Innovators Awards - 2024

Carlson, a gynecologic oncologist, leads a multi-disciplinary team focused on implementing cancer-detection strategies at the system. In 2022, the St. Louis-headquartered organization announced it would begin offering a blood test that detects early signals for more than 50 types of cancer. Under Carlson’s leadership, the system tested 2,800 patients in four states over a year and a half. He has also played a pivotal role in developing the Mercy Chen Chemotherapy Model, an artificial intelligence algorithm that identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of hospital admission. The tool is significantly reducing hospital admissions and emergency department visits.