Research Fellow Division of Global Health Equity

Mass General Brigham•Boston, MA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Through a collaboration between Harvard Medical School Office for Research Initiatives and Global Programs and the Division of Global Health Equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Program in Global Primary Health Care (PGPHC) aims to create high-quality, sustainable primary health care systems that advance health equity. Our theory of impact focuses on recentering health care systems toward people and communities, where the majority of care is delivered at the primary care level through a people-centered approach. We do this through research, education, advocacy, and implementation science in collaboration with governments, community organizations, private sector partners, non-governmental organizations, and people with lived experience. This Post-Doctoral Fellowship training opportunity is at minimum one academic year (12 months), with a possibility for an additional 12-18 month extension, subject to funding availability and completion of academic products. Fellows are fully funded, according to the established training program standards of BWH. The training position will focus on developing the competencies and experiences to lead multi-sectoral initiatives that promote primary health care (PHC) approaches to health systems transformation. This includes development of skills in mixed-methods health systems research (including implementation science and community-engaged approaches), model of care co-design and implementation, quality improvement, policy and financing analysis reform, meaningful engagement of patients and community and convening diverse partners toward these efforts. The work will be based in diverse settings, health conditions and populations, including both high and low-and-middle income countries globally. Applicants are required to demonstrate a very strong foundation of public health research methods (quantitative and qualitative) training and have experience working with a range of collaborators to develop rigorous academic outputs. A strong publication record is essential. They must be familiar with and highly committed to the principles and practices of health equity. Experience working across different health systems and cultural contexts is highly desirable. Previous training and hands-on experience (or familiarity) with the principles of people-centered care (PCC), co-design, and community-engaged research and engagement is preferred. The Fellow will fill an important role within PGPHC’s core research and implementation team, which also includes several research assistants, students/trainees, a research coordinator, and BWH/HMS faculty and staff. The Fellow will be academically supervised and mentored by core BWH/HMS faculty. Fellows are also expected to develop their capacity and leadership skills through the supervision of at least one research assistant and several students/trainees.

Requirements

PhD in health systems (preferred) or MD
A strong record of academic achievement and prior peer-reviewed, first author publications
Clear track record analytic quantitative and qualitative research experience
Expertise in health equity, public health research and/or policy analysis, and health system design and/or service delivery
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and organizational skills; strong follow-up and information sharing skills
Able to communicate effectively and professionally in writing and orally with a wide range of people
Respect for diversity of cultural perspectives and diverse styles of work and communication
Able to work proactively and independently on many tasks with minimal supervision and to multiple deadlines

Nice To Haves

Experience in co-design, community engagement and participatory research is strongly preferred
Experience working collaboratively with academic, government, non-governmental and community-based organizations, is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Coordinate and carry out the core research for the program, including: Conducting policy analyses of health systems’ organization, governance and financing as it relates to PHC, people-centered care and key health condition
Co-designing people-centered models of care for the integration of various health conditions into routine primary care delivery
Designing and conducting mixed methods research to evaluate the current systems readiness and patient journeys, as well as longitudinal studies to evaluate the impact of models of care in terms of clinical outcomes, patient experience and health systems efficiency
Establishing standard operating procedures and clinical protocols for translating models of care into practice, and quality improvement processes for iterative improvement
Engaging people with lived experience/civil society, healthcare providers and professional associations, and health facility managers and policymakers throughout research, co-design and advocacy
Coordinate meetings of designated working groups of the project, with support from the Research Coordinator, which includes developing meeting agendas, facilitating virtual meetings, assigning tasks and deadlines to collaborators, monitoring progress towards working group objectives, providing updates to other working groups and core research and implementation staff
Depending on specific skill-set, may serve as a source of information or technical input on specific research techniques, and train others in the core research and implementation team on specific procedures or operations
Conduct independent research in an area of professional interest/emerging expertise, which may include leading the development of research manuscripts/publications and presentations for existing and new projects of the Program in Global Primary Health Care
Supervise at least one research assistant, students/trainees and/or data scientist to assist with conducting the core work of the project
Develop a work plan and provide regular updates to managing and academic supervisors on status of work, identifying risks and suggesting additional steps or modifications to ensure timely completion
Actively participate in regular teaching sessions (~monthly) with other Fellows and trainees associated with BWH and its collaborating institutions, including preparation and presentation of project content as requested
Engage in professional development planning, feedback and discussion with academic supervisors to advance professional development, including identifying and undertaking additional training and research opportunities