VA Center for Clinical Management Research

Center Organizational Structure

Cross-Cutting Cores

Research Operations

Lead: Fatima Makki, MPH, MSW

• Oversees research portfolio management
• Supports the grant submission process including conducting mock study sections, specific aims review sessions, and Feedback-in-Time (FiT) sessions
• Offers guidance on regulatory and compliance requirements and works closely with the Research Service at the VAAAHS to ensure effective collaboration on research administrative processes

Center Operations

Lead: Mike Robertson, MBA

• Supports Center administrative functions (e.g., fiscal, IT, personnel, purchasing, travel, timekeeping, and contracting)
• Works closely with VA Ann Arbor human resources, finance, and OI&T to support CCMR investigators and staff

Methods Core

Leads: Molly Harrod, PhD; Timothy Hofer, MD, MSc; Jeremy Sussman, MD, MS

• Provides consultation on quantitative, qualitative, mixed, and implementation/complexity methods
• Leads monthly seminars that focus on new analytic methods and current analytic challenges as well as periodic training sessions for investigators within and outside of CCMR

Education & Training

Lead: Sarah Hawley, PhD

• Oversees CCMR education and training activities for investigators
• Promotes new programs and innovations, ensures that mentors have adequate training and protected time for their mentoring activities, and evaluates success of the program

Culture and Capacity-Building Core (CCB)

Leads: Sarah Hawley, PhD; Michele Heisler, MD; Cassie Turner, LMSW

• Focuses on maximizing workplace satisfaction and making CCMR the Best Place to Work for health services research in the United States
• Supports incorporating methods into CCMR research that enhance our approach to studying variation in care and reducing unwarranted variation, particularly among subgroups of Veterans who are less well represented.
• Works on both the local and national levels to advance these goals, including organizational assessments, seminars, and workshops.

Policy, Impact, Engagement

Lead: Samantha Lhermitte, MSW

• Supports internal and external communication of CCMR accomplishments, and cultivation and maintenance of partnerships
• Provides support to investigators related to engagement with partners for both research and operational projects.

Technology Core

Lead: John Colozzi, BA

• Supports hardware and software needs in day-to-day operations
• Works with investigators to develop innovative IT applications for interventional research and partnered work
• Expertise provided by the Core includes: use of mobile health technology in VA research; VA data security policies; informatics, including artificial intelligence and machine learning; usability testing; strategies for long-term dissemination of products within VHA

Advisory Groups

Center Expert and Stakeholder Forum

Chair: Ginny L. Creasman, PharmD, FACHE

• Ensures that CCMR’s strategic plan remains aligned with the priorities of Veterans and VA
• Provides input and feedback on ongoing and future research, capitalizing on new opportunities, and facilitating dissemination of research
• Members include local and national leaders in VA, leaders from our academic affiliate (the University of Michigan), national leaders in health services research, and Veterans

Veteran Research Engagement Council (VREC)

Lead: Deb Manderachia, LMSW

• Mission: “To improve research through a trusted partnership among Veteran’s communities and research investigators”
• Ensures that Veterans’ viewpoints are reflected in the Center’s research, including design, materials, and dissemination of findings

Staff Advisory Council (StAC)

• Comprises project managers, data analysts, research associates, and administrative support staff
• Goals are to enhance communication with leadership, help resolve conflicts when they occur, and encourage staff involvement in Center decision-making
• Solicits feedback from staff and meets regularly with Center leadership

Investigator Leadership Council

• Provides input and oversight on research strategy, budget, recruitment, and overall strategic planning
• Members include the Director, Associate Director, Core Leads, and selected Core Investigators

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