Quality Improvement Academy

The Quality Improvement Academy (QIA) began within the Weill Department of Medicine (DOM) in 2016 with the aim of achieving a higher standard of quality improvement (QI) and patient safety knowledge and expertise within our department by developing faculty members into effective leaders in clinical excellence through healthcare systems improvement. Initially, the 1-year program was designed for physician faculty at the instructor and assistant professor level who were passionate and committed to becoming strategically vital leaders in interdisciplinary process improvement, education and mentorship, and accomplishing academic productivity through scholarship in QI. Given its success and high demand, the program expanded in 2018 to include Weill Cornell physicians, advanced practice providers and nurses across all departments at Weill Cornell, Lower Manhattan Hospital, NYP-Brooklyn Methodist, NYP-Queens, and Hospital for Special Surgery. Further expansion in 2022 included clinical staff and DOM graduate medical fellows in 2023.

As of spring 2025, QIA has 103 alumni from 13 clinical departments across our five campuses and one international alumnus from Australia. Forty-four are from the DOM. Ninety-two projects have been completed, 86% of which have been integrated into standard practice. Now entering our tenth anniversary year, QIA-WCM will continue to prioritize the quality and safety goals of WCM and NYP while spearheading grassroots efforts to increase productivity and visibility of our institution’s commitment to high value, high quality care as a high reliability organization.

Since the start of the program, faculty mentorship of medical students, residents and fellows in QI has increased dramatically across participating departments; within the DOM, our mentors have increased from three to 44. More than a third of the program’s projects have included students and trainees, helping departments meet the ACGME CLER program focus areas targeting faculty and trainee participation in patient safety and quality improvement. In addition, more than half of our alumni continue to serve as peer mentors to incoming QIA classes, contributing to the value of the longitudinal opportunities for training and scholarship through our program.

Quality Improvement Academy creates a pathway for all level of learners, trainees, faculty, and staff to actively engage in rigorous quality improvement scholarship.

Leadership

Classes by Graduation Year

Annual Quality Improvement/Patient Safety Symposium