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From Chat GPT to self-driving Teslas, in some ways it feels like we're living in the future we were promised in movies and television. Similar technologies are having a huge and growing effect across the healthcare industry.In this episode Kat Collard, ChristianaCare Chief Nursing Informatics Officer, and Susan Birkhoff, Ph.D., Program Director for Technology Research and Education at ChristianaCare, open up the world of robots in patient care. They shed light on how mechanical marvels are enhancing efficiency and improving patient outcomes. Hear about ChristianaCare’s own cobot, Moxi, which is designed to handle the tedious, and yet surprisingly complex, task of collecting and transporting supplies. Learn about the dramatic benefits of that work and the challenges of integrating robots into an ever-dynamic hospital environment.If you are curious about the future of healthcare and how robots are part of that, this conversation promises to be a fascinating and informative listen.Katherine Collard is  chief nursing informatics officer at ChristianaCare, responsible for the strategy and implementation of IT systems that directly impact nurses. In addition to leading the system's work with Moxi, she has also led teams in improving documentation for nurses particularly around pressure injury identification on admission. This process led to a significant improvement in identification on admission avoiding significant penalties.Susan Birkhoff, PhD, is a nurse and a scientist leading and supporting interprofessional research education, systemwide technology evaluation, and grantmanship. She conducts research studies that investigates the implementation of technology-based solutions to improve complex health problems.LinksMeet Moxi, ChristianaCare's New Cobot (video)Driving Nursing Outcomes through Robotics6 Nurse AI Robots That Are Changing Healthcare in 2023How Robots Are Redefining Health Care: 6 Recent InnovationsMedical Robots Transforming Healthcare: 11 ExamplesThanks for listening and subscribing! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Robotics in Patient Care with Kat Collard and Susan Birkhoff

Research Focus

Susan Smith is a nurse and a scientist leading and supporting interprofessional research education, systemwide technology evaluation, and grantmanship. Dr. Smith conducts research studies that investigates the implementation of technology-based solutions to improve complex health problems.

Technology

Innovation

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Nursing

Robotics

Virtual Reality

Digital Health

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ChristianaCare rolls out 'cobots' to help nurses with nonclinical tasks

Health care is about more than broken bones and blood pressure readings. Join For the Love of Health hosts Michael Chesney and Megan McGuriman every other Thursday for engaging conversations about fascinating treatments, innovative programs, groundbreaking research and cutting-edge technology. Learn how medical experts are creating health today and delivering the care of tomorrow.

For the Love of Health

It takes Moxi: Driving Nursing Outcomes through Innovative, Autonomous Robotics

delaware-inbre-summer-scholars-complete-biomedical-research-projects-at-christianacare

Welcoming students brings fresh talent into the biomedical research field and, ultimately, better care to patients

Program Director of Technology Research & Education

 Eight undergraduate scholars recently completed a 10-week immersion in biomedical research through the Delaware IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Summer Scholars Program at ChristianaCare. Their projects, spanning oncology, emergency medicine and community health, culminated in a capstone presentation and celebration on August 13 at Christiana Hospital.

This year’s cohort included students from University of Delaware, Delaware State University and Delaware Technical Community College, as well as Delaware residents attending college out of state. Each student was paired with expert mentors from across ChristianaCare, contributing to research designed to improve patient care and outcomes.

In addition to their primary projects, the scholars explored ChristianaCare’s advanced facilities such as the Gene Editing Institute Learning Lab, gaining hands-on exposure to cutting-edge methods in biomedical research.

“This year’s DE-INBRE program at ChristianaCare was a one-of-a-kind experience,” said Susan Smith, Ph.D., RN, program director of Technology Research & Education at ChristianaCare and the INBRE site principal investigator. “We brought together undergraduates from various academic backgrounds and immersed them in real, hands-on biomedical research with some of our most accomplished investigators.

“Watching these students go from a little unsure on day one to confidently presenting their own findings by the end of the summer was inspiring, and proof that programs like this are building the next generation of biomedical researchers in Delaware.”

 Delaware INBRE is a statewide initiative funded by the National Institutes of Health to strengthen Delaware’s biomedical research infrastructure. It supports undergraduate research training, faculty development and core facility investments across partner institutions. At ChristianaCare, the program offers students immersive, hands-on research experiences guided by seasoned investigators, equipping them with the skills, mentorship and exposure essential for careers in science and medicine.

Madeline Rowland, a Delaware resident and rising senior at Williams College in Massachusetts, collaborated with Hank Chen, senior medical physicist at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, to evaluate tattoo-free, surface-guided radiation therapy for breast cancer patients. She also worked with leaders of ChristianaCare’s Center for Virtual Health to explore how different patient populations experience virtual primary care.

Rowland praised the program for the research skills and knowledge she gained as well as the meaningful relationships she built with mentors, health care professionals and fellow scholars she might not have otherwise met.

 “Dr. Chen and the whole Radiation team really adopted me into the department,” Rowland said. “From sitting on the CT simulation table in my first week to working on my project, I felt fully welcomed. I’ve learned so much, and the people I’ve met made this summer unforgettable.”

