OSF HealthCare has unveiled the winners of its 2026 Innovator of the Year Awards
OSF HealthCare has unveiled the winners of its 2026 Innovator of the Year Awards, celebrating leaders credited with transforming health care delivery across the Ministry. Honorees Colleen Klein, Nichole Esterdahl, and Tiffany Magallanes are its 2026 Innovators of the Year. Announced at the OSF Innovation Showcase, each of these leaders is credited with remarkable advancements in care delivery, research, and operations. Klein’s research on digital health within Medicaid delivery systems has strengthened patient engagement and fostered equity-focused innovations. Esterdahl’s launch of a self-service virtual urgent care model has significantly reduced patient wait times and improved satisfaction. Magallanes introduced remote radiology models, expanding advanced diagnostics and eliminating access barriers. Their collective efforts are now inspiring scalable improvements across the health care system.
“These innovators exemplify the Mission of OSF HealthCare by transforming challenges into opportunities for meaningful change,” says Becky Buchen, senior vice president, OSF Innovation. “Their work is not only improving today’s care experience but also shaping the future of how care is delivered across our Ministry.”
OSF HealthCare has named Colleen Klein, PhD, APRN, as 2026 Research Innovator of the Year in recognition of her leading role within the Medicaid Innovation Collaborative. Klein stands out for her work combining digital health research with real-world application, advancing access, engagement, and health equity for Medicaid patients. Her rigorous, implementation-focused methods have produced multiple peer-reviewed studies, while also providing teams with valuable guidance on research techniques and evaluation strategies. By supporting data-informed decisions and continuous learning, Klein’s efforts are directly shaping more equitable and scalable digital health solutions across the OSF system.
Klein’s nominator says, “Colleen has supported team members in understanding research methods, measurement strategies and evaluation frameworks, strengthening collective capability and promoting methodological consistency. This mentoring approach has enabled teams to engage more effectively in data-informed decision-making and continuous learning.”
Nichole Esterdahl, Director of On-Demand Operations at OSF OnCall, is being recognized as Non-Clinical Innovator of the Year. Esterdahl led a breakthrough initiative to create a self-service, in-clinic virtual visit model for OSF OnCall Urgent Care, targeting long wait times and patient dissatisfaction. Patients now connect with virtual providers using OSF MyChart and TytoCare technology, supported onsite when needed. Since rollout, the model completed 505 visits, averaging just 23 minutes and 34 seconds per visit and earning a Net Promoter Score of 92.31. The innovation enhances efficiency and patient experience without requiring extra staff.
Esterdahl’s nominator says, “Nichole’s innovation aligns perfectly with current health care trends, including digital transformation, hybrid care models, operational efficiency and patient empowerment. As urgent care continues to evolve, her work positions OSF OnCall as a leader in modern, technology-enabled access to care.”
Tiffany Magallanes, Vice President of Operations and Special Projects at OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, has been named Clinical Innovator of the Year. Magallanes is being honored for pioneering technology-enabled models that have transformed radiology care. She led the creation of an MRI remote scanning program and a remote radiologist model for diagnostic breast imaging, allowing patients to access advanced imaging services closer to home. As a result, around 20 complex MRI exams no longer require travel, while diagnostic mammograms are now available within seven days at multiple locations. These scalable, sustainable solutions are set to expand, improving access and quality regionally.
Her nominator says, “What distinguishes Tiffany as an innovator is her ability to anticipate challenges such as workforce shortages, access gaps and care fragmentation, and to proactively design solutions that are both visionary and operationally sound. Her leadership in complex initiatives, including system-wide imaging standardization efforts, has streamlined workflows, reduced denials and improved patient access across the Ministry.”