Future Chairpersons for CERTs National Steering Committee

Future Chairpersons for CERTs National Steering Committee
Call for Nominations

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Deadline for nominations to be received: January 31, 2010
Anticipated review, interviews, and selection expected to be completed by April 15, 2010

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Overview
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites nominations of qualified individuals to serve as future Chairs of the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Centers for Education and Research in Therapeutics (CERTs), described at http://www.certs.hhs.gov. AHRQ seeks two future Chairs to serve sequentially as Chairs-Elect:

The first Chair-Elect will serve from selection in early 2010 through the end of December 2010, assuming the role of Chair in January 2011 and serving through December 2012.
The second will serve as Chair-Elect from January 2011 through December 2012, participating periodically in CERTs activities from January 2011 through December 2012 prior to becoming the full Chair from January 2013 through December 2014.
During the Chair-Elect's term prior to becoming the full Chair of the NSC, he or she will periodically participate in CERTs NSC meetings and teleconferences, and may occasionally substitute for the current CERTs NSC Chair.

The CERTs NSC provides scientific and policy guidance to the CERTs program and receives both scientific and logistical support from the CERTs Coordinating Center, currently housed at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, OR. 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 to 6 months, with most meetings held in person at the AHRQ Conference Facility in Rockville, MD, for 1½ days each. One or two NSC meetings each year may be convened by phone or Webinar.

Nominations may come from any source, including self-nominations. Individuals should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae (CV) 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 below. Nominations should be submitted only if the nominee is willing to assume the time commitment and duties described.

CERTs Background
The CERTs Program is a 10-year-old national initiative with a legislative mandate to carry out research and education, including comparative effectiveness, that advances the optimal use of therapeutics (i.e., drugs, medical devices, and biological products). The program currently 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 in light of CERTs policies designed to avoid conflicts of interest. The CERTs collaborate with multiple organizations interested in advancing the best use of therapeutics; these include national bodies representing patients, health care providers, government, academia, delivery systems, payers, purchasers, and manufacturers of medical products. Additional information about the CERTs can be found at http://www.certs.hhs.gov or http://www.chainonline.org.

The CERTs Coordinating Center supports the work of the research centers by enhancing cross-center synergy and communications, and disseminating findings from the research conducted by the centers. The Coordinating Center works closely with the NSC Chair-Elect and Chair in the executive and logistical planning of program activities, including meetings of the NSC.

Expectations of the NSC Chair-Elect/NSC Chair
The Chair is a key member of the CERTs leadership team and serves to promote the vitality and visibility of the CERTs Program. In overseeing NSC meetings and participating in CERTs leadership teleconferences (largely to develop the agendas of NSC meetings), the Chair plays a vital and catalytic role. The Chair 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 for NSC attendance by the Chair are paid by the Coordinating Center, along with a government-scale payment for time spent in NSC attendance and additional consultations (usually teleconferences and E-mails). Approximately 12 days of consultation in addition to 6 days of NSC attendance are anticipated annually. The Current Chair, William M. Tierney, MD, of the Indiana University School of Medicine, is expected to serve through December 2010.

To aid in the orientation of the Chair-Elect to the CERTs Program and to facilitate a smooth transition of the Chair-Elect to serving as the full NSC Chair, the Chair-Elect participates intermittently in NSC meetings and in key CERTs leadership teleconferences, and may rarely be asked to serve as a backup to the currently serving NSC Chair. In general, the Chair-Elect should expect to attend one to two NSC meetings annually during his or her term as Chair-Elect and to join occasionally in key CERTs leadership teleconferences. The Chair and Chair-Elect will transition leadership of the NSC via teleconferences during the last 6 to 9 months of the Chair's term of office. Steering Committee travel expenses and compensation for time spent and phone/E-mail consultations with the Chair-Elect will be compensated by the CERTs Coordinating Center. An approximate annual commitment of 9 days time is anticipated during the Chair-Elect's term.

Two future Chairs are being sought in this call for nominations. The first will serve as Chair Elect until December 2010 and assume the role of Chair starting in January 2011, serving through December 2012. The second Chair-Elect will participate periodically in CERTs activities from January 2011 through December 2012 prior to becoming the full Chair from January 2013 through December 2014.

Qualifications of Chair and Chair-Elect
In reviewing nominations and selecting the two future CERTs Chairs, 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 multi-center 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.

Key Dates and Requirements
To submit a nomination: Send an E-mail to CERTs@ahrq.hhs.gov with a cover letter and CV as described above for individuals who have expressed an interest and willingness to take on the duties and time commitments described in this announcement. Please specify which term or terms as Chair-Elect are of interest.

Deadline for nominations to be received: January 31, 2010

Questions: Please send any questions or inquiries to CERTs@ahrq.hhs.gov for follow-up.

Current as of December 2009

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Internet Citation:

Future Chairpersons for CERTs National Steering Committee. December 2009, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/certsnoms.htm

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Future Chairpersons for CERTs National Steering Committee