Health Services Research & Development

(06/25/19) Health Services/Implementation Science Researcher - Houston, TX

The Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt) (a collaborative center of health services research between the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine) is seeking a Health Services/Implementation Science Researcher tjoin a grant supported multidisciplinary research team that is nationally recognized for work in patient safety, electronic health records and diagnostic errors.

The applicant will be expected tcontribute tthe research areas of this multidisciplinary team (largely diagnostic errors & health IT-related patient safety) and will be a full time faculty member, appointment and salary commensurate with experience. Applicants with current federal funding preferred. If relevant, up t25% of time could be used for clinical activities.

Visit our website: http://www.houston.hsrd.research.va.gov

Required Qualifications:

• An MD or PhD is required
  • Must have a record of research in one or more of the relevant areas such as: implementation science
  • health services/systems research
  • improvement science
  • health information technology
  • informatics
  • human factors
  • I/psychology
  • patient safety improvement
  • Must be able tcompete for external funding (i.e. NIH, VA, AHRQ)
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident

Interested candidates should submit a current curriculum vitae and cover letter to:

Ms. Shannon Kenyon, Chief of Operations
Attn: Hardeep Singh, MD MPH
IQuESt
2450 Holcombe Blvd, Suite 01Y
Houston, TX 77021
shannon.kenyon@va.gov

Please reference “Research Scientist/Singh Patient Safety Team” in subject line.

(06/24/19) Research Data Analyst - Seattle, WA

The Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is recruiting a Research Data Analyst to work with an experienced and growing group of researchers committed to high-quality epidemiologic investigations using large, complex health data to address Veteran health issues.

The Center is recruiting for a full-time team member to support the large, national epidemiologic research studies within the ERIC as well as smaller-scale, investigator-initiated studies. The Research Data Analyst will work closely with the Center’s Senior Data Manager, Biostatisticians, and scientific and administrative personnel in the conduct of observational epidemiologic studies addressing environmental/occupational exposures, pharmacotherapy, and genetics/genomics.

Primary responsibilities will be to identify appropriate data elements from VA data sources, extract the items needed, and create analytic data sets to be used to answer specific research questions. Additional responsibilities may include mentoring staff, consulting with investigators about available VA data resources, and keeping abreast of new technologies needed to support the ERIC’s future scientific and data needs.

Key duties may include:

• Collaborate with investigators and staff to identify key data elements from national and local VA data sources and create analytic files for staff epidemiologists and biostatisticians
• Create data specifications and mentor less-experienced staff as required
• Design complex data extract systems and write supporting documentation
• Design, create, and load relational databases, tables, and files to meet the needs of study staff and support ongoing national projects
• Curate large genomic datasets and extract study data from these as required
• Manage, administer, and ensure data quality, security, and maintenance of data files and database systems from current and past epidemiologic studies
• Validate study data from field sites and troubleshoot any issues uncovered by staff

Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications include a master’s-level degree in a scientific field and professional experience working with relational databases. Candidates must also have experience with healthcare data and proficiency in SQL and/or R. Excellent data management, programming, and communication skills are required. Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively in a team setting are imperative.

Desired qualifications include 3 or more years of health data analysis and/or programming experience. Familiarity with VA data systems, files, and data security, knowledge of genomic data and formatting, experience working within a Unix/Linux environment, and working knowledge of Visual Basic Studio, Python and C#, or VBA are all pluses.

Candidates must be US citizens. Depending on the candidate’s experience, the target salary will be in the GS-11 to GS-12 range.

Application:

Please send a cover letter and resume to SeattleCSPEC@va.gov. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled; however, preference will be given to materials received by August 1, 2019.

