Internship & Independent Research Opportunities

Approximately 75% of all health care spending in the US is attributed to chronic conditions. And, behavioral factors are the primary causes of chronic diseases and chronic disease-related health care costs. In the US, the 2010 health care reform bill included numerous chronic care provisions. Yet, both the National Academies of Sciences Institute of Medicine and the World Health Organization have concluded that the current health care workforce is not prepared for a new health care environment, where chronic (not acute or episodic conditions) predominate. Health care policy experts believe that chronic disease prevention and chronic care improvement will be two of the fastest growing fields in health care.

In 2002, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) convened an interdisciplinary panel of health care leaders to define guidelines and recommendations for restructuring health care training and continuing education. An IOM report was published in 2003 titled Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality. A similar report was published by the World Health Organization in 2005 titled Preparing a 21st Century Health Care Workforce: The Challenge of Chronic Conditions. Both organizations determined that health care systems change is not possible without a prepared health care workforce. Each has also emphasized the need for interdisciplinary core workforce, and for better integration of the behavioral sciences in health care.

Since 2003, the Chicago-based HealthSciences Institute has been implementing the IOM and WHO recommendations through the nationally accredited Chronic Care Professional (CCP) Certification Program and a Population Health Improvement Learning Collaborative. HealthSciences Institute has led numerous health care workforce development, regional chronic care improvement, and health care performance improvement projects in partnership with government health care, health plan and provider organizations and associations in the US and Canada.

Internships

HealthSciences Institute offers internship for students who are currently enrolled, or have recently completed masters, doctoral or other health care professional training programs in our outside of the US. We also encourage applicants from other fields who can contribute to health care systems change including public health, medical anthropology, business administration, marketing and public relations. A strong preference is given to individuals in health psychology or the behavioral sciences.

We offer a number of internship opportunities focused on the development of learning resources and practice tools that support the application of chronic care and behavioral science-based research in usual health care and community settings. These interns will work with our team to translate research and interventions from the health care and behavioral sciences for use by health care professionals. Interns will conduct literature reviews and summarize written materials and prepare practice improvement resources and tools.

While much of the work will be completed independently, interns will have opportunities to work with other interns from various disciplines and national subject matter experts in chronic disease prevention and chronic care improvement. Interns may also conduct thought leader interviews and case study reviews in chronic care improvement. Interns with interest in the following key areas are encouraged to apply:

• Chronic care models and programs
• Disease self-care support
• Health-related behavior change
• Patient self-efficacy and motivational interviewing
• Evidence-based health coaching
• Wellness and lifestyle management
• Management of overweight & obesity
• Treatment adherence
• Health-related communications and tools
• Management of co-morbid physical and behavioral health
• Interdisciplinary care models and approaches
• Integrated medical and behavioral care  
• Health literacy, health disparities and cultural competence
• Social networking and learning collaborative development
• Healthy aging and long-term care solutions  

These internships are unpaid, although interns will also receive a scholarship for Chronic Care Professional (CCP) certification tuition. Part and full-time opportunities are available. All internships may be completed on-site or remotely, though ongoing support will be provided, and participation in weekly team meetings and learning collaborative events are required. Internship goals, objectives and activities will be defined jointly by HealthSciences Institute—with consideration of the intern’s professional training, interests and abilities—as well as the mission and ongoing initiatives of HealthSciences Institute. Start and end dates will be jointly defined. Internships and research projects will commence in the summer and fall of 2010.

Independent Research Opportunities

HealthSciences Institute can facilitate and support technical support for independent masters, doctoral or postdoctoral research projects aligned with the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine's and the World Health Organization's reports on health care workforce development. We also encourage research projects focused on the application of the behavioral sciences in health care settings. While translational or applied research projects are preferred, other innovative projects, e.g., surveys or assessment tool development/validation would be acceptable.

To apply for an internship or to propose an independent research project, please submit:

• Cover letter summarizing: professional background and achievements, professional/research interests, start/end date and part/full-time preference, learning goals and objectives.

• Resume or curriculum vitae

• Writing sample

• Transcripts, GRE scores (or equivalent) and GPA

• If applying for an independent research project, please provide a brief research proposal of three pages or less

Please submit applications to careers@HealthSciences.org by May 17, 2010. Phone interviews with selected candidates will be conducted with selected applicants beginning in April. Internships and independent research programs will commence on June 1st and through 2010.

For more information about HealthSciences Institute, please visit www.HealthSciences.org. We also encourage applicants to view the latest edition of HealthSciences Institute's Infocus on Evidence-Based Health Coaching for additional information and video from a recent interview with NIH-funded and HealthSciences Institute advisory board member Dr. Susan Butterworth of Oregon Health & Science University.

 

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