Taking Fear Out of Innovation: How NITAAC University Educates Federal Leaders on the Power of IT in Healthcare
- Dr. Esther Haskins
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
When most federal agencies thought of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), they associated it with medical research excellence, not digital transformation. That knowledge gap limited how agencies viewed the potential of NITAAC’s IT acquisition programs to strengthen federal health systems.
To change that, NITAAC University was launched—an online learning platform designed to teach federal acquisition professionals how to leverage IT solutions to modernize systems, streamline procurement, and deliver mission results. The initiative went beyond awareness—it aimed to build confidence in technology, teach practical skills, and empower federal leaders to use IT as a driver of public health innovation.
Challenge
Federal agencies recognized NIH as a leader in science and medicine, but few understood NITAAC’s IT capabilities or how its Best in Class GWACs could improve federal health systems. Many acquisition professionals lacked accessible, on-demand education on modern IT procurement practices. The challenge was not just visibility—it was education. NITAAC needed a scalable way to teach, certify, and engage federal employees nationwide in the principles of smarter, more strategic IT acquisitions.
Role: Brand Strategy, Communications, and Awareness
As marketing lead, I oversaw the brand development, public relations strategy, and launch communications for NITAAC University. This included directing messaging, creative assets, and media integration across web, video, and digital platforms to reach federal decision-makers.
Brand Strategy: Positioned NITAAC University as the trusted educational arm of NIH’s IT acquisition programs, bridging the gap between policy and practice.
Public Relations: Collaborated on awareness campaigns that highlighted NITAAC’s leadership in digital transformation, securing coverage in outlets like FedScoop.
Content and Training: Guided the production of video series, webinars, and online training modules that introduced learners to NITAAC’s GWAC portfolio (CIO-SP3, CIO-CS, and CIO-SP4) while offering Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) for course completion.
Results
Launched NITAAC University, an accessible digital platform for federal employees to learn, earn certifications, and gain confidence in IT acquisition.
Created a new communication channel for NITAAC to reach health and IT decision-makers across civilian and defense agencies.
Supported the agency’s goal to educate over 500 federal employees within the first program cycle.
Strengthened NITAAC’s position as both a contracting authority and a knowledge partner in federal digital modernization efforts.
Outcome
What began as an awareness gap became an opportunity to redefine how federal leaders think about IT in healthcare. By teaching the “why” behind digital acquisition, NITAAC University took the fear out of innovation—and built a stronger, more confident federal IT community in the process.
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