Dr. Robert L. Jesse
Award for Excellence in Innovation
Let’s work together to get them the recognition they deserve.
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized?
Each year, the Robert L. Jesse Award for Excellence in Innovation (also known as the Bob Jesse Award) honors a VA employee and a team or department who have implemented innovation within VA. The award recognizes and honors VA employees who have demonstrated excellence and enabled the discovery and spread of health care innovation that exceeds expectations, restores hope and builds trust.
Nominate an innovator for the Bob Jesse Award for Excellence in Innovation
The Dr. Robert L. Jesse Award for Excellence in Innovation nomination portal will be open Summer 2025. Nominations for the award, timelines, and relevant information can be found on the nomination portal linked above.
Award recipients, their leadership, and nominators will be notified in September 2025.
Natalie Borges from Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, was the recipient of 2024’s Dr. Robert L. Jesse Award in the non-clinical category. She was recognized for her innovative Virtual Creative Arts Workshop, which supports caregivers enrolled in the VA Caregiver Support Program. Drawing from her background in fine arts, Natalie developed accessible and engaging online creative arts sessions that have been shown to enhance mood, improve cognitive functioning, and decrease feelings of isolation. Through her work, she has significantly improved the value of care Veterans receive by creating a supportive environment for their caregivers.
Dr. Mark Holodniy is the director of VA’s Public Health Program Office and winner of the 2023 Bob Jesse Award for Excellence in Innovation, clinical category. Holodniy uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning to create robust predictive models which generate proactive responses VA can use when addressing emerging outbreaks or climate change-related health concerns faced by Veterans.
