Director, Professor - Child Health Outcomes Research

Position Description:
Director, Child Health Clinical Outcomes Research

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Children’s Research Institute (CRI) at Children’s Wisconsin (CW) are jointly seeking a national leader in Child Health Clinical Outcomes Research.

This visionary scientific leader will enrich the current environment by collaborating to develop the strategy for growth and enhance the robust clinical sciences and outcomes research portfolio across the pediatric enterprise through collaboration and building/connecting resources.  The appointment is anticipated at the Professor level.

Leveraging existing innovation, this national leader in pediatric clinical sciences and patient outcomes research will bring an ability to recruit to build on additional capabilities in the following fields: implementation science, patient-centered outcomes, data sciences, clinical trials, community-engaged research, and medical economics.  The scope will include medical, surgical, mental & behavioral health, and primary and community care.

This individual will lead a team of researchers to further leverage the program to drive the vision for clinical science and patient outcomes research within the CRI, MCW, and CW. This role will bring together disparate resources and cultivate a community to support research.  Additionally, they will partner with the CRI Chief Scientific Officer and other key stakeholders at Children’s Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

The successful candidate will build/develop a program at Children’s Wisconsin which boasts a competitive research portfolio with significant active extramural and private funding, associated quality impactful publications, and continued presence in national arenas related to pediatric disease. Position responsibilities include:

• Carrying out the child health clinical outcomes research mission and works closely with the senior leadership in areas to achieve the mission of the organization.
• Overseeing the clinical outcomes research strategy across the pediatric enterprise.  Develops, refines, and implements a specific clinical outcomes research agenda that effectively utilizes research resources.  Identifies gaps in scientific programs and research methodology expertise and provides strategic scientific/clinical direction into the development of action plans to advance scientific goals. May partner with relevant stakeholders on implementation strategies to improve clinical outcomes and quality of care.
• Developing an effective infrastructure to obtain maximum efficiency and utilization in relation to program-wide shared services across Children’s Specialty Group (CSG), Children’s Medical Group (CMG), Children’s Research Institute (CRI) and MCW.  Advises on and ensures appropriate study design, execution, analysis, and reporting. 
• Establishing methods for achieving consistent scientific rigor, including a competitive method for acquiring resources allocated to this program. Stays current on emerging trends, developments, and innovations in clinical outcomes research and related fields of clinical science.
• Leading, managing, and recruiting, as needed, a scientific team to achieve the organizational goals.  Partners with CSG, CRI, Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI), Children’s Medical Group (CMG), and MCW leaders to lead, manage and recruit research associate directors, research faculty and administrative staff, to advance clinical outcomes research. Expected to work collaboratively with existing leaders and centers on campus.
• Overseeing all phases of clinical outcomes research programs and partnerships including assembling and working closely with advisory committees, community organizations, and others to provide oversight of these programs.     
• Collaborating with other senior leaders, including CRI, CSG, and CMG, to identify partners to enable and enhance the development of projects in the pediatric clinical outcomes research portfolio. Facilitates and fosters collaborative and interdisciplinary work between medical, surgical, diagnostic, mental and behavioral health, and primary care as appropriate. 
• Acting as key pediatric research liaison with other relevant departments including Marketing and Foundation Donor Development as required.  This includes helping identify research programs that should be highlighted in publications and events.
• Maintaining own funded program of pediatric clinical outcomes research or related field. Provides ongoing mentorship of emerging outcomes research scientists.
• Providing access to opportunities, resources, and mentorship for clinical outcomes research.
• Developing and recommends operating and capital budgets and control expenditures within approved budget objectives.
• Understanding and adhering to the Children’s Organizational Code of Ethics and for ensuring that personal actions, and the actions of employees supervised, comply with the policies, regulations, and laws applicable to Children's business.

