Metrics Technical Advisor position at PSI

October 19th, 2011 in Jobs

PSI Research & Metrics (R&M) seeks a Technical Advisor for its Metrics program. PSI measures a variety of health metrics but relies on the disability adjusted life year (DALY) averted as its bottom-line measure of health impact. The Technical Advisor will develop a strategy for strengthening the metrics program and ensuring that the organization is able to use DALYs, costing and other tools for decision making. The Technical Advisor will work with modelers as well as internal and external experts to develop and refine models, improve data integrity, and supervise a limited number of staff. Successful candidates will be skilled at explaining metrics to technical as well as non-technical audiences and motivated by working in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary setting. This position is based in Washington, D.C., will require some international travel, and reports to the Director for Research & Metrics.

PSI Research & Metrics increases the ability of the organization to generate and use research that is relevant for programs and strategic for social marketing. For more information, please visit: psi.org/resources/research.

Responsibilities:

  • Develop an organizational metrics strategy that ensures the use of DALYs and other metrics tools for decision making
  • Oversee the development of new metrics initiatives, including integrating country- and intra-country variance into models, improving measures of targeting and the contribution of communications and behavior change interventions to health impact; integrating metrics with routine data collection and behavioral surveys, and creating automated systems for generating routine reports
  • Improve PSI’s internal capacity to use and report DALYs. Capacity building will likely include algorithms to answer the most commonly asked questions, workshops, presentations, tool kits, and concept briefs and concept papers
  • Lead efforts to use the DALY for evidence-based decision making at the policy level
  • Supervise a limited number of R&M staff and consultants; manage key partnerships; mentor colleagues within the organization in metrics
  • Work with R&M and other departments to create DALY models for products and interventions in PSI’s main health areas; produce in-depth analyses to inform decision making
  • Integrate the current system for reporting DALYs with a new program management system (Lawson) and integrate cost effectiveness analyses with Lawson and other accounting records from different sources
  • Participate in interdisciplinary working groups to develop metrics tools that are responsive to stakeholder needs
  • Develop partnerships with external institutions and programs working in public health in developing countries to meet and share best practices in modeling
  • Contribute to the fields of public health, social marketing, and metrics by authoring articles and publishing in peer-reviewed journals; presenting at conferences and meetings; and documenting lessons learned for internal and external stakeholders
  • Provide other technical assistance as needed

Experience:

  • PhD in mathematical modeling, economics, statistics, population studies, or a related field
  • At least 7 years professional experience in the design, analysis and management of complex data
  • Experience in mathematical modeling; experience in tropical disease modeling a plus
  • Background in health economics
  • Experience with relational databases
  • Coding experience for implementation of quantitative methods
  • Extensive knowledge of quantitative analysis programs (e.g., SPSS, Stata)
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate with technicians and non-technicians along a variety of learning curves and needs
  • Highly organized, comfortable working on multiple simultaneous projects; great at meeting deadlines
  • An interest in managing other members of the R&M team
  • Ability to travel 15-20% of the time internationally
  • Excellent written, verbal and inter-personal communication skills

For complete job posting and to apply, please visit the PSI website.

Boston-based Practicum Opportunity with Pharmaccess Namibia

October 18th, 2011 in Practicums/Internships

Pharmaccess Namibia is seeking a dedicated and independent student to conduct a thorough review of the literature on the operation of mobile clinics in developing countries.  Pharmaccess currently runs one mobile primary care clinic (Mister Sister) in Namibia, and is considering expansion, but first wants to absorb the lessons learned from the operation of other such programs.  Ehimen Aneni, a second year MPH student at BUSPH, worked as an intern with the Mister Sister clinic this summer, and can provide direct insight.  There will be opportunity for Skype interchange with the Pharmaccess Namibia Executive Director and staff as the literature review and “lessons learned” summary are developed.  The report may become the basis of an article for which the practicum student would be an author.

