Health Services Research & Development

(04/23/19) Biologist - Salem, VA

This position is located within the Research Service at the Salem VA Medical Center in Salem, VA. The Biologist - Research is responsible for carrying out experiments supporting an investigation in the pathobiology of kidney injury and Endocrine disease.

Closing date: 04/29/2019

See https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/531376300 for details.

(04/22/19) Health Services Program Analyst - Portland, OR

Expected Salary: $53,738 (GS-9) to $77,929 (GS-12) + benefits, depending on education and experience

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Director and/or Associate Director of the VA Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), Director of VA’s Evidence Synthesis Program Coordinating Center, and Principal Investigators (PIs), the Program Analyst serves multiple transdisciplinary studies intended to advance the scientific understanding of common and important health care problems and conditions that affect Veterans. Current research includes projects related to evidence synthesis/systematic reviews, Veteran-centric mental health care, chronic pain, and strategies to enhance Veteran-clinician collaboration.

Responsibilities

This position requires a diverse knowledge of healthcare analysis, technical expertise, effective and flexible interpersonal skills (consultation, training, team leading, networking), and analytical skills. The primary responsibilities for this position are data extraction, analysis, and interpretation in health services research and evidence synthesis.

The Health Services Program Analyst will also:

• Identify, extract, and analyze VA hospital and patient record data using VA research databases (including the Corporate Data Warehouse or CDW);
• Use structured query language (SQL) to identify and extract data, including experience querying data from multiple tables using joins and grouping data;
• Serve as liaison between VA research data hosts, especially the VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI), and the Director and PIs;
• Ensure accuracy of data from all sources;
• Use statistical software (SAS, STATA, R, or SPSS) to manipulate and format health care data and produce analysis-ready datasets to address the information needs of the Director and PIs;
• Conduct descriptive and inferential analyses as necessary; and
• Document and present data identification, extraction, analysis, and data summaries to the Directors and PIs and for inclusion in reports, grants, and manuscripts.

Experience

Minimum qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field; and
• One to three years of experience and training:
  • Collecting, organizing and analyzing data from large clinical datasets, such as hospital and patient record data (e.g. VA administrative datasets, Medicare data, etc.);
  • Using statistical software and Excel to store, clean, validate, and analyze data;
  • Document and present data identification, extraction, analysis, and findings to the Director and PIs using different presentation software mediums (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to write, as well as contribute to, scholarly manuscripts for scientific journals and presentations of study findings at professional meetings:
  • Write reports that summarize data methodology and communicate findings.
• Attention to detail and record keeping, ability to organize large sets of data from multiple sources, and ability to multitask and prioritize projects, and have strong conceptual and analytical skills; and
• Ability to work independently.

Best qualified candidates will have:

• Experience working on multiple prior research studies as a program analyst, programmer, data analyst, or similar position that required work with large health/medical datasets;
• Prior experience or familiarity with conducting systematic reviews of the literature;
• Experience using SQL Server, including Transact-SQL statements, with health/medical data;
• Experience with database design, creation, and querying in Microsoft Access; and
• Experience using SAS or other statistical software.

Preference given to candidates demonstrating experience working in health services research, having knowledge of VA policies, procedures, data sources, and care delivery settings, and/or experience analyzing healthcare data. Candidates must be US citizens.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume/CV to Beau Edwards at Beau.Edwards@va.gov.

(04/19/19) Health Science Specialist - Location Negotiable After Selection, United States

This position is located within the Office of Research Oversight (ORO) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). ORO reports directly to the Under Secretary of Health (USH) and is the primary office for advising the USH on matters related to the assurance and compliance with VA and other Federal requirements for the protection of human research subjects, laboratory animal welfare, research safety and security, research information security, research compliance officer education and oversight, and research misconduct. Duties will include but not limited to:

• Assisting in providing subject matter expertise in the areas of general research administration, human subjects protections, research and development committee oversight, review management and integrity (including research misconduct), informatics and analytics, research policy management, and/or research compliance officer education and oversight
• Participating in and leading on-site and remote research compliance reviews focusing on research compliance officer education and oversight
• Providing written reports of technical assistance visits

Closing date: 04/25/2019

See https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/531015400 for complete details.

(04/18/19) Director, Health Services Research at Regenstrief Institute - Indianapolis, IN

Regenstrief Institute, Inc. (RI) and the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) are seeking an innovative individual to serve as Director of The William M. Tierney Center for Health Services Research at Regenstrief Institute. The Director provides strategic vision, intellectual and academic leadership, and administrative oversight to the Center, and promotes its mission to improve the delivery and outcomes of health care through research in innovative advances in health services. Along with a university faculty appointment, the Director of this Center reports to the President/CEO of Regenstrief Institute.

