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• Applications are due March 16, 2012 for admission in Spring 2012.

• Classes begin on March 29, 2012.

OVERVIEW

Implementation science (IS) is integral to community- and practice-based translational research, which the Institute of Medicine describes as the “translation of results from clinical studies into everyday clinical practice and health decision making.” The goal of IS is to ensure that the knowledge and materials produced by health research actually lead to improved population health by: 1) reaching the people for whom they are intended; 2) being adapted to local circumstances; and 3) being implemented effectively, safely, equitably, and in a timely and patient-centered manner.

This one-year, part-time program offers a series of courses focused on applied methods of implementation, particularly as they relate to developing more effective interventions. The program is designed for people from a broad range of professional settings who are currently engaged in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs to promote and improve health and health care quality, including clinical and public health researchers, quality improvement officers, community-based clinic staff, public health and public policy practitioners, and clinicians. Health practitioners interested in developing skills relevant to their existing work may be particularly interested in the program.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the program, scholars will be able to:

1. Design and Implement More Effective Intervention Programs, through a) identifying community, patient, clinician and organizational factors that serve as barriers and facilitators to translating research results into everyday practice, policy and public health; and b) using this knowledge to tailor interventions to diverse settings and populations.

2. Design More Comprehensive Evaluations of Interventions, through applying the basics of process and outcome evaluation, and by identifying the appropriate qualitative and quantitative measures of effect.

3. Develop Better Funding Proposals, by making a compelling case for translational research and integrating conceptual frameworks into the intervention design and/or evaluation of your program.

PREREQUISITES

Although not required, prior methodologic training will allow scholars to best take advantage of this curriculum. This prior training could be in the form of a master's degree or higher in public health, clinical research or epidemiology.

The prior training could also be met by having completed the Advanced Training in Clinical Research Certificate Program.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

REQUIRED COURSES FOR IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE CERTIFICATE

Spring

Translating Evidence Into Practice: Theory and Design
EPI 245 (R. Gonzales, Director)
An introduction to the different target audiences and approaches needed to translate biomedical evidence into practice. The course is the gateway for scholars who plan for additional study within this discipline but also suffices as cross-exposure for scholars from other disciplines. In addition to didactic work, scholars are guided through the creation of a research protocol aimed towards translating their particular choice of evidence into practice.

Translating Practice into Evidence: Community Engaged Research
EPI 248 (K. Grumbach, Director)
In community engagement research, community input is incorporated in the development of the question, implementation of the project, analysis of the results and/or dissemination of the findings to community stakeholders. A fundamental premise of community-engaged research is that community stakeholders, such as clinicians and agency staff, have credible, intimate and necessary understandings of the assets, concerns, values and activities of their constituents and communities. At its core, community engaged research is about forging partnerships and relationships with community-based entities and stakeholders.

Fall

Translating Evidence Into Practice: Individual-Centered Implementation Strategies
EPI 246 (M. Handley, Director)
Instruction in developing interventions for individual health behavior change, including behavior change strategies at the individual, interpersonal, and system/community level; developing practical frameworks to integrate principles of behavior change theory.

Winter (One of two courses)

Translating Evidence Into Practice: System-Centered Implementation Strategies
EPI 247 (L. Schmidt, Director)
Instruction in translational tools at health care system level to promote the adoption of evidence-based medicine by the public and providers through mechanisms that influence health care delivery systems.

Translating Evidence Into Policy: Framing Research to Influence Policy
EPI 249 (A. Bindman, Director)
Instruction in the policy process and strategies for collecting and disseminating research findings to inform and influence that process. The course will be taught through a series of lectures and interactive sessions during which trainees will have an opportunity to apply the strategies to their own work.

Location: All classes are held at China Basin Landing (next to AT&T Park).

ENROLLMENT

To apply for the IS Certificate Program, please complete the application by March 16, 2012.

Application (Word doc, 20KB)

Tuition: Participants in the IS certificate program will receive a discount of 15% over individual course prices. Scholars who wish to take 5 courses (instead of 4) will receive 15% discount on the course fee for the fifth course. See application for payment information.