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JBSA News
NEWS | Jan. 22, 2019

Gateway Innovation Center kicks off 59th MDW Spark Cell

By Master Sgt. Corenthia Fennell 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

More than sixty officer, enlisted and civilian Airmen gathered in the garden level of Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center for the 59th Medical Wing Spark Cell kickoff event, led by the Gateway Innovation Center Jan. 11.

The Spark Cell is an Air Force initiative that drives innovation within our Airmen to develop a better and faster way to accomplish the mission. 

By using evidence-based exercises, facilitators are able to spark innovative ideas amongst all Airmen.

“Spark Innovation takes the members we have in the Wing and gets them thinking from hands-on activities to how we can collaborate and communicate ideas,” said Chief Master Sgt. Alan Weary, 59th MDW Gateway Innovation Center chief. "From there, how can we connect with our 59th Gateway Innovation Center, in addition to other resources, to develop ways to improve our processes, systems, and reduce constraints.”

In order to enable cultural change, Airmen are empowered to openly share ideas without reservation. 

“We challenged the participants to think back to when they were five or six years old, or a time when they believed anything was possible, as they are going through the exercises,” said Lt. Col. Jacqueline Killian, 59th MDW Spark Cell facilitator. “As military service members and civilians, we tend to be left-brained, however these exercises are geared to help tap into the right brain. That is when the creativity starts to pour.”

Culminating the day, eleven teams pitched ideas to Maj. Gen. John J. DeGoes, 59th MDW commander and Chief Master Sgt. Chuck Frizzell, 59th MDW command chief, on various process improvements such as patient experience, staff development, and ways to streamline communication.

“The goal is that these change agents who participated in the Spark Cell kickoff will go back into their units and replicate what we have done here today,” Weary said. “Innovation at all levels allows us to be proactive, engaged and always moving forward. Ultimately, it makes us more lethal and more capable to support the warfighter down range.”

The Gateway ensures the infrastructure and systems are in place to support innovation, continued process improvement and project management aligned with delivering high-reliability trusted care.

“Coming out of an event like Spark, it really focuses on how we deliver healthcare from a business level under Defense Health Agency and looking at gaps in our system to provide data driven, decision-making context to be able to fund and shape our services with our patients in mind,” Weary said.

Each service line within the Gateway will have a variety of resources available to empower Airmen to gain the knowledge, experience, and skills necessary to problem solve, improve processes, innovate and develop their institutional competences for increased positions of influence. 

To submit an idea, visit the 59th MDW Gateway Innovation Center or plug into the AFWERX ecosystem at https://usaf.ideascalegov.com and pitch the idea to Air Force senior leadership.