Priority Application Review Deadline: 06/30/2019

See https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/7752 for details.

(04/18/19) Program Analyst - Washington, DC

Note: This position is open to current, permanent Veterans Health Administration (VHA) employees only.

This position is located within the Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D), Office of Research and Development, Veterans Health Administration Central Office. The incumbent will assist the Director of HSR&D, Deputy Director, Administrative Officer and Scientific Merit Review Program Manager in a variety of special projects and management tasks with a focus on Scientific Merit Review, Just-in-Time funded projects, and HR management.

Closing date: 05/01/2019

See https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/530930100 for details.

(04/18/19) Research Health Science Specialist - Washington, DC

Note: This position is open to Current Federal Employees, Career Transition, Individuals with Disabilities, Veterans, and Military Spouses only.

This position is located within the Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Central Office. HSR&D is responsible for a major intramural research program examining the organization, delivery, financing, and management of health care and the effects on quality, cost, access, and outcomes.

Closing date: 05/02/2019

(04/15/19) Epidemiologist and Associate Center Director of Scientific Operations - Seattle, WA

The Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is conducting an open search for a late early-career or early mid-career PhD epidemiologist. The candidate will lead designated Center scientific and administrative responsibilities and serve as the Associate Center Director of Scientific Operations. The Seattle ERIC is based at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and is 1 of 5 epidemiologic research centers in the national VA Cooperative Studies Program (CSP). The scientific portfolio of the Center includes 4 CSP studies (https://www.research.va.gov/programs/csp/): (1) Vietnam-Era Twin (VET) Registry, a registry of 14,632 male-male twins with large and expanding data and biospecimen repositories; (2) National Vietnam Veteran Longitudinal Study (NVVLS-R), a longitudinal study of male and female Veterans; (3) Millennium Cohort VA Follow-Up Study, a Department of Defense collaboration of deployment health of those served after 2000; and (4) Service and Health Among Deployed Veterans (SHADE), a multi-site cohort study to characterize the impact of deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan on the respiratory health of Veterans. Also included in the portfolio are Seattle ERIC investigator-initiated research programs funded by VA and by the National Institutes of Health.

The duties of the Associate Center Director are multi-fold and include the following:

1. Assume responsibilities for the oversight and integration of the Center’s analytic activities with its research activities. The Associate Center Director of Scientific Operations will bring epidemiologic scientific expertise to the research program and will help assure high-quality science and project successes.
2. Assume administrative leadership and scientific leadership of the Vietnam-Era Twin (VET) Registry and the National Vietnam Veteran Longitudinal Study Registry.  
3. Provide leadership to new and ongoing CSP initiatives. This includes the Integrated Veteran Epidemiologic Study Data Resource (INVESTD-R), the CSP Epidemiology Analytics Resource (CSPEAR) program, and new initiatives to better integrate epidemiologic research with the mission of the VA.
4. In the absence of the Center Director, serve as the primary scientific liaison with VA Central Office and direct all Center scientific activities.
5. Other administrative and leadership responsibilities that may be assigned to fulfill the mission of the CSP Center.

Ideal candidates will have the following attributes:

• Doctoral-level training in epidemiology or a closely related field
• 3 or more years of experience conducting independent epidemiologic research in areas related to the health of Veterans, such as:
  • Chronic diseases
  • Mental health
  • Genetics
• Understanding of the VA research program and VA health care
• Strong analytic knowledge and skills
• Ability to think critically about scientific and administrative planning and execution
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills

The position is full-time (1.00 FTE). Candidates must be U.S. citizens. Education and experience will be evaluated by VA Human Resources to determine if the top candidate meets the criteria for GS-13 position.

Please send a cover letter and resume to SeattleCSPEC@va.gov.

For more information about the Seattle ERIC, please see https://www.seattle.eric.research.va.gov/.

(04/05/19) Associate Director, VA Boston CHOIR - Boston, MA

VA Boston Healthcare System and Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) are searching for an Associate Director of the Boston Campus of our Center of Innovation (COIN). The Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR) is a multi- institutional Boston/Bedford HSR&D COIN located across two VA campuses.

The VA Boston Associate Director will work closely with CHOIR’s VA Boston Director and with leaders at VA Bedford CHOIR. Center leaders are responsible for administration of a renowned health services research program with an extensive portfolio of funded research projects and programs, with total annual budget of over $13 million. The more than 50 MD and PhD core investigators at CHOIR produce numerous empirical articles, chapters, reviews and reports for clinical decision makers, and contribute to a large, vibrant post-doctoral training program for both MD and PhD researchers.