Pharmaccess Namibia

Created by the Dutch NGO Pharmaccess, which was a leader in making antiretroviral therapy available in the private sector in Africa, and in the sponsorship of health insurance programs in Namibia, Nigeria and Tanzania. Pharmaccess Namibia is a health policy think tank and innovation center that developed a mobile multi-disease screening program, and started the Mister Sister mobile primary care clinic.  BUSPH has worked with Pharmaccess on a number of program and project evaluations since 2005.  Rich Feeley has been the primary liasion at BUSPH, and can provide further information.  He will serve as the BUSPH supervisor for the practicum.

Substance of Practicum

  1. Review materials on the current Mister Sister program, including data collected and cost/budget models.
  2. Review field experience of Mister Sister with Ehimen Aneni.
  3. Conduct preliminary literature search for materials (evaluations, program descriptions) on mobile clinics in developing countries
  4. Develop preliminary summary of findings from literature review.
  5. Review literature review and receive feedback from Pharmaccess Namibia managers via Skype.
  6. Supplement literature review based on discussions with Pharmaccess Namibia.
  7. Prepare report summarizing the lessons learned on the operation of mobile primary care clinics.
  8. Adapt report into article format

How to Apply

Interested students should submit resume & cover letter to Rich Feeley at: ffeeley@bu.edu

Global Healthcare and Engineering Cocktail Hour: Friday, Oct.21

October 18th, 2011 in Conferences/Seminars, Outside Announcements

Join us for an hour of short presentations by students and staff from engineering and public health, followed by a cocktail hour for networking and discussions!

For this event, we are excited to have:

- Dr. Beverly Brown on Mobilizing the BU Village for Product Design &
Development for Resource Limited Countries (CGHD - Center for Global Health & Development)

- Dr. David Wood on a biophysical marker for clinical severity in sickle cell disease (MIT Lab for Multiscale Regenerative Technologies)

- Dr. Richard Pollack on 21st century engineering challenges and opportunities to combat ancient diseases (BU Biology)

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Where: BU Photonics Center, Room 901
When: Friday, October 21, 4:30pm to 6:30pm (refreshments at 4:15p)
Who: Anyone who is interested in learning about global health projects from engineering and public health standpoints!
Please RSVP by going to this URL:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHpXeU1OcnF6WjRfblhrbTRBdEVNcXc6MQ
===================================
Sponsors of GHECHo are:
Dr. Beverly Brown (Director of Center for Global Health (CGHD) & Development and
Office of Technology Development (OTD))
BU Photonics Center
Dr. Cathie Klapperich (BU BME, ME)
Dr. Muhammad Zaman (BU BME)
Dr. Selim Unlu (BU ECE, BME, Physics)

Research Centre Manager in Ghana with Vestergaard Frandsen

October 14th, 2011 in Jobs, Practicums/Internships

We are looking to recruit a new Manager for our Research Centre in Ghana. You will be responsible for the coordination of all laboratory research activities, running tours for sales staff and managing all staff needs pertaining to the efficient running of the Centre. The position
reports to the Field Trials Manager based in Ghana.

Click here for more information.

This position is based in our Research Centre in Ghana. If you possess the above qualifications and the drive to meet the challenges, please send your cover letter to jobs-africa@vestergaardfrandsen.com enclosing your CV, a day-time telephone contact, names and contacts of three referees no later than 25 October 2011.

We will only respond to electronic application and to shortlisted applicants.

8th Annual Pike Conference on Health Law — “The Holocaust and Its Legacy: Resiliency, Fragility and Restitution of Survivors”

October 13th, 2011 in Conferences/Seminars, Outside Announcements

The Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights at Boston University School of Public Health and the Boston University School of Law are co-hosting the 8th Annual Pike Conference on Health Law. The theme of this year's conference is "The Holocaust and Its Legacy: Resiliency, Fragility and Restitution of Survivors."

