POPLAR Lead

Organization Description:

We are pleased to announce a search for a new Lead for POPLAR.

POPLAR, the Primary care Ontario Practice-based Learning and Research Network, is an initiative of Ontario’s six University Departments/Sections of Family Medicine and the Alliance for Healthier Communities (Ontario’s Community Health Centres, Nurse Practitioner Led Clinics and Aboriginal Health Access Centres). POPLAR is a collaboration of each of these member networks; it holds and manages deidentified electronic medical record (EMR) data on behalf of its networks for the purpose of advancing equitable primary healthcare delivery and health outcomes for everyone in Ontario.

POPLAR’s mission is as follows:

1.      Enable primary healthcare learning, research, and data analytics

2.      Provide data support for provincial policy decision makers

3.        Improve the health and well-being of Ontario’s population

4.      Optimize the allocation of health care resources

5.      Purposefully enhance health equity and justice in all our work

In taking the role of POPLAR Lead, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to build POPLAR’s research portfolio, connections, and reputation from its inaugural data extraction. The role of POPLAR Lead involves networking and relationship-building with individuals in provincial government, academic institutions, national and provincial research organizations, and primary care communities. Working closely with POPLAR’s Steering Committee, Executive Committee, and Program Manager, the successful candidate will guide POPLAR through its ongoing development, including its data Repository.

The ideal individual will:

·       Hold an academic appointment with a Faculty of Medicine at an Ontario University.

·       Be an accomplished researcher and strong methodologist, with a successful track record of providing research leadership, vision, and strategic direction.

·       Have a proven track record of research productivity (demonstrated through peer- reviewed publications, presentations, and other publications and outputs).

·       Demonstrate success with obtaining external and competitive research funding. Business competencies, such as financial management and strategic financial planning, and engagement with varied stakeholders (e.g., government, industry, and fundraisers) are assets.

·       Have experience in facilitating innovative research or quality improvement (QI) in family medicine and primary care. Expertise and experience in PBLRNs, primary care data infrastructure, research ethics, and data privacy and security are considered assets.

·       Be a team-builder and collaborator across sectors with diverse groups. Expertise and experience in developing, managing, analyzing, or disseminating primary care EMR research and QI initiatives are assets.

·       Possess excellent communication, organizational, and team-building skills, with a proven ability to work well with others and a strong commitment to students and faculty.

·       Specific experience with building data capabilities and navigating issues of data privacy (including security and de-identification processes), data governance, and research ethics are assets.

·       Familiarity with EMR primary care data and system integrated care delivery to patients is an asset.

Duties, Roles and Responsibilities:

The position involves both leadership and operational responsibilities, requiring coordination with various committees and management teams within POPLAR, INSPIRE-PHC, and the Ministry of Health. The incumbent will:

·       Continue to develop and foster relationships with Ontario-based PBLRN sites, affiliated hospitals and their research directors, and other relevant institutions and practices with the goal of growing POPLAR.

·        Collaborations and partnerships include but are not limited to: IC/ES, OntarioMD, Ontario Health, CareCanvas QI, IPHCC, Queens’s (CAC, REB, Legal), CPCSSN, CPCRN

·       Collaborate with the INSPIRE-PHC team, who manage POPLAR funding and oversee POPLAR activities.

·       Collaborate closely with the POPLAR Program Manager, who handles day-to-day management.

·       Act as a liaison between the Steering Committee and the POPLAR Program Manager to ensure directives and resolutions are implemented.

·       Approve reports, briefs, and other documents relevant to the operations of POPLAR.

·       Support the highest standard of research ethics, data privacy and security of POPLAR. This includes oversight of the development of POPLAR policies and standard operating procedures, especially as they relate to privacy and security of EMR data collection and management.

Support:

·       The POPLAR Lead will work in close collaboration with the POPLAR Program Manager on day-to-day activities.