The mission of CHOIR is to conduct health services, organizational, and implementation research that promotes Veteran-centered high-quality healthcare, identifying best practices and working with management and policy leaders within VA to implement findings to improve clinical care. CHOIR investigators have broad content and methodological expertise across numerous fields within health services research. Details about the center can be found at: http://www.choir.research.va.gov/.

The Boston Associate Director will be part of the center leadership team, and help set and promote a vision for research that engages with VA systems and improves care for Veterans. Success will require understanding of funding mechanisms, ability to manage Center research funds, and strong mentoring skills and capacity. The Associate Director will assist with management of research assets such as human resources, research equipment, and facilities. She or he will participate in developing administrative procedures and core infrastructure to support research efforts, ensuring that CHOIR research complies with VA and other federal regulations, policies and directives.

Required Qualifications:

• Either an M.D. or Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) in health services research or one of its constituent fields
• A record of successful, funded research
• A strong background in the management of health services research
• US citizen status.

Desired Qualifications:

• Leadership and administrative experience
• Should be eligible to hold an academic appointment as Associate Professor or higher at one of CHOIR’s two academic affiliates, Boston University School of Medicine or Harvard Medical School. In some instances, candidates appointed at the Assistant Professor level will also be considered.

The VA Boston Healthcare System is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions or any other characteristic protected by law.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of inquiry and CV to Emily Kalver at Emily.Kalver@va.gov .

(03/26/19) Research Assistant I - San Francisco, CA

The Population Health and Policy Research Group (PHPRG) at the San Francisco VA Medical Center is dedicated conducting rigorous outcomes studies for improving Veteran's health.

We are seeking a research assistant who will be involved in the implementation of project plans and creatively identifying novel methods for researching studying hypothesis. The research assistant will be most heavily involved in conducting health interviews to veterans, reviewing private health information in charts, handling sensitive medical documents and participating in meetings.

See https://rew21.ultipro.com/NOR1032/jobboard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*92F50A254228923D for complete details and application procedures.

(03/26/19) Staff Research Associate III Supervisor (Study Coordinator) - San Francisco, CA

The incumbent will serve as the Study Coordinator for multi-site trial comparing strategies to improve pain self-management using complimentary and integrative health modalities. The incumbent will oversee day-to-day study coordination activities at multiple VA sites as well as at the SFVAHCS.

Job Responsibilities:

• Assist the Principal Investigator in developing, implementing and leading a complex multi-site randomized controlled trial comparing behavioral health interventions
• Write complex study protocols, consent forms and all other materials requiring IRB approval and write a detailed manual of operations
• Obtain all human subjects and other regulatory approvals required to begin and continue study operations

See https://rew21.ultipro.com/NOR1032/jobboard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*C285507B0E939459 for complete details.

(03/26/19) Staff Research Associate III- Supervisor (Research Study Coordinator) - San Francisco, CA

This position will be located at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

The incumbent will serve as a Clinical Research Coordinator whose primary role is the coordination of a clinical trial to assess doxazosin as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As part of this role, the incumbent will have significant responsibilities with respect to personnel management and overall management for the Richards Lab.

For complete details and application procedures, go to https://rew21.ultipro.com/NOR1032/jobboard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*FEDF2AF8432CE82E .

(03/22/19) Statistician - San Francisco, CA

This position will be located at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

The Veterans Health Research Institute is seeking a full-time statistician to join an active research program focused on using “big data” to construct cohorts and answer clinically relevant questions in the public health field. Individuals with a background in epidemiology, statistics, health services research or related field are welcome to apply to join a general medicine/public health focused research program based in the San Francisco VA. This job involves working directly with UCSF/ SFVA Faculty.

Current studies include:

• Mimicking a clinical trial using national VA and Medicare data
• Examining the role of social determinants of health on outcomes
• A new area of research for the lab includes examining the association of cannabis use with health outcomes (see https://phprg.ucsf.edu/), and examining public opinion on beliefs and attitudes towards cannabis use.

The incumbent will be responsible for developing analysis plans, performing and interpreting statistical analyses, and contributing to research publications and presentations. 