Event Description:
Gregory Schneider, executive vice president of the International Claims Conference, will join as a featured speaker.

The keynote speaker will be child survivor, psychiatrist, and author Robert Krell, M.D., whose talk is entitled “The Resiliency of the Survivor.”

The closing program will be delivered by Rabbi Joseph Polak, a child survivor, who will give a talk titled “On Being the Last Witness.”

When:
Sunday, October 23, 2011
9:00 AM to 8:30 PM

Location:
Florence & Chafetz Hillel House at Boston University
213 Bay State Road, Boston

Please RSVP to Elizabeth Aggott at eaa@bu.edu

For more information, see the full event flyer or visit www.bu.edu/law/events/upcoming

Friends of Ngong Road: Using Business Principles to Launch and Grow an International NGO

October 11th, 2011 in Outside Announcements

Amy Johnson, Board Member/CFO and Peter Ndungu, Executive Director of Friends of Ngong Road, a Nairobi, Kenya-based NGO discuss starting and growing an international nonprofit organization using business principles. Topics will include:

• Creating strong financial controls and metrics
• Growing pains and pitfalls
• Using technology to your advantage
• Working with different currencies

Date: Friday, October 14, 2011
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Location: SMG 114

The mission of Friends of Ngong Road is to provide education and support for Nairobi children living in poverty whose families are affected by HIV/AIDS so they can transform their lives. Friends of Ngong Road pairs each sponsor with a specific child allowing a mutually beneficial relationship to develop.

There will be informal reception following the presentation and discussion across the street at Scoozi from 4-5pm.

Panel discussion: “The Next Decade of Global Health: How Do We Achieve Health for All?”

October 11th, 2011 in Outside Announcements

Celebrating 40 years of MSH! Please join us for a panel discussion, book launch, and reception.

When & where:
Wednesday, October 26, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
MIT Wong Auditorium (in the Tang Center)
70 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA

Conversation led by:
Ariel Pablos-Méndez, MD, MPH, Assistant Administrator for Global Health, USAID

With remarks by
:
Jonathan D. Quick, MD, MPH, President & CEO, Management Sciences for Health (MSH)
Vanessa Bradford Kerry, MD, MSc, Associate Director of Partnerships and Global Initiatives, Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital;
More global health leaders to be announced,
& YOU.

Moderated by:
John Donnelly, global health writer, formerly with The Boston Globe

The discussion will be followed by the launch of "Go to the People," celebrating the 40th anniversary of MSH, and book signing with author Donnelly and photographer Dominic Chavez.

Wine, hors d’oeuvres, films, live music, with photographs by Dominic Chavez

Free + open to the public!

(RSVP requested -- reply on Facebook or email us at communications@msh.org)

In conjunction with USAID's 50th anniversary!

JSI Internship – Public Health Logistics Officer, due 11/4

October 7th, 2011 in Jobs, Practicums/Internships

Job Title: Internship - Public Health Logistics Officer
Posting Date: 10/03/2011
Deadline Date: 11/04/2011
Starting Date: 03/05/2012
Description: John Snow, Inc. (JSI), contractor for the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT, a U.S. Government (USG) - funded global technical assistance project aimed at strengthening health supply chains in developing countries; and the Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) project, which assists developing countries in forecasting, quantifying, procuring and strengthening health supply chains for HIV/AIDS commodities, has been allocated funds through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to assist the Government of Zambia in the development and implementation of logistics systems required to procure and manage HIV/AIDS & other public health commodities. JSI is recruiting for an intern to be based in Lusaka, Zambia.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Intern will support monitoring and evaluation of projects including planning, data collection and analysis. S/he will work closely with the communications officer in producing the Logistics Newsletter for the Ministry of Health.

