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    Susan Kirsh, MD, MPH, CMQ

    Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks (DEAN)
    Dept of Veteran Affairs

    Dr. Susan R. Kirsh, MD, MPH, CMQ, currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks (DEAN) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). In this senior leadership role, Dr. Kirsh oversees a diverse portfolio that includes Research, Health Professions training, and Innovations, contributing to the advancement of healthcare services for veterans.

    Throughout her distinguished 28-year career with VHA, Dr. Kirsh has held numerous critical positions. She began her career as a practicing internist at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, where she provided clinical care for many years. Her leadership journey continued in the VA Central Office, where she spearheaded initiatives such as the Primary Care Program Office with Patient-Centered Medical Home and Shared Medical Appointments. During her tenure in Specialty Care, she successfully implemented programs like e-Consults, the Specialty Care Access Network-Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (SCAN-ECHO), Specialty Care Neighborhoods, and Mini-Residencies.

    Since March 2015, Dr. Kirsh has been at the forefront of improving access to care for veterans by leading the implementation of the practice management program for outpatient care, same-day services, and direct scheduling for specialty care across VA. In 2018, she served as the Acting Executive Director for Access to Care, driving enterprise-wide efforts to enhance access through telehealth and the modernization of Clinical Contact Centers.

    Dr. Kirsh received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, Ohio, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at both the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. She also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio.

    Dr. Kirsh is certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine. In 2024, she completed Competing in the Age of AI at the Harvard Business School. She received a professional designation in Certified in Medical Quality (CMQ) from the American College of Medical Quality in 2023. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Society of General Internal Medicine, Medical Group Management Association, and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Kirsh was a Faculty Scholar in the VA Quality Scholar Program in 2008 and continues to enjoy teaching via a Professor of Medicine appointment at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and an Assistant Professor position at Georgetown University School of Health and is an Adjunct Professor at the Uniformed Services University Health System. She lectures occasionally at George Washington University in the School of Public Health.

    In addition to her professional work, Susan is a frequent speaker at national health and technology conferences and has published articles in journals such as New England Journal of Medicine, Catalyst, and the Journal of General Internal Medicine. She lives in Washington, DC., and enjoys hiking, mentoring students and attending Orchid shows in her spare time.

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