Dr. Madalina Macrea is being honored in Category 3: Using Innovation, Data, and Breaking Down Organizational Barriers for pioneering the U.S. Department of Veterans Affair's first Extended Reality (XR) At-Home Pulmonary Rehabilitation program for Veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recognizing that many rural Veterans could not access traditional pulmonary rehabilitation because of distance and travel challenges, Dr. Macrea led a multidisciplinary team to create an immersive, home-based rehabilitation model that delivers high-quality care without requiring frequent visits to a medical center.

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Working with clinicians, engineers, and rehabilitation specialists, Dr. Macrea developed personalized 30-minute XR rehabilitation sessions tailored to each Veteran's individual needs rather than relying on standardized exercise programs. She successfully coordinated care across multiple departments to launch the initiative despite the absence of established reimbursement pathways, expanding access to specialty care for Veterans living more than 50 miles from a pulmonary rehabilitation center while maintaining clinical oversight and individualized treatment.

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The innovative program is transforming access to care for rural Veterans by eliminating transportation barriers and providing flexible, engaging rehabilitation from home. Veterans benefit from personalized exercise plans, education, and improved quality of life, while the program is estimated to save approximately $1,296 per Veteran through more efficient delivery of specialty care. At the same time, VA clinicians can manage more patients across larger geographic areas using technology-enabled care, creating a scalable model for chronic disease management and positioning the VA as a leader in applying extended reality to improve healthcare access and outcomes.