The HCSRN brings together the research centers from many of the nation’s best and most innovative health care systems. Collectively, the HCSRN represents more than 2,000 scientists and research staff with methodological and content expertise from an array of disciplines such as epidemiology, economics, disparities, outcomes and quality assessment, clinical trials, and genomics.
Our Mission
To improve individual and population health through research that connects the resources and capabilities of learning health care systems for all.
Our Vision
The Health Care Systems Research Network is the nation’s preeminent source of population-based research that measurably improves health and health care for all.
HCSRN Board
The Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN) is led by Executive Director Suzanne Simons. She is responsible for all strategic and operational activities as overseen by the HCSRN Governing Board. The all-volunteer Board operates as a democratic constituency, guided by a set of agreed upon bylaws.
Together, these visionary leaders are helping shape the future of the HCSRN and health systems-based research.
Five Board officers make up the HCSRN’s Executive Committee. The Executive Director is on the Executive Committee in an ex officio capacity.
Rebecca Rossom, MD, MS (Chair, 2025-2026)
Julie Schmittdiel, PhD, MA (Chair-elect 2025-2026)
Tina Davis, PhD, MPH (Secretary, 2024-2025)
Leslie Hinyard, PhD, MSW (Treasurer, 2024-2025)
Michael Horberg, MD, MAS, (Immediate Past Chair, 2025-2026)
Tina Davis, PhD, MPH, Investigator, Center for Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Georgia
Mara Epstein, Associate Professor, Division of Health Systems Science at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Steve Fortmann, Senior Director, Science Programs, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research
Robert T. Greenlee, PhD, MPH, Senior Research Scientist, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health, MCRI, Marshfield Clinic Health System
Leslie Hinyard, PhD, MSW, Executive Director, Advanced HEAlth Data (AHEAD) Institute, St. Louis University
Stacey Honda, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Center for Integrated Healthcare Research, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
Michael A. Horberg, MD, MAS, Associate Medical Director, KP Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Research Institute, Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group
J.B. Jones, PhD, MBA, Executive Director, Center for Health Systems Research, Sutter Health
Rita Mangione-Smith, MD, MPH, Vice President for Research & Health Care Innovation, Kaiser Permanente Washington, Executive Director, KP Washington Health Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente Washington
Christine Neslund-Dudas, PhD, Associate Research Scientist, Henry Ford Health, Co-Leader, Cancer Epidemiology Prevention and Control Program, Henry Ford Cancer Institute
Kristi Reynolds, PhD, Director, Epidemiologic Research, Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Rebecca C. Rossom, MD, MS, Senior Investigator, Research, HealthPartners Institute, HealthPartners
Katherine Sanchez, PhD, LCSW, Director, Diversity and Inclusiveness in Research, Research Investigator 3, Baylor Scott & White Health
Julie Schmittdiel, PhD, MA, Associate Director of Health Care Delivery and Policy and a Research Scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research
Claudia Steiner, MD, MPH, Executive Director, Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado
Darren Toh, ScD, DPM Endowed Professor in the Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
Stephen C. Waring, DVM, PhD, FACE, Principal Scientist, Essentia Institute of Rural Health, Essentia Health, Adjunct Professor, College of Pharmacy UMN-Duluth
Eric Wright, PharmD, MPH, Professor of Pharmacy, Dept of Health System Sciences, Geisinger College of Health Sciences, System Director, Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes, Geisinger
Annual Conference Abstract Review Committee
Purpose: To provide policy and procedures for the Annual Conference Abstract Review Subcommittee and support the Annual Conference Planning Committee. Committee composition determined annually.
Annual Conference Awards Committee
Purpose: To provide policy and procedures for the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee oversees the Awards program including criteria development, call for nominations/submissions, application review and scoring and winner notification for the following awards: Early Career Investigator, Mentor of the Year, Paper of the Year, Multisite Collaborator of the Year. Committee composition determined annually.
Annual Conference Planning Committee
Purpose: Develop scientific programming as well as oversee logistics and other aspects of planning for the annual conference. Program content will be determined annually based on strategic initiatives and ongoing education needs of members as identified by the Governing Board.
