REC’s Mission

To grow interest and enthusiasm among CFHA members regarding research and to create opportunities for CFHA members to actively participate in research and program evaluation related to collaborative, integrated care.  The work of the committee will focus on means to provide education and information that will assist members to:  understand and/or use data; effectively evaluate research and outcome data; and understand approaches for evaluating and improving programs.

Research in this context refers broadly to a variety of forms of systematic inquiry including formal scientific research, social research, and economic research, as well as program evaluation, quality improvement and performance improvement.

Mentorship and Learning Opportunities

If you are a CFHA member who is interested in additional mentorship in the domains of quality improvement, program evaluation, or research, the Research and Evaluation Committee offers the following opportunities for deeper engagement and learning:

• REC Fellowship: This is a wonderful opportunity for trainees and early career professionals to engage more deeply with research and network with other integrated care researchers. REC Fellows receive a $1000 stipend and the opportunity to present at the annual CFHA conference. In addition, winners are eligible to receive guidance and mentorship from the REC Leadership Council throughout their project period.
• Research and Evaluation Training Track: Each year at CFHA’s annual conference, the REC curates a “Research and Evaluation Training Track.” The goal of Research and Evaluation Training track presentations is to equip attendees with practical knowledge and skills that will enhance their ability to engage in research or quality improvement projects in real-world healthcare settings. The primary focus of these talks is more about providing hands-on training and “how to” lessons, rather than simply presenting study results.
• Poster walk: Conference attendees can sign up to attend a “poster walk” wherein they will be a part of a small group tour of selected research posters led by a well-established integrated care researcher. This is an excellent networking opportunity and learning experience for those seeking greater exposure to emerging integrated care research.
• Webinars: The REC offers regular webinars on topics related to quality improvement/program evaluation/research in an integrated healthcare setting. Recordings of past webinars are available on our website.
• IPC Education and Consultation series: Each month, in collaboration with APA Division 38 and the Society for Behavioral Medicine, REC leadership co-hosts a monthly education and consultation call. During these calls, an educational topic is presented during the first 20 minutes, and the remaining 40 minutes are open for consultation and discussion among attendees. For the 2023-2024 academic year, these calls will take place on the following dates at 12 PM Eastern time (Zoom links and topics to be released at the end of the month):
  • September 12
  • October 10
  • November 14
  • January 9
  • February 13
  • March 12
  • April 9
  • May 14

• One-on-one research mentorship from a senior integrated care researcher is available by request. If you are interested in research mentorship, contact Jackie Poor Hahn (jhahn@cfha.net), and will connect you with us. When we receive word of someone interested in research mentorship, we reach out to our leadership council to see who is available and willing. We will maintain a waitlist if there are not sufficient mentors available at the time a request comes in.