Laurie Lovett Novak, PhD, MHSA, is an anthropologist specializing in medical and business/industrial applications, and is currently a National Library of Medicine Postdoctoral Fellow in the Vanderbilt University Department of Biomedical Informatics. Her research has focused on activities related to design and implementation of large-scale clinical informatics systems. Specifically, current investigations examine communication, coordination and articulation work during sociotechnical transitions. Dr. Novak also has a professional background in health care quality improvement and a masters degree in health services management and policy from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. In the biomedical informatics training program, Dr. Novak lectures on methods in qualitative research and economic evaluation. Recently, Dr. Novak was instrumental in obtaining funding to create the Vanderbilt Implementation Sciences Laboratory. The Laboratory serves as a focal point for a community of scholars interested in improving the safety and effectiveness of informatics implementations. The Laboratory provides equipment and other resources to faculty and students conducting implementation research. Dr. Novak also participates in the Vanderbilt Medical Home initiative.