Chen was recognized as the program’s inaugural “Mentor of the Summer” for his exceptional dedication and thoughtful approach to teaching.

Having now mentored INBRE scholars for three years, Chen has a personal connection to the program. His own daughter participated as an undergraduate and recently began her general surgery residency after graduating from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

For Chen, mentoring represents an investment in health care’s future.

“The greatest asset of any institution is its talent,” he explained. “When you welcome students into your environment, you draw good people to your field, and patients ultimately benefit from that.”

Naana Twusami, a rising senior at Delaware State University, spent her summer with the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Hospital Dentistry Department. She examined social determinants of health in facial trauma patients, analyzing how factors like income, education, transportation and insurance status influence recovery.

“Being here showed me that things like income or transportation can matter just as much as the medical care itself,” she said. “The INBRE Summer Scholars Program gave me a real look at how health care works, and how places like ChristianaCare are helping shape where it’s headed.”

Amy Minsker, continuing medical education manager, Academic Affairs, served as manager of the summer scholars program.

Read more on news.christianacare.org. 

Delaware INBRE Summer Scholars Complete Biomedical Research Projects at ChristianaCare

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First-of-its-kind program trains bedside nurses to support robotics research and build skills for future innovation

 ChristianaCare, the first hospital system in the region to deploy collaborative robots, has once again broken new ground, this time with a nationally unique initiative that puts bedside nurses at the helm of robotics research and innovation.

At a graduation ceremony April 30, ChristianaCare celebrated the first four clinical nurses completing the Nursing Research Fellowship in Robotics and Innovation — the first program of its kind in the nation.

The fellowship was part of a larger three-year, $1.5 million grant from the American Nurses Foundation’s Reimagining Nursing Initiative. The grant supports ChristianaCare’s broader study on how collaborative robots impact nursing practice.

Over eight months, nurses from different units and specialties participated in immersive research training and lectures designed to expand their knowledge, curiosity and professional growth. Their work culminated in national conference presentations and preparations for journal submissions.

The inaugural Nursing Research Fellows in Robotics and Innovation are:

Briana Abernathy, BSN, RN, CEN – case management, Christiana Hospital emergency department
Elizabeth Mitchell, BSN, RN-BC – Christiana Hospital surgical stepdown unit
Hannah Rackie, BSN, RN, C-EFM – Union Hospital maternity unit
Morgan Tallo, BSN, RN, CCRN – Christiana Hospital cardiovascular critical care unit

A ‘real seat at the table’ “When you create programs that empower nurses to lead, innovate and tackle meaningful challenges, you see real impact — not just in new skills and knowledge, but in job satisfaction, well-being and retention,” said Susan Smith Birkhoff, Ph.D., RN, program director of Technology Research & Education at ChristianaCare.

“This fellowship is built on the belief that when nurses are given the space to learn and lead, they bring fresh ideas and collaborative solutions back to their clinical practice areas.”

Created and led by Smith Birkhoff, the fellowship is a standout in the U.S. health care landscape: It gives bedside nurses the chance to step away from their daily routines and gain advanced research experience, an opportunity rarely available at the clinical level.

While the fellowship directly trained four nurses, its reach extended well beyond thazt. Fellows shared what they were learning along the way, sparking wider interest in research across the health system.

The research program was highlighted as a new knowledge and innovation exemplar in the latest evaluation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which in March awarded ChristianaCare its fourth Magnet designation — the gold standard for nursing excellence.

Adriane Griffen, DrPH, MPH, MCHES, vice president of programs at the American Nurses Foundation, praised ChristianaCare’s responsiveness in shaping the program around nurses’ needs and building a model for future innovation.

“What makes this fellowship stand out is its focus on giving bedside nurses a real seat at the table,” Griffen said. “When nurses are trusted to lead and have the right support, they develop solutions that are practical, sustainable and transformative. This fellowship shows how nurse-led innovation can grow from a local pilot into a model for improving care across the country.”

Through the fellowship, nurses gained a deeper understanding of applying research methodology to advance robotics science at the intersection of nursing and hospital operations, which is groundbreaking and novel.

“This is such an exciting and important moment for our profession,” said Danielle Weber, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, chief nurse executive at ChristianaCare. “Innovation is about improving care, easing the burdens on our teams and finding smarter ways to meet the complex needs of our patients. Tools like collaborative robots don’t replace the human touch, they help protect and elevate it.”
Mitchell said she was initially intimidated when she saw the fellowship application because it had been years since she last engaged in formal research. Learning everything from literature reviews to abstract writing pushed her outside her comfort zone and gave her practical tools to take new ideas forward. The experience inspired her to return to school this fall to pursue a graduate degree.

A ‘ripple effect’ “This fellowship reignited my enthusiasm for learning and gave me the skills and confidence to keep growing,” Mitchell said. “It’s been amazing to collaborate with other fellows and mentors, and I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned to improve patient care and strengthen our teams.”

In addition to Smith Birkhoff, Kate Shady, Ph.D., RN, OCN, RN IV, served as a mentor to the fellows, bringing expertise from her hematology/oncology background. Kati Patel, MPH, provided key administrative coordination and support throughout the program.

