Executive Director, National Center for Patient Safety
Veterans Health Administration
Dr. Yackel oversees the VHA Office of Patient Safety comprised of the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS), Utilization Management, and Product Effectiveness. Dr. Yackel joined NCPS in December 2019 as Deputy Executive Director after retiring from an extensive military career where he reached the rank of Colonel. He assumed his current duties in June 2021. Dr. Yackel, through his education, experience, and leadership, has had a tremendous impact on patient safety. He was instrumental in leading the Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) into a quality improvement journey establishing MEDCOM as a learning organization through several changes. One of the system-wide changes included engaging multidisciplinary teams in developing solution sets to improve health care outcomes. Dr. Yackel currently serves as a senior VA patient safety executive who provides national leadership for the formulation, establishment, operation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of effective management policies, programs, and practices for the Veterans Health Administration that maximize clinical patient safety delivered across the full continuum of care sites. Dr. Yackel received his Doctorate in Nursing from Duke University, his Master's in Nursing from the University of Michigan, Master's in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lake Superior University.
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In Pursuit of Zero Harm: A Focused Approach to Quality Improvement (99H)
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
4:30pm – 5:30pm CT