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

(06/19/19) Director, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Dissemination and Training Division - Menlo Park, CA

The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (NCPTSD) seeks a dynamic, academically-oriented leader for the position of Director, Dissemination and Training Division, Menlo Park, CA. We are seeking a senior doctoral-level individual with a strong background in clinical psychology, psychiatry, public health, and/or a related field with a solid research and publication record in the area posttraumatic stress and trauma-related mental health, including research on clinical outcomes, health services and/or implementation science research, clinical training, and/or use of telehealth, web, or mobile technologies. A focus on PTSD or trauma is preferred, but applicants working on other mental health disorders are encouraged to apply. A demonstrated record of publication, national leadership, and research grant funding is essential. Experience with program or policy development is preferred and recognition within the scientific and academic community is required. The Director advances innovative programs and national collaborations in research, education, implementation science and technology, and promotes staff development and scientific productivity. Mentorship, teaching, and training experience in the academic and/or clinical applied fields is required. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, including sensitivity to issues related to the stigma of mental illness and minority mental health. Credentials should be commensurate with faculty appointment at the associate or full professor level at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

NCPTSD is a congressionally mandated center of excellence within the Department of Veterans Affairs responsible for providing research, education, and training in the science, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and stress-related disorders. NCPTSD is a collaborative consortium of seven divisions located in VA Medical Centers throughout the country that advances scientific understanding of PTSD and provides scientific input to policy-makers and program managers throughout the Veterans Health Administration. NCPTSD is part of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in the Veterans Health Administration.

The Division is located at the Veteran’s Affairs Health Care System (VAPAHCS), Menlo Park Division, CA, which is a teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics, and extended care. VAPAHCS is home to a variety of regional treatment centers, including a Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, Spinal Cord Injury Center, a Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center, a Traumatic Brain Injury Center, the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, a Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, a Homeless Veterans Rehabilitation Program, and the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. VAPAHCS maintains one of the top three research programs in the VA. An affiliation with the Stanford University School of Medicine provides a rich academic environment including medical training for physicians in virtually all specialties and subspecialties.

Please send curriculum vitae and a cover letter to Veronica Thurston at Veronica.Thurston@va.gov. Three references may be requested later. For questions, please contact Ms. Thurston at the above email address. Applications will be reviewed as received and will be accepted until the position is filled. The Department of Veteran Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

(06/12/19) Associate Director - VA HSR&D Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC) - Portland, OR

VA Portland Health Care System is searching for an Associate Director of the HSR&D-funded Portland Center of Innovation (COIN), Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC).

The CIVIC Associate Director will work closely with the CIVIC Director, Administrative Officer, Principal Investigators, Fellows and other trainees, as well as staff in the Research & Development Office. CIVIC leaders are responsible for administration of a health services research program, which has an extensive portfolio of more than 25 active HSR&D research projects, over 40 non-HSR&D projects, and a total FY18 budget (from all funding sources) of 10 million. CIVIC is a multi-disciplinary center with investigators who represent different academic departments within medicine and the social sciences, including MDs in Epidemiology, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Public Health, Radiation Medicine, and Urology, and PhDs in Clinical Psychology, Cultural Anthropology, Health Policy and Administration, Mathematics, and Sociology. CIVIC Investigators produce numerous papers, chapters, reviews, and reports for clinician decision makers, and contribute to a large, post-doctoral training program for both MD and PhD researchers. In FY18, CIVIC Investigators had more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and more than 150 conference presentations.

The overall mission of CIVIC is to conduct research that empowers Veterans to improve their health through engagement in self-care, engagement with the VA and non-VA healthcare systems, and engagement in the research process. Focus areas include: 1) conducting research that helps Veterans with mental health conditions, including pain, improve their health and safety; and 2) conducting research that helps Veterans, their supports, and their clinicians create and sustain effective healthcare relationships. CIVIC Investigators have broad content and methodological experience across numerous fields within health services research including suicide prevention, chronic pain and opioids, substance abuse, and TBI, Veteran engagement, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, mental health conditions in cancer patients, health disparities, clinician-patient communication, interprofessional learning, social networks, and health informatics. More information about the center can be found at: https://www.portlandcoin.research.va.gov/.