ChristianaCare continues its broader research into robotics integration, with findings from the multi-year collaborative robot study expected to be shared later this year.

Shady said the fellowship is already influencing ChristianaCare’s nursing culture by expanding interest in research and evidence-based practice well beyond the initial group. The program’s ripple effect is helping build lasting infrastructure for nurse-led innovation across departments.

“One of the most rewarding parts of this fellowship has been seeing these nurses step into new confidence and capability,” Shady said. “They began unsure about research, but by the end, they were reading studies, writing abstracts and mentoring peers — laying the groundwork for bigger change in how we advance nursing practice.”

Learn more about nursing at ChristianaCare.


ChristianaCare Charts New Course With Nurse Robotics Research Fellowship

nurse-scientist-susan-smith-birkhoff-makes-two-research-firsts-in-delaware

Innovative researcher named to leadership role in DE-INBRE and recognized for mentoring

Chief Clinical Officer

Enterprise Chief Scientific Officer

Susan Smith Birkhoff, Ph.D., RN, is making nursing history in the First State through the Delaware IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). She is the first nurse scientist to be named an INBRE site principal investigator and she is the first nurse to receive the Seema S. Sonnad Mentor of the Year Award from INBRE’s Junior Investigator Network.

INBRE is a collaborative network of Delaware academic, health care and research institutions, composed of ChristianaCare, Delaware State University, Delaware Technical Community College Nemours Children’s Health and University of Delaware.

First nurse scientist to lead INBRE site  As the INBRE site principal investigator at ChristianaCare, Smith Birkhoff will expand on the research network’s success at a large academic health center. In collaboration with the INBRE partners and the program manager, Kellie Patterson, BSN, RN, CCRP, she will leverage centers of excellence across ChristianaCare to host an exceptional student program, increase the health system's contributions to the pilot program pool and grow the visibility of INBRE across the enterprise.

“Susan brings a terrific combination of skills to this role,” said Omar Khan, M.D., MHS, FAAFP, chief scientific officer for ChristianaCare and institutional representative on the INBRE steering committee.

“She is a mentor, scientist and teacher, and her experience with INBRE and the state’s other premier research programs will ensure that we deliver the highest value for the Delaware community.”

Smith Birkhoff leads and supports interprofessional research education, systemwide technology evaluation, and grantsmanship. She spearheads a diverse research program, encompassing areas such as robotics in health care, virtual reality in medicine and burnout in the nursing workforce.

As program director of Technology Research & Education at ChristianaCare, she collaborates across the health system’s academic research enterprise to achieve both clinician- and patient-oriented research outcomes.

“Susan is a wonderful colleague and she is a true researcher-educator,” said Neil Jasani, M.D., MBA, FACEP, chief academic officer for ChristianaCare. “She is a great fit for the work of Delaware INBRE as we advance ChristianaCare’s contribution to this essential research network.”

She co-leads an innovative program to study the one of the first deployments of increasingly autonomous robots in a U.S. health care setting and directs the first Nursing Research Fellowship in Robotics and Innovation, housed at ChristianaCare.

First nurse named Mentor of the Year  Smith Birkhoff received the 2025 Seema S. Sonnad Mentor of the Year Award from INBRE’s Junior Investigator Network, nominated for her exceptional mentorship by ChristianaCare colleagues whom she mentored. Her nominators were: Kaci Rainey, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, an evidence-based practice specialist at ChristianaCare, and Briana Abernathy, BSN, RN, CEN, a nurse in utilization management at ChristianaCare and an inaugral nurse fellow in the Nursing Research Fellowship in Robotics and Innovation.

“They say that if you are not at the table, you are on the menu. We are profoundly grateful that Dr. Smith Birkhoff selflessly provided us with a seat at the table and an overflowing feast of knowledge,” said Abernathy in presenting the award.

“This knowledge has quenched our thirst for change and fueled our hunger for research and innovation, setting the stage for the rest of our careers.”


Nurse Scientist Susan Smith Birkhoff Makes Two Research ‘Firsts’ in Delaware

Welcome Moxi to ChristianaCare

ChristianaCare is the first health system in the Philadelphia region piloting an innovative tool called Moxi, a collaborative robot — or “cobot”— that can assist in the hospital by making deliveries and performing other non-clinical tasks so that nurses and other clinical staff can spend more time focused on what they do best—caring for patients.

For more information, visit https://news.christianacare.org/2022/05/meet-moxi-robotic-hospital-helper-to-give-nurses-more-time-to-do-what-they-do-best/

Meet Moxi, ChristianaCare's New Cobot

From Chat GPT to self-driving Teslas, in some ways it feels like we're living in the future we were promised in movies and television. Similar technologies are having a huge and growing effect across the healthcare industry.

In this episode Kat Collard, ChristianaCare Chief Nursing Informatics Officer, and Susan Birkhoff, Ph.D., Program Director for Technology Research and Education at ChristianaCare, open up the world of robots in patient care. They shed light on how mechanical marvels are enhancing efficiency and improving patient outcomes. 

For more information on this episode, visit https://christianacare.org/us/en/wellness/podcast

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