2024 Advances in Learning Health System Sciences (AiLHSS) Conference: Abstracts

Abstract

The Advances in Learning Health System Sciences (AiLHSS) Conference is an annual event that addresses pressing and emerging Learning Health System (LHS) topics while fostering collaboration among researchers advancing the field presented by the University of Minnesota (UMN) Center for Learning Health System Sciences (CLHSS), a collaboration between the Medical School and School of Public Health at the UMN. The 2024 conference was held on September 9–10 at Coffman Memorial Union at UMN in Minneapolis, MN. This year's conference featured 219 attendees including clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and trainees, with local, national, and international representation from professional organizations, research institutes, healthcare organizations, and universities serving the needs of diverse populations such as children, the elderly, rural communities, and veterans. The agenda was composed of keynote presentations, scientific forums, workshops, and poster sessions all designed to foster collaboration and innovation in the field of LHS. Throughout the conference, attendees had the opportunity to engage in various networking sessions. This year's agenda highlighted the importance of collaboration and continuous learning in improving healthcare delivery, with a focus on practical tools, real-world examples, and the integration of patient and community perspectives.

On the first day, September 9, the conference began with coffee and networking, followed by welcome and opening remarks from Genevieve Melton-Meaux, MD, PhD (Director, CLHSS), and Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD (Dean, UMN Medical School). The morning sessions included a keynote by Sarah Greene, MPH, from the National Academy of Medicine discussing the complexities and opportunities in building and sustaining learning health systems. This was followed by a spotlight session and a panel on active data sharing collaboratives. The afternoon featured scientific forums on topics such as organ donation data, opioid substance use treatment, and cardiac imaging in stroke evaluation, as well as a workshop on partnering with patients to improve study design and outcomes. The day ended with a poster session which included networking opportunities.

The second day, September 10, started with coffee and networking, followed by opening remarks from Timothy Beebe, PhD (Deputy Director, CLHSS), and a keynote by Sara Singer, PhD, MBA, from Stanford University on the importance of learning in health systems. The morning sessions included evidence synthesis case studies and a spotlight session on implementation science reporting and adherence challenges. The conference concluded with a keynote by Angela D. Thomas, DrPH, MPH, MBA, from MedStar Health discussing the realities of being a learning health system.

This article features a curated collection of abstracts from spotlight sessions, oral presentations, and the highest-scored posters, all of which were recognized for their innovative contributions to LHS research and practice. These presentations emphasized co-creation of evidence-based interventions, real-world data utilization, and systems thinking to improve patient care and outcomes. By focusing on core LHS principles such as iterative learning, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making, they offer practical models for addressing diverse medical and public health challenges.