- Email: Irena Boyce
Irena Boyce, PhD
- Chief Improvement Officer
- Associate Vice President, URMC
- Senior Director, UR Medicine Quality Institute
- Professor of Clinical Nursing & Public Health Sciences
Education
- PhD in Health Services Research and Policy, 2007. University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Rochester, NY
- BA in Health Systems Administration, 1998. Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Beer-Sheva, ISRAEL
Bio
Irena Boyce, PhD, is the chief improvement officer and associate vice president at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She also serves as the senior director of the UR Medicine Quality Institute. The mission of the Quality Institute is to drive equitable, high-value, person-centered outcomes while prioritizing safety and well-being. In her role, Boyce provides oversight, leadership, strategic direction, and operational supervision for the Quality Institute. She partners with clinicians, faculty, and staff to lead and coordinate continuous improvement efforts, promoting a culture of quality improvement, and driving excellence across the health care system.
Boyce is a professor of clinical nursing at the School of Nursing and a professor of public health sciences at the School of Medicine, both at the University of Rochester. Her research areas include outcomes-based quality improvement evaluations, the economic impact of clinical interventions, and using patient-reported outcomes and social determinants of health for predictive analytics. A native of Israel, Boyce earned her PhD in health services research and policy from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and her bachelor's degree in health systems administration from the University of Ben-Gurion in Israel.
Professor of Public Health Sciences, Dept. of Public Health Science, School of Medicine, Rochester, NY. 8/2023 - Current
Chief Improvement Officer, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY. 2023 - Current
Associate Vice President, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY. 2023 - Current
Professor of Clinical Nursing, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY. 8/2023 - Current
Senior Director of the UR Medicine Quality Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, US. 2020 - Current
Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 2014 - Current
Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences (Secondary Appointment), Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, US. 2014 - Current
Senior Director of Population Health Management Informatics and Payment Innovation, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, US. 4/2015 - 7/2020
Director, Center for Population Health Outcomes and Informatics, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 2014 - 4/2015
Director of Outcomes and Evaluation Sciences, Corporate Wellness, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 2013 - 2015
Assistant Professor (Secondary Appointment), Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, US. 2007 - 2014
Assistant Professor, University of Rochester (School of Nursing), Rochester, NY, US. 2007 - 2014
Assistant Professor and Co-Investigator,, Upstate Health Research, Syracuse, NY, US. 2009 - 2013
Distinguished Lecturer, College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, US. 2010 - 2010
International Visiting Scholar, Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, Jerusalem, IL. 2010 - 2010
Director, Quality Improvement Research and Measurement, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield of Greater Rochester Area, Rochester, NY, US. 2007 - 2009
International Visiting Scholar, Department of Health Systems Management, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, IL. 2008 - 2008
Medical Operations Research Project Manager, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield of the Greater Rochester Area, Rochester, NY, US. 2004 - 2007
Co-instructor, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (Mathematics for Economists), Rochester, NY, US. 2002 - 2005
Visiting Instructor, Ben Gurion University of the Negev Medical School, Beer-Sheva, IL. 2004 - 2004
Health Services Research Fellow, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield of the Greater Rochester Area, Rocheste, NY, US. 2003 - 2004
Research Internship, The agency for Healthcare Research and quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD, US. 2002 - 2002
Project Manager, Clalit Health Services, Israel, IL. 1998 - 2001
Course commander and head instructor, Military School of Intelligence, Israel Defense Forces (IDF), IL. 1993 - 1995
Board of Excellence Award - University of Rochester
Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Hub, 2022
Gold Award for Team Excellence - Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Hub at URMC
Greater Rochester Quality Council Performance Excellence Award, 2022
Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2014
The Dr. Jeremy A. Klainer Entrepreneurship Fund Award
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2014
Promising New Investigator Award
University of Rochester, School of Nursing, 2013
Supporting Providers in Comparative Effectiveness Fellowship (SPICE)
University of Rochester Medical Center, 2012
Health Services Research Fellowship
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield of Greater Rochester Area, 2003
Research Internship
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 2002
Excellence in Academic Studies
Israeli Parliament, 1998
Assessing the Equity of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in the Presence of Missing Demographic Data
American Public Health Association Conference, American Public Health Association, 2022
Boston, Massachusetts
A team-based approach to opioid safety
International College of Psychosomatic Medicine 26th World Congress, International College of Psychosomatic Medicine, 2022
Rochester, New York
Differences in Outcomes Between Men and Women Enrolled in Chronic Disease Programs for Diabetes, Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia
Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association Annual Meeting, Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, 2021
Boston, Massachusetts
Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risk for Employees through a Comprehensive Wellness Program
American Public Health Association, American Public Health Association, 2019
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Beat Goes on: The Comprehensive Wellness Program that Reduces Cardiovascular Disease Risk for Employees
National Wellness Conference, 2019
Kissimee, Florida
There are Two Sides to Every Story: How CMS’ Bundled Payments Program Can Affect How We Provide Patient Care?