Children’s Research Institute (CRI)

As a children’s hospital in an academic medical center, research is interwoven into the care we provide every day.  Children’s allocates a portion of its annual budget to pediatric research to stimulate research activity which is focused solely on improving child health outcomes.  This research is focused on improving diagnostics, discovering, and testing new therapies, and improving the way we prevent and manage some of the most complex medical conditions.  Physician-scientists, nurse-scientists, researchers, and technicians at the Children’s Research Institute (CRI) seek answers to the toughest questions in pediatric medicine. This innovative culture helps to attract and retain the best and brightest minds to our organization.  Since its inception in 2003, CRI has grown to include more than 150 researchers spanning all diagnostic, medical, and surgical specialties. Together they form the largest concentration of 100% pediatric research in Wisconsin.  Children’s Research Institute provides infrastructure and financial support for pediatric researchers conducting child health research.  CRI’s academic partners include the Medical College of Wisconsin, UW-Milwaukee, and Marquette University. Types of support include the following:

• Supplemental Grant Support for Early-Stage Investigators
• Competitive Pilot Grants to help investigators test new ideas
• Shared services, including a pediatric translational research unit staffed by pediatric nurses trained on the complexities of regulated clinical research
• Dedicated laboratory space for pediatric researchers

Children’s support of pediatric research helps ensure that important questions about improved care for kids are being addressed.  Children’s engages in several national research partnerships with other children’s hospitals including Children’s Oncology Group (COG), Pediatric Heart Network (PHN), Midwest Pediatric Surgical Consortium (MWPSC), Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium (PCPLC), Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative (PSORC), and Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PeCARN).

A Master Research Affiliation Agreement was executed between the Medical College of Wisconsin and Children’s Wisconsin on July 1, 2021. This agreement provides an overarching framework for the relationship between Children’s and MCW around the pediatric research enterprise. This agreement is an important component of our CSG affiliation work and will facilitate pediatric research growth and faculty retention/recruitment by maximizing investigator and institutional synergies.  Recent significant philanthropic commitments (through the Herma Heart Institute, MACC Fund Center and Mental Behavioral Health) are also enabling research growth.  Children’s Research Institute support for child health research is supplemented by research investments from CSG and MCW.  As a leading Children’s hospital, our families expect us to be at the cutting edge and on a quest to innovate.

Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is a private, health sciences university dedicated to leadership and excellence in academic medicine.  At the core of everything we do at the MCW is the pursuit of new knowledge and the power of academic medicine. Bringing together the world’s top scientists and clinicians, inspired students, and invested communities, we are driven to solve the most complex challenges in health and society. MCW is home to a diverse group of thought leaders collaborating to build a healthier world and a continuous cycle of life-changing knowledge. 

In 2022, MCW has approximately 1,540 students in Medical School, Graduate, and Pharmacy Schools. There are more than 900 physicians in residency training and fellowship training.  MCW is the largest private research institution in Wisconsin with >$300 million in grant awards for research, teaching, training, and related purposes. Through its clinical operations, MCW providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and psychologists care for the health of our communities with more than 3.3 million patient visits annually.  MCW is committed to multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research, and supports several Centers and Institutes, including an NIH-funded Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), Cancer Center, Cardiovascular Research Center, Center for Advancing Population Health, Center for International Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Immunology Center, Genomics and Precision Medicine Center, Neuroscience Center, Trauma Center, and the Kern Institute for Transformation of Medical Education.  

MCW is the seventh largest private employer in the metro-Milwaukee area and MCW has approximately 6,766 faculty and staff. Approximately 5,385 faculty and staff work on the beautiful campus of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC) which also houses Froedtert Hospital, Children’s Hospital and Health System, Curative Care, Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division.  These entities share a common mission of excellence in patient care, medical education, biomedical research and community service.  MCW has the largest physician group in Wisconsin and the 14th largest physician group practice in the U.S. Approximately 1,730 MCW physicians and 840 nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare practitioners care for more than 450,000 patients of all ages annually at Children’s Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital and the Zablocki VA Medical Center and many other hospitals and clinics in eastern Wisconsin.

