Learning collaborativesWhere ideas become action
Open Notes Labs learning collaboratives bring together people with different perspectives and expertise to explore emerging healthcare challenges and opportunities. Through shared learning and real-world experience, participants identify best practices and develop practical guidance that can improve care. Along the way, promising ideas may evolve into larger efforts—from pilot programs and research studies to broader collaborations.
Amanda Norris, MDiv, MTS, and Chethan Sarabu, MD
Active learning collaboratives
Artificial Intelligence Translation Learning Collaborative (AI TLC)
The Artificial Intelligence Translation Learning Collaborative (AI TLC) brings together health systems, clinicians, researchers, technology leaders, and patients to explore how AI-powered translation tools can improve communication in healthcare. Through shared learning, real-world implementation experience, and rigorous evaluation of operational, legal, and patient-centered considerations, the collaborative develops and disseminates practical guidance to advance language equity and reduce barriers to care.
Years Active: 2025-present
Leadership: Ryan Brewster, MD, Nymisha Chilukuri, MD, Amanda Norris, MDiv, Chethan Sarabu, MD
AI-Integrated Exam Room (early-phase prototype development)
The AI integrated exam room prototype is focused on developing an exam room that thoughtfully integrates emerging information technologies into clinical care settings to enhance open, trusting communication among clinicians, patients, and families.
Years Active: 2025-present
Leadership: Arthur Brito, AIA, Upali Nanda, PhD, Amanda Norris, MDiv, Chethan Sarabu, MD
Transparency Learning CoLab
The Transparency Learning CoLab is a joint initiative between Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and Stanford School of Medicine. The CoLab is dedicated to advancing a culture of transparency across healthcare by building future leaders in patient-centered research. Members co-create and evaluate equitable solutions to improve patient safety, strengthen patient partnerships, and address bias, racism, and stigma in healthcare. The CoLab fosters innovation and shared learning to shape a more inclusive, responsive, and patient-centered future for healthcare.Learn more about this collaboration here.
Years Active: 2025-present
Leadership: Sigall Bell, MD, Amrapali Maitra, MD, Natasha Steele, MD, Deb W. Wachenheim MPP
Advisors: Preetha Basaviah, MD, Tom Delbanco, MD, Jason Hom MD, Erika Schillinger, MD
Medical School Consortium: Patient-Centered Documentation
The Medical School Consortium brings together faculty from six medical schools to discuss how to implement and spread open notes curricula. The consortium grew out of a partnership between Harvard Medical School educators and OpenNotes in which participants explore the ethical and practical challenges of transparent documentation, including the impact of language, bias, stigma, and family dynamics on trust and equity in care. Together, they develop strategies for creating clinical notes that are accurate, respectful, and patient-centered while preserving the integrity and transparency of the medical record.
Leadership: Robert Stern, MD, Anita Vanka, MD
Project Partners: Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Funding period: 2024-present
Supported by: Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, and the Kate & Arnold Schmeidler Family Fund
Nursing, Patients & AI Learning Collaborative
The Nursing, Patients & AI Learning Collaborative brings nurses and patients together to help shape how AI is used in healthcare. By learning from one another and exploring real-world experiences, the group seeks ways AI can strengthen trust, improve communication, and give nurses more time to focus on what matters most—caring for patients.
Leadership: Amanda Norris, MDiv, Chethan Sarabu, MD, Suzanne Fink, MSN, RN, NI-BC, Pat Folcarelli, RN, MA, PhD, Shelley Calder, DNP, RN, CEN
Funding period: 2025-present
Open Results Learning Collaborative
The Open Results Learning Collaborative examines patient and clinician perspectives on immediate access to health information and the opportunities and challenges that come with it. How might clinicians offer anticipatory guidance for sensitive test results while preserving immediate access to information for patients? Research resulting from this collaborative is linked from the Research section of the Open Notes Labs website.
Years Active: 2021-present
Leadership: Catherine M. DesRoches, DrPH, CT Lin, MD, Robin Higashi, PhD, Scott MacDonald, MD, Trent Rosenbloom, MD, Liz Salmi, AS, AA, Bryan Steitz, PhD, Rob Turer, MD
Pediatric/Adolescent Learning Collaborative
The Pediatric and Adolescent Open Notes Labs Learning Collaborative explores the unique opportunities and challenges of sharing notes in pediatric settings, including confidentiality, adolescent privacy, proxy access, family dynamics, and equitable engagement across diverse populations.
Years Active: 2017-present
Leadership: Fabienne Bourgeois, MD, Amanda Norris, MDiv
Shared Access Learning Collaborative
The Shared Access to the Patient Portal for Older Adult Patients Learning Collaborative brings together patients, care partners, advocates, healthcare providers and staff, EHR vendors, and others to learn more about research relating to shared access and other online tools for patients and care partners. The group learns about and engages in efforts to increase knowledge and use of shared access and other tools among all of those involved in healthcare, especially patients and care partners.
Years Active: 2022-present
Leadership: Catherine M. DesRoches, DrPH, Jennifer L. Wolff, PhD, Deb W. Wachenheim MPP
Past learning collaboratives
Pacific Northwest OpenNotes Learning Collaborative
Years Active: 2013-2018
Leadership: Homer Chin, MD, Amy Fellows, MPH, John Santa MD, MPH, Deb W. Wachenheim MPP
Supported by: Cambia Health Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
California OpenNotes Collaborative
Years Active: 2017-2019
Leadership: Kerry Litman, MD, Liz Salmi, AS, AA
Supported by: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
NYHealth Foundation OpenNotes Collaborative
Years Active: 2016-2024
Leadership: Catherine M. DesRoches, DrPH, Anna Garcia, MD, John Santa, MD, Ria Shah, MS, Deb W. Wachenheim, MPP
Supported by: NY Health Foundation
Wisconsin Coalition for OpenNotes
Years Active: 2016-2017
Leadership: John Santa MD, MPH, Deb Wachenheim, MPP
Supported by: Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality