CIHR Training Modernization Post-doctoral Health System Impact Fellowship

The University of Manitoba (located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) is now accepting applications for a 14-month Postdoctoral Fellowship year, funded by the CIHR Training Modernization Start-up Grant in Health Services and Policy Research. The fellowship is being offered in partnership between the University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine; and Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living (MHSAL). University of Manitoba program areas leading this opportunity include the Manitoba Training Program in Health Services Research (MPT; http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/health_sciences/medicine/units/chs/mtp/index.html ), and Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP; http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/health_sciences/medicine/units/chs/departmental_units/mchp/ ).

Overview

This Fellowship provides highly-qualified individuals with a unique opportunity to apply their research and analytic talents to critical challenges in healthcare system innovation, and also to develop strong collaborative networks with both healthcare stakeholders and researchers from across Canada. Fellows will gain expertise into how the health system works, how decisions are made, and how research and analytic skills can contribute to an organization’s performance.

The fellow will divide their time about equally between MHSAL and the University of Manitoba, enabling them to: i) become immersed in the culture and operations of MHSAL and to make meaningful contributions to this organization’s program of work, ii) collaborate meaningfully with applied health services research teams from the University of Manitoba, and also nationally and internationally.

Amount

• Fellow stipend: $81,667 ($65,333 in stipend; $16,334 in benefits at 25%) over 14 months.
• Research Support: $17,000 in research supplies and support (e.g., Research Assistant).
• Professional Development: $7,000.
• Travel: About $15,000 in travel funds to attend national conferences, to conduct inter- provincial site visits, and to attend related national research team meetings.

Duration and time commitment

• 14 months, commencing September 2017.
• Fellowship time will be divided equally between MHSAL and the University of Manitoba.

Program of Work

The postdoctoral fellow will collaborate with partners to create and apply evidence guiding housing with health services (HHS; community-based congregate housing care options that are positioned between the continuum of home care & nursing homes) policy reform, enabling it to function more effectively as an alternate to nursing home use for some people. Three types of activities are planned. First, through an iterative process of examining evidence, reviewing current policy documents, and meeting with stakeholders both locally and inter-provincially,  the fellow will develop rich knowledge about current HHS policies and practices nationally, and

will identify areas of strength and where improvement is needed. Second, the fellow will conduct provider and patient engagement interviews (i.e., with transitional staff and ‘lower- care’ nursing home residents), gaining different perspectives on why people eligible to reside in HHS facilities do not. This collective evidence will be presented to partnership organizations, who will work with the fellow to jointly recommend HHS policy reform strategies. Third, using MCHP data, the fellow will work with select team members to forecast the consequences (i.e., changes to HHS and nursing home use patterns, government cost) of implementing some of the proposed policy changes. This process is expected to ‘bookend’ policy recommendations with evidence, first to guide change ideas and second to understand the consequences of implementing them.

Various core competency training plus mentorship and supervision activities are planned to support the fellow through each of the University of Manitoba and MHSAL. Several additional networking opportunities will also be made available to the fellow, both locally and nationally (e.g., attend national and international research group meetings; conduct face-to-face meetings with continuing care leaders from other provinces, to review their policies, gain their perspectives, and to create opportunities for ongoing future initiatives).

Requirements

This is a full-time position for fourteen months, and may be extended subject to funding. The expected start date is September 1, 2017. Fellows must:

• Demonstrate professional leadership potential and academic excellence.
• Hold or expect to have completed a PhD in HSPR or a related field (e.g., economics, political science, epidemiology) by August 1, 2017.
• Have obtained their doctoral degree no more than five years prior to the start date.
• As this opportunity is to provide new work exposure to the policy environment, preference will be given to those not already working or with experience in policy roles.

Interested applicants should submit the following application materials via e-mail to  Abigail.Byle@umanitoba.ca by July 15, 2017:

• A 1-2-page personal statement or cover letter outlining professional goals, research interests, and relevant background experience.
• A full curriculum vitae with a list of publications.
• Work sample (e.g., published manuscript on which author are first author; other written product that highlights related work and expertise).
• The names and contact information of at least two references.

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Malcolm Doupe (malcolm_doupe@cpe.umanitoba.ca).