Lauren Theiss, M.D., currently a second-year UAB general surgery resident, was recently selected for the Veterans Affairs Quality Scholars Fellowship Program at the Birmingham VA Medical Center.

Dr. Lauren Theiss

As part of this two-year fellowship, Theiss will learn to research, develop and apply new healthcare strategies to improve the quality and value of medical services at the VA and beyond. Theiss’ appointment will begin July 1, 2019, and continue through June 20, 2021.

General surgery residents Frank Gleason, M.D., and Samantha Baker, M.D., are also Birmingham VAQS fellows.

The VA Quality Scholars Program trains fellows like Theiss, Gleason and Baker in quality improvement and patient safety in order to cultivate healthcare leaders, researchers and educators who will contribute new knowledge to these areas of research. At each of the 11 VAQS sites across the country, fellows are taught how to advance healthcare practices within and outside of the VA, apply the training they receive through the VAQS program to veteran care share this training with other health professionals.