Chair and Chair-Elect, National
Steering Committee, CERTs
The Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites nominations of qualified
individuals to serve a 2-year term as either the Chair or Chair-Elect of the
National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs).
Overview
The CERTs
NSC serves in an advisory capacity to the CERTs program and receives both
scientific and logistical support from the CERTs Coordinating Center. Members of the NSC include representatives from each CERT research center and the Coordinating Center, the Federal Government, and an at-large member from each of three
sectors: patients/consumers, health care professional groups, and the
therapeutics industry. The NSC convenes every 3-6 months, with
most meetings held in person at the AHRQ Conference Facility in Rockville, MD, for 1½ days each. One meeting may be convened by phone.
Nominations and Deadline
Nominations
may come from any source, including self-nominations.
To
submit a nomination:
Individuals should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae or similar
supportive documentation by E-mail to: CERTs@ahrq.hhs.gov.
The cover
letter should provide information addressing the nominee's qualifications in
relation to those listed for the Chair and Chair-Elect. Nominations
should be submitted only if the nominee is willing to assume the time
commitment and duties described.
Deadline
for nominations to be received: September 15, 2008.
CERTs Background
The CERTs
Program is a national initiative with a legislative mandate to conduct research
and provide education that advances the optimal use of therapeutics (i.e.,
drugs, medical devices, and biological products.) The program consists of
14 research centers and a Coordinating Center and is funded through cooperative
agreements by AHRQ, in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
In addition
to AHRQ-funded research and education, the CERTs engage in public-private
partnerships that are reviewed for conformance to CERTs policies and principles
designed to avoid conflicts. The CERTs collaborate with
multiple organizations interested in advancing the best use of therapeutics
through the Partnerships to Advance Therapeutics (PATHs) program;
these include national bodies representing patients, health care providers,
government, academia, delivery systems, payers, purchasers, and manufacturers
of medical products.
For additional
information about the CERTs, go to: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/certsovr.htm
The CERTs Coordinating Center helps support the work of the research centers by enhancing
cross-center synergy and communications, and by disseminating findings from the
research conducted by the Centers. The Coordinating Center works closely
with the NSC Chair in the executive and logistical planning of program
activities, including meetings of the Steering Committee.
Expectations of the NSC
Chair and Chair-Elect
The Chair
is a key member of the CERTs leadership team and serves to promote the
visibility of the CERTs during the course of related professional
activities. In the oversight of NSC meetings and in participation in
CERTs leadership teleconferences (largely to develop the agendas of NSC
meetings), the Chair plays a vital and catalytic role and may also assist in
identifying and developing external opportunities for the CERTs in drug and
device safety, pharmacovigilance, comparative effectiveness, and translational
research. Travel and accommodations are paid by the Coordinating Center, along with a Government honorarium offered for NSC attendance and up to 12 additional
days of consultation (largely via teleconferences and E-mail) annually.
The Chair
participates in teleconferences planning Annual CERTs events such as PATHs Day
and Government Day, usually held in conjunction with an NSC meeting. The
Chair will serve from January 2009 through December 2010.
The
Chair-Elect will attend at least two Steering Committee meetings annually prior
to assuming the role of Chair at the end of 2 years. The Chair and Chair-Elect
will transition meeting oversight and participation in CERTs leadership calls
during the latter half of the 2nd year of the Chair's term of
office. Steering Committee travel expenses and honoraria for the
Chair-Elect's attendance will be compensated, as well as a Government
honorarium for time spent. The Chair-Elect will assume the
responsibilities of Chair in January 2011 and serve through December
2012.
Qualifications of Chair
and Chair-Elect
In
reviewing nominations and selecting the Chair and Chair-Elect, AHRQ will weigh
the overall balance of nominees' qualifications in the following areas:
- Scientific qualifications and reputation in therapeutics research and/or education.
- Knowledge of key therapeutic issues affecting Federal and State government, academia, health care, industry, consumers, and other stakeholders.
- Leadership qualities, including vision for the CERTs and therapeutics research/education.
- Communication skills, especially verbal.
- Previous executive or chair experience in facilitating joint scientific efforts, programs, or multicenter research projects.
- Network of working relationships within the research and policy communities dealing with therapeutics.
- Understanding of the CERTs program and activities.
- Familiarity and relevant experience collaborating or working with two or more of the following: government, academia, or industry.
- Interest and ability to make the necessary time commitment.
- History of collegial working relationships and consensus-building involving diverse groups and viewpoints.
- Potential conflicts of interest and their manageability.
AHRQ and
the CERTs welcome individuals who represent or who have expertise with
populations experiencing health care disparities.
For More
Information
Send any
questions or inquiries to: CERTs@ahrq.hhs.gov.
Current as of August 2008
Internet Citation:
Request for Nominations: Chair and Chair-Elect, National Steering Committee, Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics. August 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/about/certsnom08.htm
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850