Teeming with Teeming with opportunities: opportunities: Creating Creating

partnerships with researchers and partnerships with researchers and communitycommunity

Maria Mathews, PhDMaria Mathews, PhD

Division of Community Health & HumanitiesDivision of Community Health & Humanities

Faculty of MedicineFaculty of Medicine

““Dr Matthews’ [sic] recommendations Dr Matthews’ [sic] recommendations are neither new nor novel...it is are neither new nor novel...it is

important that researchers explore important that researchers explore the current situation so that the current situation so that

recommendations can be more recommendations can be more meaningful and valuable” meaningful and valuable” Bertha Paulse, Bertha Paulse,

NCTRFNCTRF

Partnership with CCS led Partnership with CCS led to…to…

January 10, 2006:January 10, 2006:

Changes to MedicalChanges to Medical Transportation Assistance Program

June 11, 2007: June 11, 2007: Enhancements Made Enhancements Made to Medical to Medical Transportation Transportation Assistance ProgramAssistance Program

ObjectivesObjectives Discuss strategies for working with Discuss strategies for working with

community partnerscommunity partners

– Improve nature of partnershipImprove nature of partnership– Increase likelihood of findings being Increase likelihood of findings being

usedused– Avoid pitfallsAvoid pitfalls

Build long-lasting Build long-lasting relationshipsrelationships

Long-term commitmentLong-term commitment– Ongoing meetings beyond single projectOngoing meetings beyond single project

Multiple interactionsMultiple interactions– Involvement in standing events Involvement in standing events

Plan for turnover in decision makersPlan for turnover in decision makers– Build relationship with organization, not Build relationship with organization, not

individual individual

Identify research questionsIdentify research questions Partners may not ask research questionsPartners may not ask research questions

– Identify nagging issuesIdentify nagging issues– Identify problems that need to be addressed 1+ years Identify problems that need to be addressed 1+ years

from nowfrom now AskAsk

– What does partner need to know? What does partner need to know? Identify outcomes of importanceIdentify outcomes of importance

– What perspectives should be taken into account?What perspectives should be taken into account? Identify others to involve/consultIdentify others to involve/consult

– What is the context of the decision making?What is the context of the decision making? Identify other relevant issuesIdentify other relevant issues

Develop fundable projects Develop fundable projects Develop publishable projectsDevelop publishable projects

Pick the right partnersPick the right partners

Involve all relevant partnersInvolve all relevant partners– Ask: “Who will comment on my findings?”Ask: “Who will comment on my findings?”

““It is more difficult to reject, discount, or ignore It is more difficult to reject, discount, or ignore research results when one has contributed to them” research results when one has contributed to them” (Lomas, 2000)(Lomas, 2000)

Select partners strategicallySelect partners strategically– Senior administrators – lots of contacts, networksSenior administrators – lots of contacts, networks

Champion projectChampion project Funding for projectFunding for project

– Manager – more hands onManager – more hands on Access to resources (data, personnel, etc)Access to resources (data, personnel, etc)

Clarify RolesClarify Roles

Use different roles to “manage” your partnersUse different roles to “manage” your partners Co-investigatorCo-investigator Advisory panel Advisory panel ““in the loop”in the loop”

Roles may change over course of projectRoles may change over course of project Determine partner contributionsDetermine partner contributions

– Provide funding, or in-kind resourcesProvide funding, or in-kind resources– Provide access to data, participants etc.Provide access to data, participants etc.– Disseminate resultsDisseminate results

Clarify partners’ expectations of youClarify partners’ expectations of you

Ask the difficult questionsAsk the difficult questions

Clarify partner and researcher rolesClarify partner and researcher roles– Who owns data?Who owns data?– Who has final say on conclusions?Who has final say on conclusions?– What are limits to publishing?What are limits to publishing?– Who presents/publishes data?Who presents/publishes data?

Don’t assume answers, have explicit Don’t assume answers, have explicit discussiondiscussion

Assist partners with grant Assist partners with grant processprocess

Describe processDescribe process– Don’t just provide links to website!Don’t just provide links to website!

Help with CVs, signatures, letters of Help with CVs, signatures, letters of supportsupport

Clarify timelinesClarify timelines– Grant deadlines are firmGrant deadlines are firm– Can take years to get fundingCan take years to get funding

Start smallStart small

Start with small, local project Start with small, local project

Working with partners can be Working with partners can be riskyrisky

Requires learning (and appreciating) Requires learning (and appreciating) each others’ cultureseach others’ cultures

Is not highly valued by promotion Is not highly valued by promotion and tenure committeesand tenure committees

Requires time, skills and resourcesRequires time, skills and resources Does not guarantee the “right” Does not guarantee the “right”

decisiondecision

Remember P&TRemember P&T

Build program of researchBuild program of research– Projects should build on each otherProjects should build on each other

Contract versus grant funded researchContract versus grant funded research Develop projects that will lead to Develop projects that will lead to

academic publicationsacademic publications– Incorporate “academic” componentsIncorporate “academic” components

Balance traditional academic and Balance traditional academic and partner studiespartner studies

Look for student projectsLook for student projects

Plan for time and resourcesPlan for time and resources

Plan around grant cyclesPlan around grant cycles Get seed fundingGet seed funding Use existing opportunitiesUse existing opportunities

Student projectsStudent projects

Learn new skillsLearn new skills Media training, project management, etc.Media training, project management, etc.

Work with experienced researcher Work with experienced researcher

Develop a thick skinDevelop a thick skin

Decisions are influenced by many Decisions are influenced by many factorsfactors– Research findings and partnerships may Research findings and partnerships may

be dismissed despite best effortsbe dismissed despite best efforts– Research may be criticized by partnersResearch may be criticized by partners