Leslie Hinyard, PhD, MSW (Co-Chair)
Advanced HEAlth Data (AHEAD) Institute
Ivana A Vaughn, PhD, MPH (Co-Chair)
Henry Ford Health System
Denise Angst, PhD, RN
Advocate Aurora Research Institute
Jinmyoung Cho, PhD
Advanced HEAlth Data (AHEAD) Institute
Inih Essien, OD, MPH
HealthPartners
Veronica Fitzpatrick, DrPH, MPH
Advocate Aurora Research Institute
Corinna Koebnick, MSc, PhD, FAHA
Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Robert Penfold, PhD
KP Washington Health Research Institute
Apoorva Pradhan, MD, MPH
Geisinger
Katherine Sanchez, PhD, LCSW
Baylor Scott & White
Abdul Shour, MSP, PhD
Marshfield Clinic Research Institute
Claudia Steiner, MD, MPH
Kaiser Permanente Colorado
Ann Marie Warren, PhD
Baylor Scott & White
Kanetha B. Wilson, PhD
Kaiser Permanente Georgia
Annual Conference Volunteer Management Committee
Purpose: To provide policy and procedures for the Volunteer Management Committee. The Volunteer Management Committee oversees the identification and scheduling of volunteers for conference registration, session room managers and other conference-related volunteer needs.Committee composition determined annually.
Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee
Purpose: To establish DEI initiatives and a commitment to related practices which reflect the diversity of the patients, clinicians and stakeholders served by the HCSRN. To develop an implementation plan that is inclusive of all HCSRN activities and communication platforms and is fully integrated into the strategic plan.
Tina Davis, PhD, MPH (Chair)
Kaiser Permanente Georgia
Melissa Harry
Essentia Health
Leslie Hinyard, PhD, MSW
Advanced HEAlth Data (AHEAD) Institute
Jana Hirschtick, PhD, MPH
Advocate Aurora Research Institute
Gwen Lapham, PhD, MPH, MSW
Rebecca Rossom, MD, MS
HealthPartners Institute
Katherine Sanchez, PhD, LCSW
Baylor Scott & White
Julie Schmittdiel, PhD, MA
Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research
Jamie Thompson, MPH
Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research
Ivana Vaughn, PhD, MPH
Henry Ford Health System
Dea Papajorgji-Taylor, MPH
Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Health Research
Executive Committee
Purpose: The Executive Committee includes the Governing Board Chairperson, Chairperson-Elect, Immediate Past Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Executive Director participates in an ex officio capacity. The Executive Committee prioritize issues that the Executive Committee needs to address in partnership with the Executive Director, reports monthly to the Governing Board, drives Executive Committee business and discussions between formal monthly calls to move work forward, and guides the Governing Board’s strategic vision in collaboration with the Executive Director. See above under Executive Committee tab.
Finance Committee
Purpose: The Finance Committee is a standing three-person committee of the Board chaired by the Treasurer. The Committee meets quarterly to prepare and recommend a yearly budget to the Board. In addition to Budget development, the Finance Committee advises the Executive Director on finance decisions related to the HCSRN and reports to the HCSRN Governing Board on a quarterly basis. Committee members include Leslie Hinyard, PhD, MPH,(Advanced HEAlth Data (AHEAD) Institute), Kristi Reynolds, PhD (Kaiser Permanente Southern California) and Rebecca Rossom,MD, MS, (HealthPartners Institute).
Commercially Supported Symposia Committee
Membership Committee
Julie Schmittdiel, PhD, MA (Co-Chair)
Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research
Stephanie Hooker, PhD, MPH (Co-Chair)
HealthPartners Institute
Veronica Fitzpatrick, DrPH, MPH
Advocate Aurora Research Institute
Suzanne Gillespie, MA, MS
Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research
Yonah Karp
Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute
Rita Mangione-Smith, MD, MPH
Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute
Website Content Review Advisory Task Force Purpose: Provide guidance to the review of website content for accuracy and currency as part of the website relaunch project.
Path Forward Task Force Purpose: To determine HCSRN’s “path forward” as it relates to defining “who” is HCSRN, what are HCSRN’s greatest assets and the appropriate messaging regarding HCSRN membership.
The HCSRN brings together the research centers from many of the nation’s best and most innovative health care systems. Collectively, the HCSRN represents more than 2,000 scientists and research staff with methodological and content expertise from an array of disciplines such as epidemiology, economics, disparities, outcomes and quality assessment, clinical trials, and genomics.
