The Management Committee is responsible for policy-making and operational oversight.

Nicholas J. Kassebaum, MD, Surgical COAP & Spine COAP Medical Director

Dr. Nicholas J. Kassebaum is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and also Adjunct Associate Professor of Health Metrics Sciences and Global Health at the University of Washington where he leads a research team at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. He completed undergraduate studies at Macalester College, medical school at Vanderbilt University, and came to Seattle where he completed an anesthesiology residency at the University of Washington School of Medicine and a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital. He practices anesthesia clinically at Harborview Medical Center as part of a dedicated group of perioperative professionals.

Robert M. Rush, Jr., MD, FACS, Surgical COAP Management Committee Chair

Dr. Robert M. Rush is a General Surgeon at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. Dr. Rush has also held positions at Madigan Army Medical Center as the Deputy Commander for Surgical Services and Chief of Surgery. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point and the Uniformed Services University. Dr. Rush is board certified in General Surgery and his practice spans over 20 years. During that time, he has contributed extensively to the literature and he has lectured locally and internationally on topics in general surgery, military medicine, and surgical education through simulation.  His military service has taken him to locations throughout the world to include Bosnia, Central and South America, and Southwest Asia where he has provided needed far forward surgical care to the men and women of the Armed Forces.

Dr. Rush is known for his work in surgical simulation, disaster medicine, team training and surgical quality/outcomes and is an avid supporter of many patient safety and quality improvement programs to include TeamSTEPPS, NSQIP, SCOAP, SCIP, error reduction from a systems and human factors standpoint. He is a TeamSTEPPS master trainer and he sits on several committees for the American College of Surgeons Consortium of Accredited Education Institutes that involve improving patient outcomes and safety.

Vickie Kolios-Morris, MSHSA CPHQ, Vice President, Clinical Quality

Vickie Kolios-Morris serves as Vice President of Clinical Quality for the Foundation for Health Care Quality (FHCQ), where she provides leadership for the Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (SCOAP) and the Spine Care Outcomes Assessment Program (Spine COAP), and collaborates with clinical experts and stakeholders supporting the Cardiac Care Outcomes Assessment Program (Cardiac COAP) and Obstetrical Care Outcomes Assessment Program (OB COAP). She works closely with clinicians, hospitals, and healthcare leaders across Washington State to advance data-driven quality improvement initiatives that improve patient outcomes, reduce unwarranted variation in care, and strengthen the quality, safety, and value of healthcare delivery.

With more than two decades of experience in healthcare quality, program development, operations, and strategic leadership, Vickie has led the growth and implementation of collaborative quality improvement programs that support measurable improvements in clinical care and outcomes. She holds a Master of Science in Health Services Administration and is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ).

An active leader in the healthcare quality community, Vickie has served in numerous leadership roles with the Oregon Association for Healthcare Quality, including multiple terms as President, and currently serves as Board Secretary and Washington State Liaison, supporting professional development and healthcare quality advancement across the Pacific Northwest. She is passionate about fostering collaboration among providers, health systems, and community partners to improve the health and well-being of the communities they serve.