The Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House-internships available!
OSTP Student Volunteer Program—Spring 2014
The Office of Science and Technology Policy is currently accepting applications for its Spring 2014 Internship Program. The application deadline is 11:59pm Friday, October 4, 2013. Students who are U.S. citizens and who will be actively enrolled during the Spring 2014 semester are welcome to apply.
More information and application instructions are available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/about/student/.
About OSTP. The Office of Science and Technology Policy advises the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The office serves as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans and programs of the Federal Government.
About the Internship Program. Interns are accepted for one of three annual terms (Spring, Summer, or Fall), which each last no more than 90 days. While these positions are without compensation, the assignments provide educational enrichment, practical work experience, and network opportunities with other individuals in the science and technology policy arena.
For questions, please contact Rebecca Grimm rgrimm@ostp.eop.gov.
Manager, Global Health Advocacy Initiatives
Manager, Global Health Advocacy Initiatives
The Washington, DC office of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), seeks a highly motivated person for Manager, Global Health Advocacy Initiatives. Responsibilities include legislative research and analysis, with a particular emphasis on U.S. funding of global health initiatives for children and families, and federal advocacy strategy development on issues related to U.S. global health policy. The Manager, Global Health Advocacy Initiatives will advocate for the implementation of US policy that improves children's ability to access health services globally, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to advance the AAP's public policy and legislative goals related to international child health, and represent the AAP before the U.S. Congress and Executive branch agencies. The ideal candidate will possess enthusiasm for the mission of the AAP and a passion for improving the health of the world's children. Five years of relevant experience is required with emphasis on US funding of global health, and relationships with key Congressional and Executive agency staff. Bachelor's degree in communications, political science or related discipline required. Master's degree preferred. Must be able to work both independently and collaboratively, paying close attention to detail and possess exceptional verbal/written communication, analytical and problem solving skills. Knowledge of diverse groups and sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural differences is required. Some weekend work and travel required.
We offer an excellent work environment, competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package. If interested, please reference MM/DC and visit our "How To Apply" page.
Posting is also available at http://www2.aap.org/visit/jobopen.cfm#dc
Hunt Alternatives Fund Director of Strategic Operations, Demand Abolition
Learn more here: http://www.koyapartners.com/HAF_DSI_DA.html
Enhancing Health Education Internship in Boston
Learn more here: Boston EHE Internship Posting_2013-2014
Latin American Studies Program scholarships available-deadline November 1st
BU’s Latin American Studies Program[LASP] will offer a limited number of research grants for graduate students to do field work in Latin America or to study Latin Americans, namely Latinos/Latinas, in the US. Each LASP grant is likely to be no larger than $1,000. We highly recommend that all applicants for the LASP competition seek supplementary funds from the department in which they are studying.
- A two page statement in which you
- define your topic,
- describe your research methodology,
- explain the importance of the project in general and its importance to your graduate career in particular,
- provide information about the amount you are requesting and for what,--that is, submit a budget;
- describe your supplementary funding: provide a statement from your department or other funding source, as to the amount of matching funds;
- note when you plan to do the field research and for how long;
- secure a letter of recommendation from the faculty member who will oversee your project; you must share your proposal with the advisor before applying, and your advisor should comment on the proposal in his/her letter.
Send your submissions electronically to seckstei@bu.edu [with the header ‘Graduate Field Grant Application’] AND send a ‘hard copy’ to Susan Eckstein, Sociology, 100 Cummington St, BU]. All materials must be received by November 1, 2013.
Good luck, and we hope you are interested in this research opportunity!
GHFP Technical Advisor II: Quality Improvement and Human Resources for Health Technical Advisor
Global Health Fellows Program II
Technical Advisor II: Quality Improvement and Human Resources for Health Technical Advisor
Office of Health Systems, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
Location: Washington, DC
Assignment: Two year fellowship
GHFP-II-P2-093
The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with CDC Development Solutions and Management Systems International. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
GHFP-II's goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency's immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual working planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.
Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency's ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.
BACKGROUND:
Since 1990, USAID has supported a series of centrally-managed projects to adapt modern quality improvement (QI) approaches to the needs of USAID-assisted countries. The most recent of this series is the Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) project, a 5-year, $185 million cooperative agreement awarded in September 2012.
ASSIST draws on the experience of earlier projects in this series, as well as state-of-the-art approaches developed in high income countries. Like QI approaches used in the US, the focus of ASSIST is on helping health systems to measurably improve the processes used to implement health care. The overall goal of the project is to institutionalize improvement approaches as a permanent, integral part of the health system.