Conference on Population Health Hospital Innovations for Medicaid, Medicare and Duals, 2019
Washington, District Of Columbia
Bundles Payments for Care Improvement – Affecting Cost and Quality of Care Through Medicare Policy
American Public Health Association Conference, American Public Health Association, 2018
San Diego, California
Operationalize Your Analytics to Deliver Actionable Insights and Advanced Value-Based Care
Annual Population Health Analytics Summit, 2018
Boston, Massachusetts
Effective Methods to Drive Higher Engagement to Disease Management Programs: Tried and True
National Wellness Conference, 2018
St. Paul, Minnesota
“The Importance of Population Health Analytics in Value-Based Care"
82nd Annual Conference, New York Health Information Management Association, 2017
Rochester, New York
“Apply Population Health to Advanced Payment Models”
2nd Annual Population Health Analytics Summit, World Health Congress, 2017
Nashville, Tennessee
“The Importance of Population Health Analytics in Value-Based Care"
Public Health Grand Rounds, University of Rochester Medical Center, 2017
Rochester, New York
“Vendor-Neutral Population Health with Epic and External Data”
EPIC UGM meeting, EPIC, 2016
Verona, Wisconsin
“Assuming Risk to Achieve ROI Amid Evolving Payment Models”
American Hospital Association Leadership Summit, American Hospital Association, 2016
San Diego, California
“Achieving ROI When Transitioning to Value-Based Care”
Further Meeting, Valence Health, 2015
Chicago, Illinois
Opioid Prescribing in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain and Depression: Analysis of a Nationwide Sample from the United States
World Congress on Pain, 2014
Buenos Aires, Argentina
What Can Predict Enrollment in Health Promoting Activities of Complex Condition Management?
Eastern Nursing Research Society, 2014
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Impact of Smoking on Probability and Amount of Opioids Prescribed for Low Back Pain
Eastern Nursing Research Society, 2014
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“The ACA and ACOs: Where are We in 2014?”
Preceptor Workshop, University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2014
Rochester, New York
How Can We Stop Those Rising Health Care Costs? Examining the Potential Impact of Independent Billing by Nurse Practitioners
Eastern Nursing Research Society, 2013
Boston, Massachusetts
Nurse practitioners' independent billing and economic implications for the healthcare system
American Public Health Association, 2012
San Francisco, California
Potential Healthcare System Cost-savings Through Independent Billing by Nurse Practitioners
Annual Research Meeting, AcademyHealth, 2012
Orlando, Florida
“Research Potential of FairHealth data”
AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, AcademyHealth, 2012
Orlando, Florida
Negotiated Reimbursement Rates for Cardiac Artery Bypass Surger - Does Quality Matter?
Annual Research Meeting, American Public Health Association, 2011
Washington, District Of Columbia
Cost-Effectiveness of an Intensive Tobacco-Dependence Intervention Based on Self-Determination Theory: An Analysis from the Third-Party Payer's Perspective
Annual Research Meeting, American Public Health Association, 2011
Washington, District Of Columbia
Premium Pay for Premium Quality? Examining the Association between Quality of Care information in the NYS Cardiac Surgery Reports and Negotiated Prices with Insurance Plans
iHEA 8th World Congress in Health Economics, 2011
Toronto, Canada
Peer-Led Team Learning in Nursing Graduate-Level Health Economics Course
International Conference on Teaching and Learning, 2011
Niagara Falls, New York
Heart Failure Management in Nursing Homes: Results from a Pilot Study
Annual Research Meeting, American Public Health Association, 2010
Denver, Colorado
What Can Be Improved at the End of Life? Economic Evaluation of Palliative Care Services
Distinguished Lectures Series, College of Nursing, USF Health, 2010
Tampa, Florida
Care Patterns for Nursing Home Residents with Heart Failure
State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, 2010
Washington, District Of Columbia
Healthcare Reform New York Style: Changing Reimbursement Rates for Out-of-Network Services
International Visiting Scholar, Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, 2010
Jerusalem, Israel
Resident-Care Activities for Heart Failure Management in Nursing Homes as Reported by Directors of Nursing: Results from a Pilot Study
AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, 2010
Boston, Massachusetts
What Can be Saved at the End of Life? A Cost Analysis of Palliative Care
Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting, 2008
Washington, District Of Columbia
Economic Evaluation of Palliative Care at the End of Life
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, 2008
San Diego, California
Is Palliative Care at the End of Life Cost Saving?
AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, 2008
Washington, District Of Columbia
Consumers' Choice of Nursing Home In The U.S. - Does Quality Matter?
International Visiting Scholar presentation, Department of Health Systems Management, Faculty of Sciences, Ben Gurion University, 2008
Beer-Sheva, Israel
The Impact of Quality of Care on Nursing Home Choice---Comprehensive Assessment of California, New-York, Ohio, and Texas
Annual Scientific Meeting, Gerontological Society of America, 2007
San-Francisco, California
Role of Educational Materials in Increasing Cervical Cancer Screening Adherence Rates---Evidence from Randomized Controlled Trial in NYS Insured Women
Annual meeting, American Public Health Association, 2007
Washington, District Of Columbia
Does Quality of Care Matter in Choosing a Nursing Home? Evidence from California
Annual meeting, American Public Health Association, 2007
Washington, District Of Columbia
Cervical Cancer Screening Test: Can Educational Materials Increase Adherence Rates?
