Dr. Rona Relova appointed to VHA fellowship to pioneer precision care for Veterans
In the ever-evolving landscape of health care, a trailblazer has emerged, poised to reshape the future of patient care for our nation's Veterans. Rona Margaret Relova, MD, has been appointed as a Senior Innovation Fellow by the VHA Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL).
In a competitive field of candidates, Dr. Relova has secured her place among the esteemed 2024 VHA Innovation Ecosystem Fellows, marking a significant milestone in her journey towards revolutionizing health care for Veterans.
At the heart of Dr. Relova's mission lies a commitment to advancing precision medicine, with a particular focus on pharmacogenomics (PGx). This innovative clinical workflow seeks to optimize drug response outcomes by guiding providers in personalized medication prescribing. Dr. Relova's role is to nationally establish, expand, and scale the foundational roadmap for a VHA National Pharmacogenomics program. This groundbreaking initiative aligns seamlessly with VA's accelerated commitment to enhancing Veteran care.
Serving as a co-clinical champion for the Pharmacogenomics Initiative at VA Palo Alto health care, she, along with Drs. Shriram Nallamshetty and Noelle Hasson, implemented PGx infrastructure in October 2021. The Cath Lab PGx workflow, pioneered at VA Palo Alto health care, is now set to serve as a model for nationwide implementation. This innovative approach, involving genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy selection, has the potential to redefine therapeutic paradigms and usher in a new era of prescribing practices.
Dr. Relova's personal commitment to pharmacogenomics is rooted in a touching experience – her father's struggle with liver toxicity during chemotherapy in 2013.
“This ordeal became my 'north star,' guiding me towards the transformative potential of established PGx clinical initiatives,” said Dr. Relova. “If we could make even small inroads into this area through established PGx clinical initiatives, it would be transformational in treatment outcomes.”
As a Senior Innovation Fellow, Dr. Relova is driven by a vision to make precision medicine accessible to Veterans. She acknowledges the challenges, including the steep cost of PGx testing and the need for educational support and infrastructure. Yet, she remains optimistic, leveraging the advantageous location of her medical facility in Silicon Valley, where emerging biotechnologies are easily accessible. Dr. Relova foresees significant cost reductions in genome sequencing, making PGx testing more feasible.
Dr. Relova's extensive background as an investigator for innovative projects under VA’s Research & Development, including her leadership roles in the VHA Million Veteran Program and NIH’s All of Us Program have equipped her for this ambitious endeavor. The recently established Precision Health Service, led by Dr. Phil Tsao, provides a supportive ecosystem and mentorship to navigate the complexities of pharmacogenomics clinical implementation nationwide.
The PGx innovation spearheaded by Dr. Relova particularly holds promise for Veterans using over 40 commonly prescribed medications. Whether for cardiovascular conditions, mental health, pain management, inflammation, or cancer therapy, this customized approach to care is poised to make a significant impact. Veterans undergoing coronary stenting, battling depression, or receiving select chemotherapies stand to benefit from Dr. Relova's groundbreaking work.
In her new role, Dr. Relova will collaborate closely with Dr. Deepak Voora and the National Pharmacogenomics Program team in VA Durham. Together, they aim to shape the future of precision medicine implementation, ensuring that their efforts result in tangible benefits for Veterans.
Dr. Rona Margaret Relova stands at the forefront of a health care revolution, and her journey as a Senior Innovation Fellow is a testament to her unwavering commitment to providing nothing less than the best for those who have sacrificed for our freedom.