The CIVIC Associate Director will be part of the Center leadership team and help promote a vision for research that engages with VA systems and improves care for Veterans. Success will require an understanding of VA policies, procedures, and funding mechanisms. The Associate Director will participate in administrative activities and development and sustainment of core infrastructure to support research efforts, ensuring that CIVIC research complies with VA and other federal regulations, policies, and directives. The CIVIC Associate Director role is essential to managing the educational mission of Fellows and trainees and will need to have strong mentoring skills.

Required Qualifications:

1. Either an MD or PhD
2. A record of successful, independent, funded health services research.
3. Be eligible to hold an academic appointment as Associate Professor or higher at VA Portland’s academic affiliate, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). In some instances, candidates appointed at the Assistant Professor level may also be considered.
4. A strong background in administration and management of health services research.
5. US citizen.

Desired Qualifications:

1. Current health services research peer review funding.
2. Strong background promoting the careers of early and mid-career investigators. In this capacity, the Associate Director should have the interpersonal and collaborative skills needed to develop strategic plans for future research.

VA Portland Health Care System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Interested candidates should submit a letter of inquiry and CV to Beau Edwards at Beau.Edwards@va.gov. Applications will be reviewed as received and will be accepted until the position is filled.

(06/12/19) Associate Director Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) - Iowa City, IA

Join us in beautiful Eastern Iowa to lead a group of creative and engaged investigators and committed research staff in our mission to improve access to high quality care for rural Veterans through innovative applications of telehealth; and to develop and evaluate interventions targeting the multidrug-resistant organism crisis. CADRE includes three active cores: The Ethnographic Methods and Implementation Core (EMIC), the Statistics and Analytics (STAT) Core, and the Data and Information Systems (DAT) Core that work together to support a rapidly expanding research and operations portfolio.  In addition, a flourishing Veteran Engagement Panel guides and inspires CADRE’s work and deepens the connection and commitment to improving health services to Veterans.  Specific information on CADRE can be found at: https://www.cadre.research.va.gov

The CADRE Associate Director will be a key member of the leadership team helping to shape the vision of CADRE, expand the research program, and guide investigators in developing VA and affiliated research programs.  The Associate Director will assist in the scientific direction of the Center and in the development of Center procedures and core infrastructure to facilitate research efforts.

Application available here: https://jobs.uiowa.edu/faculty/view/73703

Duties of the Associate Director:

• Provide mentoring to junior and mid-level investigators to develop ideas, proposals, and career plans and to review grants prior to submission
• Assist in the development, cultivation, and growth of relationships with university affiliate departments and operational stakeholders to promote the CADRE portfolio and research mission
• Assists in the planning and oversight of the weekly research conference
• Attends Veteran Engagement Panel meetings
• Work collaboratively with the Center Director and Cross-Center Director of Operations to provide scientific and administrative leadership of the Center
• Respond to special projects and inquiries from VACO and operational partners
• In the absence of the Center Director, serve as the primary scientific liaison with VA Central Office and direct all Center scientific activities
• In the Absence of the Cross-Center Director of Operations provide administrative and operational guidance to investigators and staff
• Fulfill other administrative and leadership roles as needed to accomplish the mission of CADRE

Successful candidates will have the following qualifications:

• MD/PhD/PharmD or equivalent degree in a health services related field
• A record of successful, independent, federally-funded health services research
• Experience with Department of Veterans Affairs research
• Eligibility to hold an academic appointment as Associate Professor or higher at the University of Iowa
• A strong background in mentoring early and mid-career investigators
• Strong analytic knowledge and skills
• A background in administration and/or management of health services research
• Ability to think critically regarding scientific and administrative planning and execution
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and collaborative skills necessary to foster strategic plans for future research
• US citizen

(05/22/19) Open-Rank Tenure-Track or Tenured Faculty Position in Healthcare Management - Los Angeles, CA

The Department of Health Policy and Management in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health is seeking applicants for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position in healthcare management at any rank. Graduating doctoral students, post-doctoral scholars, and Assistant Professors are encouraged to apply. This top-rated Department is a leader in healthcare management education and research. Applicants must have a strong record of peer-reviewed publications and demonstrated potential to move the field forward.

