Expanding organ transplant access through tech
Ozlem Tasel combines health science and technology to save lives by bringing efficiency to the kidney transplant process
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that approximately 2 in 1,000 Americans have kidney failure treatable only through dialysis or a kidney transplant. Moving patients from dialysis to a kidney transplant doesn’t just improve the quality of life for patients—it also saves taxpayer dollars. According to recent estimates, more than 550,000 Americans are on dialysis. Dialysis costs an estimated $100,000 per patient, per year, with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) responsible for a large portion.
To increase the speed patients travel from diagnosis to transplant, CMS partnered with ICF to build the End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Reporting System (EQRS) program. Ozlem Tasel sits at the helm of the project.
As our director of program management for EQRS, Ozlem guides the successful coordination and execution of all program aspects—from strategic planning, data analysis, and system improvement to client meetings, stakeholder engagement, and human-centered design, and more.
Improving healthcare outcomes and reducing costs through technology
Ozlem has supported CMS clients for many years, serving on and leading cross-functional teams that develop innovative solutions for the healthcare industry.
“Knowing our efforts directly improve the healthcare experience for thousands of patients while also delivering immense bottom-line value to our federal clients is very rewarding.”
Ozlem’s dedication to ICF’s mission to bring efficiency, innovation, and value to our federal clients is unmatched. And her passion for leveraging technology to improve the lives of end-stage renal disease patients is readily apparent to her team of health experts and technologists.
The collective commitment of Ozlem’s team comes to life through solutions that have real-life impact, demonstrating the dedication that everyone brings to the table. Ozlem says, “Being part of a team that embodies a collective passion for the work is both inspiring and empowering and reinforces my belief that, together, we can create tangible change for our clients—and American citizens.”
“It brings me great fulfillment to be involved in a field that merges technology with healthcare to create positive change for patients while bringing efficiencies to the federal health processes that touch their lives.”
Balancing work with creativity and well-being
Ozlem balances the cerebral and analytical nature of technology transformation by leaning into her creative side when she’s away from work. She’s a talented oil painter, using it to express her emotions and ideas on canvas. She practices yoga daily to sustain her well-being and maintain a sense of inner peace. When she feels the need to explore, she does it by cycling, which keeps her active while she explores nature and expands her horizons.
By exercising both sides of her brain, Ozlem rejuvenates her mind and spirit so she can give maximum effort to her federal clients and the patients who depend on them, finding balance between self-expression, mindfulness, and a healthy, active lifestyle.