ABOUT CHSI
Who We Are
Uniquely Positioned for Innovation
The Oklahoma State University Center for Health Systems Innovation (CHSI) operates at the intersection of the Spears School of Business and the OSU Center for Health Sciences. Leveraging these two schools uniquely positions CHSI to focus on both business and clinical innovations.
CHSI was built to bridge academia, industry and care delivery, using rural and Native American communities as the proving ground for scalable innovation.
Our Mission
Innovating and implementing data-driven, technology-enabled and human-centered healthcare solutions that improve outcomes, access and sustainability.
Our Vision
Transform rural and Native American health.
Our Approach
What Makes CHSI Different
Most innovation centers stop at research, pilots or white papers. CHSI is designed for translation and impact by combining:
Deep Expertise
Deep healthcare, industry, innovation and venture capital expertise.
This work is informed by decades of our team's operational, venture capital and implementation experience.
Clinical Data
Unmatched real-world clinical data assets.
Through our Predictive Medicine Group, we leverage large-scale, longitudinal real-world clinical datasets.
Trusted Partnerships
Trusted corporate, rural and tribal partnerships.
We co-design solutions with communities, not for them.
Implementation Pathways
Clear pathways from innovation → pilot → implementation through our Network Channels.
These channels are active, curated networks built over more than a decade to enable experimentation, adoption and scale.
This allows us to move faster, de-risk innovation and deliver solutions that work in the real world.
Neal Patterson
OSU Alumnus | Co-founder of Cerner
Our Founding Story
Built on a Vision for Better Healthcare
CHSI was founded with a simple but powerful belief: healthcare innovation should serve everyone, not just the easiest markets.
That vision was catalyzed by Oklahoma State University alum Neal Patterson, co-founder and longtime CEO of Cerner, who understood firsthand how data, technology and implementation could transform care at scale.
With Neal's support and a mandate to focus on real-world impact, CHSI was built to bridge academia, industry and care delivery, using rural and Native American communities as the proving ground for scalable innovation.
More than a decade later, CHSI stands as a nationally recognized center translating insight into action where it matters most.
People & Partnerships
Building the Future of Healthcare Together
Impact at scale requires collaboration.
Partnerships
CHSI partners with organizations across healthcare, industry and research to drive meaningful change.
We are selective, mission-aligned and outcomes-focused, choosing partners who are serious about real change.
- Rural and tribal health providers
- Large corporations, technology companies and startups
- Technology incubators and accelerators
- National and local foundations
- Payers and health plans
- State and federal agencies
- Academic researchers
The Next Generation
Student Education & Talent Development
As part of Oklahoma State University, CHSI plays a critical role in developing the next generation of students and healthcare innovators.
Through applied research, experiential learning and direct engagement with live innovation projects, students gain exposure to:
- Real-world healthcare challenges
- Data-driven decision-making and critical thinking
- Innovation inside complex health care environments
We believe talent development is itself a form of healthcare infrastructure.
The People Behind the Innovation
Meet the People Behind CHSI
CHSI is powered by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare operators, data scientists, innovators, students and partners who share a commitment to transforming healthcare where it matters most.
Innovation is hard. Healthcare is harder.
That's why CHSI exists and why our people matter.
Meet Our Team →