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An Outstanding Career in Health Services: Dr. Shirley Meehan
Dr. Shirley Meehan accepts VA's Exemplary
Service Award from Under Secretary for Health
Michael Kussman, MD, MS, MACP
This spring, VA's Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D) will say a fond farewell to one of its most vigorous and beloved leaders: Shirley Meehan, MBA, PhD, Deputy Director of HSR&D. Shirley will be leaving HSR&D for a very well-deserved retirement after 38 years of service to VA. Early YearsDr. Meehan began her work with VA almost 40 years ago as a management intern. She was initially intrigued by the notion of research and development, and the concept of supporting and facilitating those directly responsible for research. After the conclusion of her tour as a management intern, her contributions to HSR&D formally began with her role as a project leader and computer systems analyst in the former Department of Data Management Medical Systems Unit. When HSR&D was officially formed in 1973, Dr. Meehan became a driving force in building the foundation and sustainability of the Service. She helped to establish guidelines for research proposal submissions)—a critical contribution given that the area of health services research was so new. At the time, the perception was that health services research was a "soft" science and not subject to rigorous data and controls. In contrast, today many point to the extreme rigor associated with HSR&D research standards. Encouraging Research, Enhancing ConnectionsAs HSR&D coalesced and strengthened, Dr. Meehan moved through roles as a Program Planning Specialist and Program Program Analysis Officer, eventually becoming Deputy Director of HSR&D in 1992. She also served as Acting Director of HSR&D for a total of more than three years during three separate time periods. Dr. Meehan continuously encouraged and supported HSR&D researchers and, thus, the advancement of HSR&D research. She also played a key role in enhancing collaborations between researchers in the field and VA leadership, understanding the importance of leadership's early buy-in to insure the relevance and subsequent uptake and impact of the research. Dr. Meehan consistently encouraged excellence in HSR&D. Leading by example, she played a key role in establishing, managing, and enhancing HSR&D's:
For many HSR&D Center Directors and researchers in the field, Dr. Meehan was the "go-to" person in Central Office. She was always willing to provide advice and guidance. During her accomplished tenure, Dr. Meehan has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including Special Contribution Awards for her invaluable support of HSR&D leadership and for her efforts towards continuously improving the administration and management systems of HSR&D. Most recently, Shirley was honored by Under Secretary for Health Dr. Michael Kussman, who presented her with VA's Exemplary Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Office of the Under Secretary. Shirley's dedication and excellence also has been recognized outside VA, where she has been the recipient of the prestigious Elnora M. Rhodes Service Award from the Society of General Internal Medicine, as well as the James A. Stockdill Knowledge Utilization Society Award for Excellence in Government Service. A Well-Earned ThanksFrom her time as a management intern, through her long tenure as Deputy Director, Dr. Meehan has shown unflagging support for HSR&D's mission, staff, researchers, and leadership. Her foundational contributions have helped to put HSR&D on the map, and these contributions have positioned the Service to move forward successfully with ongoing research efforts always aimed at improving the health and healthcare of Veterans. It is hard for many of us to imagine how we will get along without Shirley at the helm, but perhaps we can find some comfort in knowing that we are carrying on her work. On behalf of all of us in HSR&D: Thank you, Shirley! Best wishes for a wonderful retirement! |
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