Welcome New IHI Open School Regional Leaders!

Regional Chapter Leaders, which are selected after a region comprises at least 25 Chapters, serve as intermediaries between the IHI Open School team and local IHI Open School Chapters. They form the backbone of the Chapter network and help foster the growth of the IHI Open School community. We are thrilled to have them join our team and are immensely grateful for their contributions! Feel free to drop them a line and say hello. They’d love to hear from you!

United Kingdom IHI Open School Regional Leader  

Hi, my name is Andy Carson-Stevens. I’m thrilled to be the new Regional Leader in the United Kingdom. The IHI Open School has played a huge part in my professional life. As a medical student in 2008, I convened the Wales Chapter as a student program allied to the 1000 Lives Campaign in Wales. During an internship at IHI in 2009, I realized the power of the IHI Open School network, and co-founded the first student-led global patient safety campaign to encourage the spread and implementation of the WHO
 

Surgical Safety Checklist. To our surprise, thousands of students got involved in the “Check a Box. Save a Life.” Campaign! Through academic scholarships awarded by the IHI Open School, I’ve been fortunate to attend IHI learning events such as the National and International Forum, and in 2010, I attended the Student Quality Leadership Academy. I’m now honored to be the lead author on a new course for the growing IHI Open School catalog. The IHI Open School has given me a family of friends to share and learn with from across the world - I look forward to learning with you!

Starting this August, I will be a primary care physician trainee and a Lecturer at the Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University. You can reach me at andypcs@gmail.com.

United States Midwest IHI Open School Regional Leader

My name is Lakshman Swamy, and I am an MD/MBA student in my final year at Wright State University in Dayton, OH. I'm excited to serve as the Midwest Regional Leader this year! My goal is to create a stronger network between our Chapters—new and established—and to promote more interdisciplinary communication as well.

I'm also looking forward to spending the next few months at the Center for Clinical Excellence  at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. I'll be getting started on regional events by working closely with the IHI Open School staff while I'm there, as well. Feel free to drop me a line anytime to share your ideas or talk about Chapter programming. You can reach me at lswamy@gmail.com. Looking forward to a great year!

United States West Coast IHI Open School Regional Leader

I’m Jessica Schwartz, and I just moved to Denver a few months ago from San Antonio, Texas, where I attended Trinity University’s Masters in Healthcare Administration program and led San Antonio’s IHI Open School Chapter.  I am completing my Administrative Fellowship at Children’s Hospital Colorado from January to December 2012, and I’m really excited to continue my involvement in IHI! 

As the Regional Leader of the West Coast, I hope to shine a light on the great work these local Chapters are doing, foster collaboration in and between Chapters, and organize at least one regional event. Please contact me with any ideas, suggestions, or comments.  I look forward to working with the Chapters in my region, other Regional Leaders, and the IHI Open School staff to really make some positive change.  You can reach me at Jessica.Schwartz@childrenscolorado.org.