Children’s Wisconsin (CW) and Children’s Specialty Group (CSG)

Children’s Wisconsin is the state’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. With more than 1.3 million annual connections with kids and families statewide, Children’s provides a wide range of care and support — everything from routine care to lifesaving advances and treatment options, foster care and adoption services, child advocacy, and provides an insurance plan. In addition to its reputation for providing the highest quality patient care, Children’s has also been recognized as an employer and community partner, including as a top workplace by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Children’s and its joint venture with the Medical College of Wisconsin – the Children’s Specialty Group - are the largest providers of pediatric healthcare in the state, serving the children and families of Wisconsin with the highest level of care through their American College of Surgeons Level I Children’s Surgery Verification Center, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence, 72-bed Level IV NICU, Level IV Epilepsy Center, and a 72-bed PICU. In 2022-2023, CW and CSG had eight specialties ranked by US News & World Report: cancer, gastroenterology and GI surgery, nephrology, and pulmonology.  With over 70 specialties and 675 providers, CSG has an annual net patient revenue of ~$200 million. Last year, CSG providers had 220,000 outpatient visits at 13 regional care sites, 67,000 emergency department/trauma center visits, and over 9,000 admissions.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, is located on Lake Michigan’s western shore. A metropolitan area with more than 1.5 million people, Milwaukee is an affordable, comfortable place to live, work, and play, big enough to be exciting and uncongested enough to get around easily. Milwaukee’s many neighborhoods have incredible charm, accommodating a variety of lifestyles, from high-rise apartments to small farms. Nestled along a magnificent bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, Milwaukee’s downtown is home to botanical gardens, museums, a theater district, the world champion Milwaukee Bucks, the Milwaukee Brewers, and many fine restaurants. The lake and its harbors are skirted by scenic parklands and provide first-class opportunities for recreation, including hiking, cycling, boating, and more. A recent study ranked Milwaukee as the 15th most walkable of the 50 largest US cities.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within.   If you believe embracing individuality and working together makes us stronger, then MCW is the place for you.  People of color, women, LGBTQIA+, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The Medical College of Wisconsin and Children’s Wisconsin are Equal Opportunity Employers.  We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status.  

Procedure for Candidacy

Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

All interactions will remain confidential, and no inquiries will be made without the consent of the applicant.  Nominations and applications, including current curriculum vitae and a cover letter stating qualifications and reasons for interest in the role, may be submitted to:

Kelli Cameron, M.S., SHRM-SCP, Senior Director of Faculty Recruitment, at [email protected]

Position Requirements:

Candidate Qualifications

The qualifications, preferred experience/knowledge/skills for this leadership role includes the following:

• MD, MD/PhD or equivalent degree required.
• Independent extramurally funded research program or recent history of strong funding portfolio in pediatric clinical outcomes research or related field.
• Significant experience leading clinical outcomes research in healthcare settings
• Significant relevant leadership experience in managing research, or research funding in academia and the healthcare industry, ideally in a matrixed, multi-disciplinary and publicly visible environment.
• Experience leading and developing a team of research professionals who manage multiple projects at varying stages of development under time pressure.
• Successful mentorship of trainees, junior faculty, and other principal investigators in research interests to obtain extramural funding.
• Demonstrated national or international reputation.
• Exhibits guiding behaviors that reflect Children’s values and support our mission and vision.
• Ability to think strategically, work collaboratively and use a consultative approach to problem solving and decision-making. Excellent project management and team leadership skills.
• Demonstrated excellent analytical, interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with scientists and with non-scientists, including the ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy in a team environment with other dedicated professionals in a rapidly advancing work environment.
• Background in translating research into the clinic or community; the development and implementation of successful therapies or interventions; and experience with the grant peer review process at the national level.
• Ability to travel statewide and nationally/internationally as required.

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

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