.
Speaker highlight:
Joseph Turek, MD, PhD
Chief, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Duke Health
Mark Plunkett, MD
Chief, Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery
OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Most people now know how telehealth and virtual care have transformed health care but are you familiar with virtual nursing?
Join us as we discuss what virtual nursing is (and what it isn’t) and the real benefits it’s delivering for patients, bedside nurses and the broader health care system. Using virtual nurses for admission and discharge is saving patients time, freeing up bedside nurses to focus on direct care, improving documentation and creating better patient experiences, all while helping OSF HealthCare build a more sustainable future for hospital care.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Jennifer Croland, DNP, RN, NE-BC, vice president and chief nursing officer at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, and Brandi Clark, vice president of Digital Care for OSF OnCall, to explore this new and innovative model of care.
Speaker highlight:
Jennifer Croland. DNP, RN, NE-BC
Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer
OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center
Brandi Clark, MS
Vice President, Digital Care
OSF OnCall
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
To be innovative, by definition, is to find a new way to do things. In the health care industry, OSF HealthCare stands out as a leader, continually advancing innovative solutions that benefit both patients and providers.
Join us as we celebrate and discuss OSF being named one of Fortune’s Most Innovative Companies in America for a second time. We’ll explore what it means to be truly innovative, highlighting the culture of innovation at OSF and the rigorous evaluation process that placed OSF among the 300 companies chosen for this recognition.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Michelle Conger, president of OSF HealthCare, and Becky Buchen, senior vice president of OSF Innovation, about key projects that contributed to this recognition, the future of artificial intelligence in health care and the lessons learned in fostering innovation throughout the Ministry.
Speaker highlight:
Michelle Conger
President
OSF HealthCare
Becky Buchen
Senior Vice President
OSF Innovation
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Your family history could hold critical clues about your health. By combining cutting-edge technology with genetic research, OSF Innovation is empowering physicians with information that fosters a more personalized approach to care, potentially saving lives.
Join us as we explore how OSF Innovation is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze medical records and identify individuals who may be at risk for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Often undiagnosed, FH is a genetic condition that causes dangerously high levels of LDL cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes, even in younger adults. For people with FH, early detection is key to preventing life-threatening complications.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Darrel Gumm, MD, vice president of OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute, and Ryan Loudermilk, a strategic program manager in Performance Improvement at OSF Innovation about how AI-driven insights are transforming the way FH is detected and managed. Learn how this innovative approach to personalized medicine is making heart health more proactive and precise than ever before.
Speaker highlight:
Darrel Gumm, MD
Vice President
OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute
Ryan Loudermilk
Strategic Program Manager, Performance Improvement
OSF Innovation
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the U.S., but increases in non-invasive screenings and advancements in screening technology are improving early detection. OSF Innovation worked with OSF gastroenterologist Omar Khokhar, MD, to pilot and implement GI Genius, an FDA-approved AI-powered tool that enhances physicians’ ability to detect polyps during colonoscopies, bringing cutting-edge care and detection to patients.
Join us as we explore how GI Genius provides an added layer of support for physicians, improving accuracy in polyp detection. With colorectal cancer rates rising in younger adults, this innovative technology is changing the landscape of early detection.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Omar Khokhar, MD, the gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare who championed GI Genius. They’ll discuss how AI enhances colonoscopy precision and why this advancement is so important in the fight against colorectal cancer.
Speaker highlight:
Omar Khokhar, MD
Gastroenterologist
OSF HealthCare
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
After a hospital stay, the last thing you want is to end up back in the hospital. Home health care plays a vital role in recovery, and OSF HealthCare is redefining it with solutions that help keep patients healthier at home and on the road to recovery.
Join us as we explore OSF Enhanced Home Care, a program designed to reduce hospital readmissions by supporting complex patients after hospital discharge. This unique collaboration between OSF OnCall Advanced Care and OSF Home Care Services provides 24/7 coordinated care, remote monitoring, medication assistance and more.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Brandi Clark, vice president of Digital Care for OSF OnCall and J.J. Guedet, vice president of Operations and Strategy – Home Care for OSF HealthCare about how this innovative approach is improving patient outcomes and keeping them out of the hospital.
Developing innovative approaches to address a variety of issues facing health care requires input and cooperation from multiple sources. The Innovation Academic Incubator (IAI) at OSF Innovation helps encourage that process.
Join us as we explore the IAI, a unique program at OSF Innovation that fosters collaboration between clinicians and academic institutions to develop groundbreaking health care solutions. With over 200 research projects funded, 140 publications and 12 patents, the IAI is transforming ideas into impactful solutions.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Mike Cruz, MD, chief operating officer for OSF HealthCare and John Vozenilek, MD, FACEP, vice president, chief medical officer, Innovation and Digital Health for OSF HealthCare about the program’s successes, the importance of collaboration, and what the future holds for health care innovation.
