OSF Innovation

06/01/2026

What does it take to become a health care hero? 🩺

This summer, students in grades 6-12 can explore the answer at OSF STEAM Summer Camp!

Campers will:
🔬 Explore real anatomy
🏥 Practice hands-on medical simulation
💡 Solve healthcare challenges
🚑 Discover exciting health care careers

This 5-day experience is packed with hands-on learning, creativity and discovery designed to inspire the next generation of health care professionals.

📅 July 6-10
📍 Jump Simulation

Register now to save your child’s spot!
6th-8th grade: https://bit.ly/4x1W2L0
9th-12th grade: https://bit.ly/4ffmt9H

05/28/2026

Preparing for complex heart surgery takes more than skill – it takes the right tools.

Through a Jump ARCHES grant, OSF HealthCare is working with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria to use virtual reality to improve how surgeons plan procedures for patients with congenital heart conditions.

By creating detailed 3D models of the heart, this technology helps surgeons better understand each patient’s unique anatomy – leading to more precise decisions and better outcomes.

🔗 Learn more: https://bit.ly/41Uk7Fd

05/26/2026

: On the latest episode of , we explore how OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute is at the forefront of the latest advancements in heart valve procedures. We discuss common types of heart valve disease and how minimally invasive procedures can offer effective treatment with shorter hospital stays and recovery times.

05/20/2026

🎉Congratulations to Colleen Klein, PhD, APRN – Research Innovator of the Year!

Colleen’s research focuses on how digital health tools can better serve Medicaid patients. Her work shows how technology can improve access to care, increase patient engagement and support health equity, even in complex care settings.

To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/4wvrst8.

05/19/2026

Heart valve disease affects an estimated 11 million Americans, with risk increasing significantly as we age.

Join us as we explore how OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute is at the forefront of the latest advancements in heart valve procedures. We’ll highlight the growth of the structural heart program at OSF, including milestones in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the expansion of MitraClip procedures for mitral valve regurgitation, and the recent introduction of TriClip for tricuspid valve repair – making OSF one of only two locations in Illinois offering this option.

We chat with OSF cardiologists Ashvarya Mangla, MD, and Sudhir Mungee, MD, about common types of heart valve disease and how minimally invasive procedures can offer effective treatment with shorter hospital stays and recovery times.

Listen now: https://bit.ly/4tOBhzJ

05/18/2026

🎉Congratulations to Nichole Esterdahl, MSN, RN – Non-Clinical Innovator of the Year!

When patient volumes increased and wait times grew, Nichole helped create a new in-clinic virtual visit model at OSF OnCall Urgent Care. This approach gives patients faster access to care and supports in-person care teams during busy times.

To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/4uHc1ft.

05/16/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Tiffany Magallanes – Clinical Innovator of the Year!

Tiffany is improving how imaging care is delivered by introducing ideas like remote MRI scanning and streamlined breast-imaging workflows. These changes help patients get care sooner, make services run more smoothly and maintain high-quality care.

To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/4nmbkWu.

05/14/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Innovator of the Year Award winners!

From advancing clinical workflows and expanding access to virtual care to researching how digital health tools can better support vulnerable populations, these Mission Partners are helping shape the future of healthcare through innovation.

👏 Tiffany Magallanes – Clinical Innovator of the Year
👏 Nichole Esterdahl, MSN, RN – Non-Clinical Innovator of the Year
👏 Colleen Klein, PhD, APRN – Research Innovator of the Year

Their work is improving patient access, enhancing care delivery and driving meaningful change across OSF HealthCare. Thank you for your dedication to transforming healthcare and inspiring innovation every day.

Learn more about this year’s award winners at https://bit.ly/4uj5oQL.

05/13/2026

Students at Illinois State University took on a real-world health care challenge through a partnership with OSF HealthCare – using data science to help predict patient no-shows for medical appointments.

The OSF-ISU Data Science Competition challenged students to apply machine learning and predictive analytics to improve health care efficiency and patient outcomes.

Congratulations to all the students who participated and showcased innovative solutions!

🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4u0YW0A

Illinois State University students showcased machine learning and predictive analytics skills during the OSF–ISU Data Science Competition focused on healthcare innovation.

05/12/2026

This Nurses Week, we’re highlighting how nursing experience can lead to improving care across the system, just like Jason Flammang’s journey.

Jason’s interest in Performance Improvement began while completing clinical hours for his master’s degree, where he was introduced to the role nurses can play in improving patient care beyond the bedside.

With years of experience at OSF HealthCare, he now uses that background to better understand the organization, navigate complex challenges and support project teams in meaningful ways.

He especially enjoys the early stages of a project – learning how teams work, understanding their challenges and aligning on goals to move forward.

Jason encourages other nurses to explore the many paths their degree can offer. Performance Improvement provides an opportunity to be directly involved in creating solutions and improving experiences for both patients and Mission Partners.

To learn more about Performance Improvement contact us at https://bit.ly/4u6s4DH