Essential Functions:

• Data extraction and data cleaning to create analytic datasets
• Conduct statistical analyses
• Contribute to research publications and presentations
• Team work

Job Requirements:

• MS in biostatistics, epidemiology, data science or related field
• At least 2 years prior experience in the analysis of clinical data with experience in large database analyses
• Experience in programming and cleaning data
• Proficient in SAS, Stata or R
• Proficient in SQL
• Experience with a wide range of statistical methods including multivariable linear and logistic regression, GEE and linear mixed models, survival analysis, propensity score methods, multiple imputation, marginal structural modeling and meta-analysis.
• Strong computer skills and ability to apply study-specific software
• Ability to work with text data a plus
• Strong interpersonal, written/oral communication, and organizational skills
• Able to manage multiple projects with minimal supervision
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

For more information about NCIRE, The Veterans Health Research Institute, please visit us at www.ncire.org

For complete details about this position and to apply, go to https://rew21.ultipro.com/NOR1032/jobboard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*68B15E0C6D15A1F9.

(03/01/19) Deputy Director - Houston, TX

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX and Baylor College of Medicine are seeking qualified applicants for the position of Deputy Director, VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center for Innovations (COIN) in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt).

The Deputy Director is responsible for the administration of IQuESt's nationally-renowned multidisciplinary health services research and health policy program with an extensive portfolio of more than 100 research projects, 41 core investigators, a budget of over $16.9 million, and a training program for both MD and PhD postdoctoral researchers. Our program is truly multi-disciplinary with investigators who represent seven different academic departments and seven sections within the Department of Medicine including both clinicians and PhD social scientists from disciplines such as medical anthropology, human-factors engineering, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, endocrinology, oncology, surgery, psychiatry, psychology, epidemiology, biostatistics, and economics. Our work has contributed to 52 articles cited in 12 IOM reports; 83 briefs and reports to the President, Congress, and VA Secretary; 99 articles cited in 49 clinical guidelines for patient care; and five articles cited in three US Centers for Disease Control-recommended programs.

IQuESt also has a robust mentoring and career development curriculum as part of a formal health services research (HSR) educational program, overseen by the Education and Training Core. In the last 15 years, 70 CDAs have been funded (eight are current). In addition to our own HSR fellowships, we partner with other postdoctoral training programs to train PhDs and clinicians in HSR. Currently, 17 fellows engaged in HSR reside at IQuESt. More details about IQuESt website.

The Deputy Director will maintain a close liaison with other research Centers and investigators. The successful candidate is expected to provide leadership in two major areas:

• First, carry out his/her own independent, high quality, nationally funded researchprogram in health services research and health policy, preferably within our missionand goals. The successful candidate will be expected to meet the qualifications ofthe academic affiliate at the level of Associate Professor or higher by demonstratingevidence of research productivity, success in obtaining external grant funding, andskill in mentoring junior investigators and Fellows.
• Second, provide administrative and research leadership that promotes the careersof young investigators and fosters the career promotion and satisfaction of mid andsenior level researchers. In this capacity, the incumbent will be expected to oversee the structure and function of key aspects of IQuESt's administrative operations, including but not limited to assistance in making administrative decisions as to the appropriate staffing and allocation of IQuESt resources to individual and collaborative projects and developing strategic plans for future research.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• MD or PhD.
• Background and experience in health services research.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work inan interdisciplinary environment.

Closes: 07/11/2019

BCM and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employers.

Please forward CV and letter of interest in confidence to:
Laura A. Petersen, MD, MPH, FACP
Director, HSR&D, Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt)
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center VAMC, HSR&D (152)
2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston TX 77030

You may also view this position on the USAjobs website:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/504889200

(01/29/19) Physician Career and Research Training Fellowship - Chicago, IL

The University of Illinois at Chicago has recently established a new fellowship program titled, Clinical Leaders and Academic Scholars (CLASS) and is recruiting a small number of outstanding graduates from ACGME accredited internal medicine and family medicine programs to enroll in July 2019. The fellowship director, Dr. Saul Weiner, is also  Deputy Director of the VA Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Health Care (CINCCH), an HSR&D Center of Innovation. Faculty include Dr. Frances Weaver, CINCCH Director.

The program, which is based the at the University of Illinois at Chicago, affiliated with Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, was established with three tracks to provide early career physicians with intensive training to jump start their careers in one of three areas: as (a) future education leaders (e.g. program directors, associate deans), (b) clinical service leaders (e.g. chief medical officers), or (c) clinician research scientists. 

The education and clinical service tracks are just one year. The research track is two years. Those in the education track complete a for-credit certificate program in Health Professions Education.  Those in the clinical services track complete a Certificate in Patient Safety, Error Science and Full Disclosure. Those in the research track complete the MS in Clinical and Translational Science. In addition, each fellow has a mentored project with a senior leader or expert at UIC or at VA CINCCH.  All participate in seminars related to career development and skill building topics. 