Specific Responsibilities
Monitoring & EvaluationEpisurveyor Cell Phone Data CollectionSupport the use of Episurveyor (a secure web based tool used for designing data collection forms, then download and fill them out on common mobile phones, and then upload and analyze the data in real-time). The tool will be used for routine M&E activities, surveys, and system assessments and evaluationsAssess the efficiency and effectiveness of the tool at collecting routine M&E data, system assessments and make recommendations to the M&E team on how to improve the processes of data collection and analysis.
M&E DatabaseWork with the M&E team to ensure that the newly created M&E database is functioning well and updated. Make recommendations to the M&E team on how to manage and make best use of the database.Work with M&E team to develop routine analysis and dissemination of data from database.
National Logistics Management Unit StatisticsPerform monthly quality checks on the national logistics statistics produced by the Public Health Data Officers and provide feedback on how to improve accuracy.
Time study Continue time study, which was initiated by previous interns, on how long it takes staff at SDP and district level to do monthly reporting for the various logistics systems.

Forecasting and quantificationConduct research on forecast accuracy from existing DELIVER and SCMS forecasting and quantification reports, and analysis reports on ARVs, HIV tests, lab commodities, family planning, malaria and essential medicines to document the overall analysis across commodity groups including lessons learned, what caused forecast inaccuracy, how to improve next forecasts and recommendations for action to be taken.

Communications Health Logistics Newsletter In liaison with communications officer, coordinate writing of the newsletter articles/statistics by technical staff based on the approved storylines.Support technical staff in generation of information for comic strips and review for submission to communications officer for submission to cartoonist.Work with designated technical staff and consultant (where required) to come up with a final draft.
Proofread and edit draft newsletter to ensure appropriate messaging, content as well as high quality production of newsletter.

QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in public health, international development, management or related field. Working towards a master's degree in public health, international development, management or related field. Ability to work independently and take initiativeWillingness to learn and collaborate with othersStrong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skillsGood computer skills including and proficiency with Microsoft Office

Desirable: Experience in data management and analysis. Experience in process mapping, process consultation, or other relevant areas of organization development. Demonstrated experience living and working in a different culture.
Salary commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online by 11/04/2011.

No phone calls please.Principals only please.
JSI is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

http://www.jsi.com/JSIInternet/Jobs/jobdescription.cfm?JobID=46925

Health Sector Management Fall Speakers Event — “New Patterns of Innovation: Integrated Models of Biopharma and Diagnostics”

October 7th, 2011 in Fellowships

The Health Sector Management Program and The Health Sector Management Alumni Association at Boston University's School of Management proudly present:

New Patterns of Innovation: Integrated Models of Biopharma and Diagnostics

Tuesday, November 15, 2011; 6-8pm
595 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215

Featuring guest panelists:

Mike Nohaile, Ph.D.Global Head Molecular Diagnostics, Novartis
Matt McManus, MD, Ph.D.President & CEO, PrimeraDx
Moderator, Jeff Elton, Ph.D., CEO, The KEW Group

Event description:

New therapeutic strategies are increasingly the result of insight from pathway biology, genetics, and genomics.  This brings together therapeutics and diagnostics in a variety of new ways, supporting new business models, regulatory processes, and reimbursement strategies.  While the goal is for patients to be the ultimate beneficiaries of these changes, the interests of pharma/biopharma companies, diagnostics companies, regulators, public reimbursement authorities, and private payers can be at odds.  This program brings together considerations of science, strategy, business models, regulation, reimbursement, and clinical practice to explore current trends and future direction in the field.

Multiple Job Openings: University Research Co.

October 7th, 2011 in Jobs

University Research Co., LLC (URC) is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With its non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 30 countries, including the United States.
Internationally, URC is engaged in improving access to and quality of maternal, newborn, and child health services; addressing infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; and improving reproductive health and family planning services. In the United States, URC focuses on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.

URC is currently hiring for a number of positions, both domestic and abroad.Check out their Career Fair Flyer for more information about these opportunities!

Learn more about URC at: http://www.urc-chs.com/