Fate is a funny thing.

I had planned to be a math teacher. But I scored well on a theoretical statistics exam during my undergraduate work, which eventually led to a PhD (2013) in biostatistics and a position as a statistical analyst at the Iowa City Veteran Affairs (VA) Medical Center. 

This is where my story may have ended. It was inspiring work with good people. But as a veteran myself, I wanted to serve in a role that was more challenging and impactful. So, in 2021, I became a principal investigator through the VA Rural Health Career Development Program. My research involves assessing health outcomes and access to care, especially among rural veterans. Much of my work has focused on telemedicine programs that have the potential to improve access but are mitigated by everyday issues, such as a lack of broadband internet, technical know-how, or caregiver support needs. 

Technology training is often recommended to those who want to access telemedicine but lack the technical skills to do so. And there’s a multitude of VA resources to help with that, including Virtual Health Resource Centers with walk-in support, a Help Desk staffed 24/7, user guides, and online resources. Still, veterans continue to say they want training. Why? What factors influence the use (or, non-use) of these resources? And what other strategies might be employed to put the right resources in the right hands? 

This is where implementation science enters the fray. The discipline works at the nexus of knowing what works and ensuring that knowledge is put into concrete solutions that benefit people. 

In my role with the Implementation Science Center, I use my skills to help researchers, clinicians, and staff measure what works and what doesn’t; assess alternative strategies in different settings; and translate data into what I call “people speak.” I believe that it is through collaboration and careful thought that we pursue better programs, medications, and interventions that serve everyone. And through these efforts, we take fate a bit more out of the equation.