Fellows will commit 0.25 FTE to clinical time within their home department at UIC (Family Medicine, Internal Medicine).  The fellow’s stipend will be set at the PGY-6 level each year (even if they are coming from a PGY-3 or 4 position), and tuition will be covered  for the certificate program into which they enroll. 

Interested residents or junior attendings may contact Dr. Weiner directly at sweiner@uic.edu or saul.weiner@va.gov.

(01/03/19) Postdoctoral Health Services Research Fellowship Opportunity - Providence, RI

Unique interdisciplinary fellowship training opportunities in Health Services Research are available in Providence Veterans Affairs' Center of Innovation (COIN) for Long-Term Services and Support (LTSS) for Vulnerable Veterans.

Funded by the Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) service of the Department of Veterans Affairs, our Center's vision is to stimulate and develop partnered health services research that will enhance access, quality and value of LTSS for Veterans with medical and/or psychosocial vulnerabilities and facilitate the implementation of programs to support the mission of VA's GEC service in maximizing Veterans' social participation and quality of life in the least restrictive setting possible. The primary goal of the COIN-LTSS is to advance the science in LTSS for Veteran and other populations with medical and/or psychosocial vulnerabilities.

Our program aims to train both physician and non-physician researchers to become successful independent investigators in health services research and health system improvement, to give trainees didactic as well as "hands-on" supervised experience in health services research, and to teach health services research methods as well as content material relevant to gerontology, long term care, and chronic disease management. Post-doctoral fellows will have the opportunity to participate in on-going research in one or more substantive areas, including chronic disease management, long-term care, quality of care, community-based systems of care, organization of health care delivery, health care disparities, and methodological approaches to comparative effectiveness research. We have a robust mentoring program to promote the career development of our fellowship trainees.

Located at the Providence VA Medical Center in Rhode Island, the COIN-LTSS works closely with its partners, the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service (GEC), the GEC Data & Analysis Center (GEC DAC) and the Brown University Center for Gerontology & Healthcare Research. Many of our faculty hold joint appointments with Brown University and are nationally and internationally renowned for their work in health services research and policy.

The COIN-LTSS Fellowship program welcomes applications from those with a previous doctoral degree, such as a PhD or MD. The position requirements for a post-doctoral fellowship are: MD and continuation of basic clinical training, or PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in health services research, sociology, epidemiology, economics or other related field. Term of appointment is for one year, renewable contingent upon funding.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

For more information, please contact Dawn Mello 401-273-7100 ext. 6222 or Dawn.Mello@va.gov.

(01/03/19) Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship in Interprofessional Polytrauma and Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Research for Associated Health Professionals - Washington, DC

Overview: The Interprofessional Polytrauma and Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Research (P/TBI) Fellowship at the Washington DC VA Medical Center (DC VAMC) is recruiting associated health professionals for a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship program. The P/TBI Fellowship at the DC VAMC reflects the high VA priority to address the complex rehabilitation of injured active duty service members. The primary goal of this fellowship program is to develop clinician-investigators with the appropriate research skills and clinical expertise to advance P/TBI rehabilitation who may assume positions of leadership across the country in the service of Veterans with polytrauma.

Program Description: This interdisciplinary program aims to train associated health professionals for an academic research career with a focus on the rehabilitation of Veterans with polytrauma and/or acquired brain injury. These aims will be achieved by providing: 1) structured career development training, 2) formal clinical and research mentorship, 3) access to the equipment, human capital, and other resources associated with a strong clinical research environment, 4) a comprehensive, individualized fellowship training curriculum, and 5) protected research time in close collaboration with a P/TBI investigator. Fellowship candidates with professional licensure will allocate 25% of their time to participate in clinical rotations within the PM&R Service. Additional program guidance is provided by the P/TBI Fellowship Directors and Advisory Board, and peer-to-peer interaction is facilitated through the Fellows’ Forum seminar series. Fellows will receive a salary, health benefits, and an annual research stipend.

How to Apply: Interested associated health professionals who meet the eligibility requirements should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation to Michael Harris-Love, DSc (Michael.Harris-Love@va.gov). The cover letter should specify the reasons for your interest in the fellowship program, a brief overview of your previous clinical and research experiences, a succinct statement of your research interest, and how the fellowship program may aid your professional and career goals. Applications will be received and reviewed on a rolling basis. Associated health professional fellows must be U.S. citizens.