Improvement strategies focus on changes in processes, rather than the provision of resources, to bring about better health and development outcomes. A major type of process that often needs improvement is the degree to which providers follow national guidelines for basic services. A review of the results from recent USAID projects in this series specifically focused on provider compliance with such guidelines, and found that the application of modern QI approaches produced impressive levels of improvement across the sample studied.
Recently, QI approaches have also proved effective in improving other types of processes, such as the management of human resources. Similarly, QI approaches have produced encouraging improvements in programs for vulnerable children, community level services, preventive services, chronic care and records management.
Building on these results, the ASSIST project integrates a learning component into its implementation assistance for cooperating countries. The objective of this component is to develop the state-of-the-art for quality improvement in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The ASSIST learning agenda addresses: 1) monitoring results of QI through quantitative indicators; 2) documentation of how QI interventions were carried out; 3) development of evaluations of QI programs, including performance evaluations; 4) research studies focused on QI activities, including cost effectiveness studies and validation of provider-reported data; and 5) knowledge management to systematically organize information on QI interventions and make this information available to those that might benefit from it.
ASSIST also addresses specific issues in QI, including: 1) the process of scaling up tested improvements; 2) the institutionalization of QI within the health system; 3) analysis of policies and strategies in quality improvement; 4) the development of model case studies in QI; and 5) pre-service training in QI. ASSIST also carries out global technical leadership in QI, including participation in conferences, publications and support for global health organizations in QI.
In addition to using QI methods to improve human resources (HR) management, ASSIST has found that improved HR management approaches, in turn, can further improve quality of care. Based on these observations, the project is increasingly integrating HR management improvement into its QI approach.
ASSIST is currently working in over 20 LMICs, addressing all USAID priority health problems. More information on the project and previous projects in this series can be found at www.hciproject.org
INTRODUCTION:
The Office of Health Systems, Bureau for Global Health, seeks a Quality Improvement and Human Resources for Health Technical Advisor (Technical Advisor) to support its program in the areas of modern quality improvement, health service delivery and human resources for health. The Technical Advisor will also support the Office's broader mandate to strengthen the health systems of USAID-assisted countries, with a focus on improving health outcomes in the Agency's priority services. From the perspective of the WHO health systems model, the work of this Advisor will concentrate on the service and human resources building blocks.
The Technical Advisor will be a member of the Office of Health Systems team and will work collaboratively with other team members who have complementary areas of expertise. These areas include health governance, financing and information including eHealth, pharmaceutical management, prevention and private sector engagement. The Office provides advice and assistance in health systems issues to the Global Health Bureau Offices of HIV/AIDS, Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition, and Population and Reproductive Health, to USAID geographic bureaus and to USAID missions.
The Technical Advisor will receive day to day guidance from the Medical Officer (Agreement Officer's Representative (AOR) for the ASSIST cooperative agreement) under the overall guidance of the Director of the Office of Health Systems.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The primary responsibilities of the Technical Advisor include:
- Serving as advisor to the ASSIST project AOR, which may include:
- Liaising with clients of the ASSIST project such as USAID missions, international agencies and donors.
- Reviewing and commenting on annual project work plans.
- Assessing the performance of implementing partners by participating in: quarterly reviews; reviewing trip, technical and research reports; attending briefings and presentations; and field visits.
- Providing technical direction and administrative advice to the ASSIST implementing partners based on report assessments.
- Providing technical feedback on draft reports, presentation abstracts, research study designs and draft country program work plans.
- Participating in implementing partner meetings, reviews, and correspondence.
- Providing technical analysis and advice to the AOR regarding ASSIST activities.
- Supporting the administration of the ASSIST cooperative agreement. Such activities may include: analyzing budget proposals and tracking financial obligations and expenditures; designing internal management systems; and reviewing and analyzing regular and ad hoc project reports.
- Providing technical and administrative support to the Health Care Improvement (HCI) Project (predecessor to ASSIST, with limited ongoing field activities expected to continue to September 2014).
- Providing technical advice to the Office of Health Systems on issues related to the human resources for health, service delivery and quality improvement by: participating in internal and external meetings related to human resources for health issues; reviewing reports and studies in the field; and drafting technical reports on human resources for health issues; participating in the development of Office of Health Systems strategies, budget development and reporting of results.
- Providing USAID missions and other operational units (such as regional offices) with technical assistance in human resources for health, health care quality improvement, and health systems strengthening, including participation in country health systems assessments. This may include participating on USAID mission project design teams, addressing issues related to quality improvement, human resources for health, or general health systems strengthening.
- Participating in one or more of the Global Health Bureau country support teams as the health systems strengthening expert. The GH Bureau has created such liaison teams for each country with a substantial health program.
