Dylan Ross eyes Rogers’ future, explains role of innovation
06/17/22 09:38:am
Dylan Ross, PhD, vice president of clinical innovations, says Rogers’ long-standing reputation for measurement-based care is one of several key factors that sets the organization apart and attracted him to join in October 2021.
“Overall, the behavioral healthcare industry is lacking in the use of standardized clinical measurement and outcomes reporting,” says Dr. Ross. “The fact that we measure allows us to answer the question that should be easy to answer in a healthcare setting, and that is, ‘Are our patients getting better?’”
Dr. Ross says Rogers’ standardized treatment and use of research-driven, evidence-based care, as well as the ROS model of continuous improvement and intellectual property of advanced algorithms, deep data sets, and clinical content, positions Rogers to do amazing things. As he eyes the future, Dylan says innovation will be a key driver of growth.
Defining “innovation” and priorities
“When people think of innovation, they think of the ‘aha’ moment, or the little thought bubble with the light bulb in the middle of the night, and that’s far from what it is,” explains Dr. Ross. “Innovation is a process that results in solutions and new ideas that address the needs of individuals, adding value within the context in which it occurs. The evidence-based approach to that is human-centered design. It is starting from a place of curiosity with the end-user in mind, and deeply understanding, from an empathetic standpoint, what the lived experience is around the problem to be solved.”
With the goal of ensuring Rogers provides the optimal experience for patients and families across locations and levels of care, Dylan and his team will have four key priorities.
“We will design and deliver a future state virtual care product to improve outcomes and the overall experience of receiving and delivering telehealth,” he says. “Additionally, we want to develop Rogers’ digital capabilities to support care teams, improve outcomes, and support patients and families along their care journey. We will work to improve patient satisfaction as well as deepen Rogers’ innovation and design competencies through cross-functional training and partnership.”
In his brief time with Rogers, Dr. Ross says he is impressed with the people in the organization.
“What hits me about working at Rogers is the collegiality, professionalism, and humility around true expertise,” he says. “There is a commitment to improvement and compassion, from the frontline workers to the top of the organization. There is a sense of purpose to this work and a clear call to action. It’s a powerful, and at times, a weighty responsibility.”
Dr. Ross is glad to be back working with a not-for-profit organization, having come from years working in the for-profit payor space. Before his career in healthcare, he also worked as a wilderness guide and Outward Bound instructor, where he designed and delivered 35-day, wilderness-based experiences to a range of populations, including at-risk youth, in addition to the general public and corporate groups.
“The wilderness context provides profound metaphors for life,” Dr. Ross says. “Feedback is immediate and reliance on self and one’s team is critical. It promotes introspection and appreciation for both the inscape and landscape. Despite this, I will say it is nice not to be living out of my truck any longer.”
He also worked as a lead wilderness therapist for Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions, leading National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)-accredited, 21-day wilderness therapy expeditions with diverse populations of high-risk adolescents.
Dr. Ross says his work with at-risk youth ultimately promoted him to become a licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical counselor before spending nearly a decade gaining extensive leadership experience spanning clinical operations, quality improvement, healthcare system integration, behavioral health product design, end-user driven innovation, and measurement-based care.
Getting to know Dr. Ross
Dr. Ross is happily married to his wife, Thekla, of nearly 10 years. She is a clinical psychologist and die-hard Green Bay Packers fan and shareholder. Thekla grew up in Milwaukee, so they spend time visiting family in Wisconsin.
He and Thekla live in Denver, Colorado, with their two children; 6-year-old daughter, Fia, who is excited she lost her first tooth, and 3-year-old son, Ryden, who is proud he just learned how to ride a “big-boy bicycle” without training wheels.
Dr. Ross loves to garden tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, and greens, and makes gardening a family affair with each child having their own garden box. He does most of the cooking, describing his style as Mediterranean influence, cooking whatever is fresh and in season.
One fun fact about him is he’s an avid open water swimmer and surfer and a competitive triathlete. He once swam from Alcatraz to the Golden Gate Bridge across the San Francisco Bay for the “Escape from Alcatraz” triathlon.
COVID permitting, Dr. Ross and Thekla are planning a bike trip in Croatia along the Dalmatian Coast for their 10-year wedding anniversary in December.
