Clinical Research - Family Member Liaison at The University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois

Job Description:

Department



BSD PED - Clinical Trials Office: Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics



About the Department



The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago is a dynamic and stimulating place to work. We strive for the highest level of complex care for children from diagnosis and treatment; provide outstanding education and training for students, postgraduate scholars, and physicians; and nurture the research of Department scholars who seek to elucidate the causes of pediatric disease and identify promising new therapies. In addition to our provision of clinical care at UChicago Medicine (UCM) Comer Children's Hospital and at our regional sites, we are currently expanding our clinical care across Northern Illinois and Northwestern Indiana. In collaboration with our partners in the Chicagoland Children's Health Alliance (CCHA; Advocate Children's Hospital, and NorthShore University Health System). CCHA has responsibility for the care of almost 1 million children. The Department has 6 ambulatory sites and 3 inpatient sites of care across the region with the goal of providing care 'close to home' whenever feasible (https://pediatrics.uchicago.edu/). Our mission is to improve the health of every child entrusted to us, in an inclusive environment that is committed to family-centered care, clinical excellence, impactful scholarship, effective disease prevention, and advocacy for the appropriate care of every child. We are especially committed to the children on the South Side of Chicago and to altering the inequities in healthcare. The Department of Pediatrics has approximately 185 physicians, physician-scientists, and scientists in 15 sections that cover the range of pediatric care. Our education program serves the students of the College, the Pritzker School of Medicine (PSOM), 70 categorical pediatric residents, 6 child neurology residents, 58 fellows, and numerous graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. The Department has a staff of 220 advanced practice providers, administrators, research administrators, clinical research associates, and laboratory staff. The Department has an expanding portfolio of Federal, foundational, and Philanthropic awards, and is committed to doubling its research base in the next three years.


The Pediatric Clinical Trials Office (Peds CTO) is an existing centralized support office that provides services and high level guidance to individuals (faculty, investigators, research staff, and clinic coordinators from the University and Hospital) involved in human subjects research. The Peds CTO is responsible for establishing standards, operating procedures, policies and practices, implementing educational and training programs, developing communication tools, and managing the administrative functions that impact individuals involved in clinical research.


The Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics strives to become a Center of Excellence in the complex diagnosis and management for diverse disabilities with origin in childhood, which include children with motor, communicative, sensory, developmental, genetic, neurological, learning, behavior, and feeding disorders. The Section plays important roles in supporting children who are survivors of neonatal intensive care and pediatric intensive care critical illness. As coordinated family-centered population health care is the transforming principle for future health financing initiatives, the Section is uniquely positioned to address care coordination, management pathways, and collaboration with community providers to advance both the quality and value of efforts to improve outcomes for vulnerable child disability populations with a spectrum of developmental and behavioral disorders.


Our department follows a hybrid work structure that fosters productivity, collaboration, and employee well-being. Working from the office is encouraged for tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.



Job Summary



We are seeking a Part-Time Clinical Research - Family Member Liaison to support the research of a faculty member, Dr. Sarah Sobotka, as a critical team member to her growing research programs devoted to children with medical complexity and medical technology dependency including ventilators. This Family Liaison would bring expertise from his/her experience of caring for children with complex disabilities, including ventilator assistance through their personal life as a parent. This position will provide core research coordination support by recruiting, enrolling and supporting families in research studies. In particular, the Family Member Liaison will be a critical member of the team supporting an ongoing research program entitled, Disparities in Home Nursing for Children with Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: Piloting aParent-to-ParentIntervention in Chicago. Work on this project will include enrolling and discussing consent with parents in this study and serving as a Parent Coach. The Family Member Liaison will draw upon lived experience as a parent of a child with ventilator dependence, including experience in managing, staffing, and recruiting for home health nursing teams. The Family Member Liaison will also incorporate strategies for recruiting and maintaining home health teams the Sobotka Lab has learned from in-depth qualitative interviewing with care coordinators, parents, and home health nurses. Coaching sessions will vary based on family desired frequency and location, but may include: on-site in the family home or hospital room, telephone or video conferencing, or asynchronous contacts via email or text messaging. Additional contributions to the research team will be key stakeholder input into research study design to incorporate critical patient and parent-centered outcomes. The Family Liaison will provide key stakeholder feedback to aid in the development and assessment of the intervention as well as provide key insight into needs of family members and support for participants.

This position is wholly/partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance. This position will be eligible for an alternative work arrangement.



Responsibilities

• Recruits and enrolls families in research studies.
  
  


• Reviews informed consent with families.
  
  


• Provides key stakeholder feedback to aid in the development and assessment of the intervention(s).
  
  


• Provides key insight into needs of family members and support for participants.
  
  


• Participates in virtual team meetings.
  
  


• May require travel to family homes or hospitals within one hour of the UCMC campus to meet with parents as such a valid driver's license or other ability to travel is required.
  
  


• May include evening and/or weekend hours.
  
  


• Provides routine or standardized laboratory duties by collecting data in support of research projects under direct supervision.
  
  


• Assists with data entry and reports on results.
  
  


• Assists in analyzing data. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
  
  


• Performs other related work as needed.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications




Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:




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Preferred Qualifications




Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
  
  

Experience:

• Experience with children with medical complexity, including children with invasive mechanical ventilation.
  
  


• Experience working with children and/or families from low income, disability, and/or minoritized backgrounds.
  
  


• Experience as a family member of a child with medical complexity, including ventilator assistance.
  
  


• Experience as a family member of a child who has had home health nursing.
  
  


• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with parents and other professionals.
  
  


• Competency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
  
  


• Familiarity with the Zoom platform including scheduling and recording meetings.
  
  


• Professional working proficiency in Spanish.
  
  

Preferred Competencies

• Communicate in writing.
  
  


• Communicate orally.
  
  


• Develop and manage interpersonal relationships.
  
  


• Exercise absolute discretion regarding confidential matters.
  
  


• Follow written and/or verbal instructions.
  
  


• Handle sensitive matters with tact and discretion.
  
  


• Handle stressful situations.
  
  


• Learn and develop skills.
  
  


• Pay attention to detail.
  
  


• Perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
  
  


• Prioritize work and meet deadlines.
  
  


• Work effectively and collegially with little supervision or as member of a team.
  
  


• Work independently.
  
  

Working Conditions

• On-campus.
  
  


• Virtual.
  
  


• Personal home visits.
  
  


• Hospital visits.
  
  


• This position will be eligible for an alternative work arrangement.
  
  

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
  
  


• Cover Letter (preferred)
  
  

When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.



Job Family



Research



Role Impact



Individual Contributor



FLSA Status



Non-Exempt



Pay Frequency



Biweekly



Scheduled
Weekly Hours



8



Benefits Eligible



No



Drug Test Required



Yes



Health Screen Required



Yes



Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required



No



Posting Statement



The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.


Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.


We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.


All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.


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