Speaker highlight:
Mike Cruz, MD
Chief Operating Officer
OSF HealthCare
John Vozenilek, MD, FACEP
Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Innovation and Digital Health
OSF HealthCare
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Faith and innovation may seem like an unusual combination, but at OSF Innovation they come together in extraordinary ways.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with two Mission Partners who also happen to be members of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George. These Sisters combine their deep faith with cutting-edge roles at OSF Innovation. From performance improvement to innovation engineering, learn how their unique perspectives and faith shape their groundbreaking work.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Sister M. Maris Stella, F.S.G.M., performance improvement specialist,
and Sister M. Pieta Keller, F.S.G.M., innovation engineer, to discuss how faith can inspire bold advances in health care.
Speaker highlight:
Sister M. Maris Stella, F.S.G.M.
Performance Improvement Specialist
OSF Innovation
Sister M. Pieta Keller, F.S.G.M.
Innovation Engineer
OSF Innovation
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Over 3 million Americans rely on pacemakers, with 200,000 implanted each year. These small, battery-powered devices use electrical impulses to keep hearts beating at a steady rhythm. However, pacemaker technology is advancing rapidly and there are new, innovative options available.
Join us as we discuss how dual chamber leadless pacemakers are transforming heart care by offering a wireless, less invasive alternative to traditional pacemakers. This innovative device uses two small wireless implants placed directly in the heart. The device lasts longer and has fewer complications for those who are eligible to receive it.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Michael Broman, MD, PhD, the cardiac electrophysiologist at OSF HealthCare doing the procedure, and Brock Doehring, a sales representative from Abbott, the company that developed the device. They’ll shed light on how the dual chamber leadless pacemaker reduces risks, simplifies recovery and represents a major step forward in heart care.
Speaker highlight:
Michael Broman, MD, PhD
Cardiac Electrophysiologist
OSF HealthCare
Brock Doehring
Sales Representative
Abbott
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
You head to your provider’s office for a visit. Wouldn’t it be great if you could feel confident they had all of the pertinent information they needed for your visit?
Join us as we discuss Clinipane, an innovative solution that brings essential patient information to the forefront during appointments. With the support of a Jump ARCHES grant, this new tool leverages AI to sift through vast amounts of data in electronic medical records, presenting clinicians with real-time, relevant insights tailored to each patient’s needs.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Roopa Foulger, vice president, Digital Innovation Development, OSF Innovation and Jonathan Handler, MD, FACEP, FAMIA, senior fellow, OSF Innovation to learn how this technology is set to improve patient safety, streamline care and transform the clinical experience by reducing information overload and enhancing decision-making.
Speaker highlight:
Roopa Foulger
Vice President, Digital Innovation Development
OSF Innovation
Jonathan Handler, MD, FACEP, FAMIA
Senior Fellow
OSF Innovation
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Fish skin, pig intestine, pig bladder, cow tendon and more – oh my! It’s not something out of Oz. These are things being used to save people from having limbs amputated.
Join us as we discuss the work of an OSF HealthCare vascular surgeon to save patients from amputation through advanced regenerative reconstruction. He does it through procedures currently reserved for the most serious of cases like severe bacterial infection, traumatic crushed limbs and lower limb ulcers that have become infected and spread throughout the body. OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria is the only location in Illinois performing advanced regenerative reconstruction procedures at this level.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with this surgeon, Eric Martin, DO, chief of Vascular Surgery at OSF Saint Francis, about how he has crafted a predictable and consistent method that provides reliable outcomes for heroic limb salvage. Special guests for this episode include Jessica Collins, a surgical specialist at Kerecis, OSF patient Tim Rayner, OSF patient Katelynn Aukes, and her mother, Kristy Aukes.
Speaker highlight:
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
No one wants to face the journey of cancer, especially with the added fear of breast cancer for women. But for those at high risk, there's something that can help detect breast cancer earlier.
Join us as we discuss the risk assessment program for breast health at OSF HealthCare. CancerIQ is a tool OSF uses to help identify patients at a high risk of getting cancer based on their personal and family histories. As part of that assessment, some high-risk patients are identified as eligible for getting breast MRIs in addition to their annual mammograms.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Roopa Fougler, vice president, Digital Innovation Development, and Michele Settelmyer, APN, Oncology services, to discuss how this program plays a key role in early detection of breast cancer and helps patients navigate necessary follow up appointments.
Speaker highlight:
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
Many people have ideas they believe can make an impact but don’t know where to start. Peoria, Illinois, has a new space to support making those ideas a reality.
Join us as we discuss Distillery Labs, a startup hub dedicated to connecting people, ideas and resources to launch and grow new businesses. With a focus on innovation, inclusivity and community, Distillery Labs provides a welcoming and accessible environment where entrepreneurs can thrive and contribute to economic growth.
Host Shelli Dankoff chats with Doug Cruitt, executive director of Distillery Labs, and Kip McCoy, vice president, OSF Innovation Studios, to discuss the plans for this new space and its impact on the community.
Speaker highlight:
Connect with us at www.osfhealthcare.org/accelerated
