Carolyn M. Clancy

American physician and health services researcher

Carolyn Clancy, MD

Carolyn M. Clancy is an American physician and health services researcher known for her work in improving the quality and safety of healthcare. She has held several prominent positions in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and has been a leading figure in health services research.

Early Life and Education

Carolyn Clancy was born in New York City. She pursued her undergraduate education at Boston College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature. She then attended the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where she received her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Following medical school, Dr. Clancy completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

Career

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Dr. Clancy began her career at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), where she served as the director from 2003 to 2014. During her tenure, she focused on improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare for all Americans. Under her leadership, AHRQ developed several key initiatives, including the development of the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports.

Department of Veterans Affairs

In 2014, Dr. Clancy joined the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Quality, Safety, and Value. She later served as the Interim Under Secretary for Health from 2014 to 2015. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing the delivery of healthcare to millions of veterans across the United States.

Dr. Clancy has also served as the Executive in Charge of the Veterans Health Administration, where she continued to focus on improving healthcare quality and access for veterans. Her work at the VA has been instrumental in advancing the integration of health services research into clinical practice.

Contributions to Health Services Research

Dr. Clancy is widely recognized for her contributions to health services research, particularly in the areas of healthcare quality and patient safety. She has published numerous articles and book chapters on these topics and has been a frequent speaker at national and international conferences.

Her research has focused on developing strategies to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes, with an emphasis on evidence-based practice and policy. Dr. Clancy has been a strong advocate for the use of data and analytics to drive improvements in healthcare systems.

Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Dr. Clancy has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to healthcare and health services research. She is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine).

Related Pages

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• United States Department of Veterans Affairs
• Health services research
• Patient safety