- Supporting the GH Bureau and Office of Health Systems design teams by: participating in strategy development with program design teams in GH priority areas (e.g., reproductive health, maternal, neonatal and child health; HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, other public health threats) to help improve the appropriate health system content and approaches.
- Providing technical advice to USAID colleagues and the global health community in QI and HR issues. These activities may include proactively developing opportunities to address these needs; identifying critical new advances in these fields; and developing approaches to share appropriately. This may entail consultations with USAID technical staff in Washington and in the field, presentations at conferences and academic institutions, and briefings for senior USAID staff.
- Identifying constraints that keep developing country health systems and/or USAID-supported activities from having the desired health impact. Consequently, developing innovative approaches to address these constraints by conducting analytical work, writing papers, engaging with others, and promoting action agendas to develop innovative approaches to address these constraints.
Training and Professional Development
- Keeping informed of QI approaches, health service delivery and the HR for health programs as well as sharing information as appropriate with various counterparts.
- Identifying new trends and challenges regarding QI approaches, health service delivery and the HR for health programs
- Deepening knowledge of QI approaches, health service strengthening and HR management.
- Participating in professional meetings as appropriate to SOW.
- Participate in professional continuing education and skills training within the purview of GHFP-II.
The Technical Advisor's responsibilities are estimated to require travel of about 6 to 12 weeks per year, including international travel.
Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on (a) organizational and programming need and/or (b) the Advisor's own interests.
REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:
- Master's degree in public health, medicine, nursing, health policy, health economics, health management or a related field.
- Minimum five years' experience with modern quality improvement, health service delivery and human resources for health with at least two years' experience in an international or resource challenged setting.
- Hands-on work experience strengthening developing country health systems, preferably focusing on quality improvement, human resources for health and/or health service delivery.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in one or more of the global health technical areas such as TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and infectious diseases.
- Strong written and oral communications skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving orientation.
- Excellent team and networking skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a large bureaucracy, in a collegial environment, and on a large number of tasks simultaneously.
- A high degree of initiative, a commitment to quality, and a willingness to participate in a broad range of activities.
- Ability to travel internationally.
- Mastery of a language in addition to English is an asset.
- US citizenship or US Permanent Residents required.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Salary based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs. Please view the 2013 GHFP-II benefits Booklet.
TO APPLY:
All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP-II's online recruitment system at https://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm Eastern Time October 16, 2013.
IH Advising Fundamentals
Got questions about meeting your MPH degree requirements? Know what resources can help you plan?
Join us for IH Advising Fundamentals: Wednesday, September 25, 5:00-6:00pm in CT-386 or Monday, September 30, 12:30-1:15pm in CT-305. IH Academic Coordinator, Stacy Song; Senior Manager, Joe Anzalone, and CGHD Senior Program Manager, Bram Brooks, will review the key resources and respond to individual questions about completing the MPH degree, from courses to practicums.
In anticipation of Spring 2014 Registration which opens @ 7am on Oct 30th, the best advice is to plan:
- Refer to the IH Concentrators’ Guide
- Use Degree Advice to learn which degree requirements you have fulfilled or not, (see: Student Link: Academics>Academic Advising>Degree Advice)
- Review the Registration Packet
- Complete your Student Planner, beginning Oct 1. (Student Link: Academics tab>Registration>Scroll down to the appropriate semester (Spring 2014)>Reg Options>Plan)
Not only will it help you when Registration opens, it also gives us a glimpse into your class plans. To verify that you are in compliance and able to register, use the Planner.
Please RSVP to Stacy at songst@bu.edu and indicate which session; if your plans change, you are welcome to drop in to either session.
Boston Network for International Development (BNID) Career Panel
The Boston Network for International Development (BNID) in partnership with Boston International, the Philanthropic Initiative and the Boston Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers is hosting a career panel at Boston University on Tuesday, October 29th. The goal for this event is to provide a forum for a panel of practitioners in the field of international development to discuss what it means to work in the field. These panelists will represent different sectors including: health, education, poverty and government work.
To RSVP please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/443175659128877/
The target audience for this event will be graduate students and young professionals who are interested in learning about working in this field. This will be a unique event where both students and professionals will be given the opportunity to listen from distinguished individuals as well as ask questions at the end of the event. If you have any questions please contact Adam Korn the Associate Director of BNID at bnid.events@gmail.com .
Our Panelists Include:
Naomi Reich - World Education
Jonathan Lawson - Partnerns in Health
Katrina Deutsch - Peace Corps
Amber Oberc - Tanzanian Children's Fund
Professor Kevin Gallagher from the Boston University International Relations Department will be moderating the event.
- 10/29/2013, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
213 Bay State Rd. 4th Floor; Boston, MA 02215