Responsibilities: The new faculty member will teach courses and conduct research in one or more areas of healthcare management, including but not limited to organizational theory & behavior, healthcare delivery system science, operations research, finance, and/or implementation science.

Qualifications: Qualifications include a strong record of research and teaching (commensurate with the rank of appointment sought) and an earned doctorate in business administration, health administration, health services research, health economics, health policy, psychology, sociology, organizational behavior, or other relevant discipline at the time of appointment. 

Salary: Negotiable based on experience. This position is a 9-month, tenure-track or tenured position. It may be vetted by the University’s Council on Academic Personnel and must be approved by the Vice Chancellor.

How to apply: Applicants should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching, teaching evaluations (if applicable), and names of three references to the Chair, Faculty Search Committee.  In addition, applicants should submit a statement of contributions to equity, diversity and inclusion, for which guidance is available at https://equity.ucla.edu/programs-resources/faculty-search-process/faculty-search-committee-resources/sample-guidance/.  All applications should be submitted electronically to UCLA Academic Recruit at https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/apply/JPF04552. For more information, please contact Maria Porras at mporras@ph.ucla.edu.

Review of applications will begin on September 1, 2019, and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be completed by October 15, 2019, and earlier applications are strongly encouraged. All applications will be kept strictly confidential. Faculty appointment level and salary will be determined based on the candidates’ experience and qualifications.

We value candidates whose experience in teaching, research, or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. Women and underrepresented minorities are encouraged to apply.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.

(04/25/19) Director, Dissemination & Training Division, National Center for PTSD - Menlo Park, CA

The National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (NCPTSD) seeks a dynamic, academically-oriented leader for the position of Director, Dissemination and Training Division, Menlo Park, CA. We are seeking a senior doctoral-level individual with a strong background in clinical psychology, psychiatry, public health, and/or a related field with a solid research and publication record in the area posttraumatic stress and trauma-related mental health, including research on clinical outcomes, health services and/or implementation science research, clinical training, and/or use of telehealth, web, or mobile technologies. A focus on PTSD or trauma is preferred, but applicants working on other mental health disorders are encouraged to apply. A demonstrated record of publication, national leadership, and research grant funding is essential. Experience with program or policy development is preferred and recognition within the scientific and academic community is required. The Director advances innovative programs and national collaborations in research, education, implementation science and technology, as well as promotes staff development and scientific productivity. Mentorship, teaching, and training experience in the academic and/or clinical applied fields is required. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, including sensitivity to issues related to the stigma of mental illness and minority mental health. Credentials should be commensurate with faculty appointment at the associate or full professor level at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

NCPTSD is a congressionally mandated center of excellence within the Department of Veterans Affairs responsible for providing research, education, and training in the science, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and stress-related disorders. NCPTSD is a collaborative consortium of seven divisions located in VA Medical Centers throughout the country that advances scientific understanding of PTSD and provides scientific input to policy-makers and program managers throughout the Veterans Health Administration. NCPTSD is part of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in the Veterans Health Administration.

The Division is located at the Veteran’s Affairs Health Care System (VAPAHCS), Menlo Park Division, CA, which is a teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics, and extended care. VAPAHCS is home to a variety of regional treatment centers, including a Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, Spinal Cord Injury Center, a Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center, a Traumatic Brain Injury Center, the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, a Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, a Homeless Veterans Rehabilitation Program, and the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. VAPAHCS maintains one of the top three research programs in the VA. An affiliation with the Stanford University School of Medicine provides a rich academic environment including medical training for physicians in virtually all specialties and subspecialties.

Please send curriculum vitae and a cover letter to Veronica Thurston at Veronica.Thurston@va.gov. Three references may be requested later. For questions, please contact Ms. Thurston at the above email address. Applications will be reviewed as received and will be accepted until the position is filled. The Department of Veteran Affairs is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

(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.

(04/18/19) 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.

(04/17/19) 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.

(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 .

(03/22/19) 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.

(05/01/19) 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.

(05/01/19) 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.

(04/29/19) 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.