Annual Research Meeting, Academy Health, 2007
Orlando, Florida
Why Are Nursing Homes' Quality Report Cards Important? Evidence from CA, OH, NY and TX
Annual Research Meeting, Academy Health, 2007
Orlando, Florida
"Improving the Quality of Diabetes Management with Pay for Performance Incentive Program"
Annual Meeting, American Public Health Association, 2006
Boston, Massachusetts
"Does Competition Matter? The Role of competition in Promoting Community Wide Interventions to Reduce Obesity"
Annual Meeting, American Public Health Association, 2006
Boston, Massachusetts
"Pay for Performance-The Impact on Patient Quality of Care in a Community Setting"
Annual Research Meeting, Academy Health, 2006
Seattle, Washington
"Nursing Home Choice-Does Quality Matter? - Research Proposal"
Trainees Research Conference, NRSA, 2003
Nashville, Tennessee
Russ, S.; Bramley, J.; Liu, Y.; Boyce, I. (2023). Bolstering the Measurement of Racial Inequity of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake. Vaccines, 11 (4), 876. DOI: 10.3390/ vaccines11040876
Fortuna RJ, Clark JS, Johnson WE, Bajorska A, Solan LG, Pesis-Katz I, Stetzer A, Judge SR. (2021). Association Between Physician Risk Assessment, Hierarchical Condition Categories, and Utilization of Medical Services. Population Health Management. PMID: 32423301 DOI: 10.1089/pop.2019.0236
Pesis-Katz I, Norsen L, Singh R. (2020). Employee Wellness Programs. JAMA Intern Med, 181 (2). DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.5748
Pesis-Katz I, Smith JA, Norsen L, DeVoe J, Singh R. (2019). Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risk for Employees through a Nurse-Driven Comprehensive Wellness Program. Population Health Management. PMID: 31513466 DOI: 10.1089/pop.2019.0106
Smith, J.A., Fuino, R.L., Pesis-Katz, I., Cai, X., Powers, B., Frazer, M., Markman, J.D. (2017). Differences in opiod prescribing in low back pain patients with and without depression: A cross-sectional study of national sample from the United States. PAIN Reports, Latest Articles. PMID: 29392221 PMCID: PMC5741361 DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000000606
Pesis-Katz I, Smith JA, Cai X, and Tuttle J (2013). How Can We Stop Those Rising Health Care Costs? Examining the Potential Impact of Independent Billing by Nurse Practitioners. Nursing Research, 62 (2), e27.
Quinn, J.R., Pesis-Katz, I. & Mukamel, D.B. (2013). Variations in patterns of care activities for nursing home residents with heart failure.. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 6, 29-35.. PMID: 23244568 DOI: 10.3928/19404921-20121204-02
Pesis-Katz I, Phelps CE, Temkin-Greener H, Spector WD, Veazie P, and Mukamel DB (2013). Making Difficult Decisions: The Role of Quality of Care in Choosing a Nursing Home. American Journal of Public Health, 103 (5), e31-37. PMID: 23488519 PMCID: PMC3670650 DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301243
Pesis-Katz I, Rains A, Smith JA, as part of the Upstate Health Research Network (2012). Final Recommendations for Anesthesia Benchmark Rates for Out-of-Network Services. FAIR Health, NY.
Rhee, H., Pesis-Katz, I., Xing, J. (2012). Cost benefits of a peer-led asthma self-management program for adolescents. Journal of Asthma, 49 (6), 606-613. PMID: 2275899
White P, Rowland A, and Pesis-Katz I (2012). Introduction of the Peer-Led Team Learning Model in a Graduate-Level Nursing Course. Journal of Nursing Education, 51 (8), 417-475.
Pesis-Katz, I., Williams, G.C., Niemiec, C.P., & Fiscella, K. (2011). Cost-Effectiveness of Intensive Tobacco Dependence Intervention Based on Self-Determination Theory.. The American Journal of Managed Care, 17 (10), e383-388.
Kunitz SJ and Pesis-Katz I. (2005). "Mortality of White Americans, African Americans, and Canadians: The Causes and Consequences for Health of Welfare State Institutions and Policies". The Milbank Quarterly, 83 (1), 5-39.
Horev T, Pesis-Katz I, Mukamel DB (2004). "Trends in Geographic Disparities in Allocation of Health Care Resource in the US". Health Policy, 68 (2), 223-232.
Spector WD, Cohen JW, Pesis-Katz I (2004). "Home Care Before and After the Balanced Budget Act of 1997: Shifts in Financing and Services". The Gerontologist, 44 (1), 39-47.