Research Career Scientist Award

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Sarah L. Krein, PhD, RN has an active and productive research career that builds on her clinical background as a nurse, her multidisciplinary health services research training (with concentrations in health economics, research methods and epidemiology), and her interest and expertise in the use of qualitative methods and implementation research. While creating evidence to improve clinical care and patient outcomes is the general objective of most research studies, how best to move important research findings into clinical practice is also a critical area of investigation for ensuring safe, high-quality care for Veterans. As such, collaborating in team- based science and applying mixed methods and implementation research techniques to better understand and ultimately improve healthcare safety, quality, and effectiveness have been a consistent theme of her research for nearly two decades. As a VA research career scientist, Dr. Krein has maintained a robust research portfolio serving as a principal investigator on at least 1-2 studies and co-investigator/team scientist on 10-12 additional studies at any given time. Her research is supported through VA grant funding as well as funding from several other federal and non-federal sources and includes collaborating with local VA and university colleagues as well as researchers and partners across the VA healthcare system. This includes studies that involve large- scale implementation of patient safety practices, mixed methods studies of disease transmission, provider communication, and hospital resuscitation care, as well as trials of novel approaches for managing chronic pain. She disseminates the findings from these studies through a variety of sources and for both scientific and non-scientific audiences. Dr. Krein also uses her methodological expertise and diverse content knowledge, as an active mentor of both clinician and non-clinician scientists, thus supporting a new generation of researchers as they learn to apply different research methods and embark on research studies to advance care delivery and patient health outcomes. Moreover, she engages in a range of service opportunities that allow her to use her expertise and research experience to contribute to the broader scientific community as well as support the VA research, education and care delivery missions. The senior research career scientist award will allow her to continue to use her clinical, content and methodological expertise to: 1) obtain funding, conduct, publish and disseminate high-quality research; 2) train/mentor early career investigators; 3) work with colleagues and collaborators across the U.S.; and 4) serve on VA committees (local and national) to support VA research and care delivery.