Thursday, January 05, 2006
Workshop on Strategic Directions for Population Health
STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR POPULATION HEALTH
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA
Workshop 10 January 2006
Your participation in our workshop is greatly valued. This document has been designed to initiate reflections and prompt informal exchange and discussion.
In 2006, the University of Ottawa finds itself in an environment that differs significantly from that in which it created IPH/IRSP in 2000. First, the University has ratified Vision 2010, in which it has reaffirmed its commitment to research excellence, high-quality learning, passion for knowledge and innovation, leadership on language issues, and openness to diversity. Second, there is even greater recognition of the significant opportunities arising from our unique geographic location to partner with government departments and national and provincial agencies. Third, findings of the IPH/IRSP review conducted in 2004 provide an informed critique of strengths and weaknesses of current structures in Population Health. Fourth, development of administrative and governance structures to better promote interdisciplinarity at the University of Ottawa is underway. Fifth, organisational expansion continues to create designated positions for research chairs and Faculty appointments pertinent to Population Health. Sixth, a smooth change of leadership in IPH/IRSP itself was achieved in 2005. Seventh, other Canadian universities now are creating innovative enterprises in Population Health with similar if not identical mandates as originally afforded IPH/IRSP to promote research and training.
By reaffirming Population Health within HEALTH as a Strategic Area of Development, the University of Ottawa is inviting its renewal and seeking a clear statement of strategic direction. At its meeting on 12 September 2005, the College of Principal Scientists of IPH/IRSP recognised this opportunity and many other challenges requiring thoughtful, timely and incisive analysis and response. Dialogue instigated during the 2005 summer reinforced the breadth of unrealised potential at the University of Ottawa beyond IPH/IRSP in Population Health research and training. Subsequent investigations revealed a positive readiness to broaden the scope of consultation and dialogue to engage a wider community in the development of the future for Population Health in Ottawa.
Hence, the first proposed objective towards which our workshop represents a key step is to articulate the vision, scope, performance and future impact of Population Health.
It then is intended that a framework document will be produced that will convey a contemporary vision, mission, values, objectives, strategies (ie actions for the next five years) and performance indicators for Population Health. This planning framework will enable subsequent decisions about issues such as governance, structures, priorities, resources, capital development and recruitment foci at the University of Ottawa to be informed, timely, enabling and reflective of a shared understanding of Population Health. Through the College of Principal Scientists at IPH/IRSP, it has been proposed that this framework be entitled Opportunities and outcomes: Possibilités et résultantes 2010.
Opportunities and outcomes: Possibilités et résultantes 2010
The following questions that have been generated to provide prompts for reflection ahead of the workshop. Key developments since 2000 also are summarised in a series of ten brief appendices to update all participants.
FOCUS QUESTIONS
POPULATION HEALTH RESEARCH AGENDA
What is it that we have in common? What unites us as Population Health researchers
What is the Population Health research agenda that IPH/IRSP should commit to deliver? How might it differ from other health research agendas?
How should its research be characterised in terms of quality, direction, underpinning values?
What are the advantages of creating designated clusters of research and what should these be?
What expertise is currently missing for IPH/IRSP to be a credible and comprehensive Population Health research enterprise?
How well do the current classifications of association and conditions of employment enable researchers to excel?
What new research agenda emerge from the Health Goals for Canada?
What is our obligation to provide postdoctoral training in Population Health research? How well do we do this now?
What happens once postdoctoral experience is obtained? How should we nurture the careers of junior researchers to ensure that each becomes an outstanding and effective contributor in Population Health?
SIGNIFICANCE AND OPPORTUNITIES AS A STRATEGIC AREA OF DEVELOPMENT
What are the implications of being a designated focus within HEALTH as a Strategic Area of Development (SAD) for the University of Ottawa?
What are our deliverables?
Who is nurturing our development? Who can measure our performance? How are they doing this? How can performance management help us?
How should IPH/IRSP better avail itself of appointment mechanisms, new initiatives and time-limited opportunities such as CRCs, ORCs, etc?
What might be done that is new, bold and builds upon our first five years?
TRAINING AND TEACHING
What is the Population Health training agenda that IPH/IRSP should deliver? Should it be research-only training at PhD level?
What is the role for IPH/IRSP with respect to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies?
What have we learned from the development of alternative graduate opportunities such as graduate certificates? What is our future with respect to Masters courses that are vocationally oriented (eg Masters in Health Services Management, Masters in Public Health)
What markets are we trying to reach? How well do we equip our graduates for the positions they seek?
How should our training be characterised in terms of quality, direction, underpinning values?
What expertise is currently missing for IPH/IRSP to be a credible and comprehensive Population Health training enterprise?
What additional resources are needed to deliver this Population Health research training agenda?
How well do the current classifications of association and conditions of employment enable our students to acquire the best learning experience possible?
FUNDING THE FUTURE
What might a more strategic approach to CFI and other funding opportunities look like to ensure longterm stability and infrastructure for Population Health?
How should IPH/IRSP position itself in relation to philanthropic donations, foundations and long-term institutional funding arrangements?
Is there anything we shouldn’t do or any partnerships we ought never progress?
VALUES, ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE and INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOUR
What are the values that underpin our enterprise?
What behaviour is condoned? What behaviour is unacceptable?
What standards and behaviours will distinguish those who work in IPH/IRSP and what will be unacceptable standards and behaviours?
To what extent do those contributing to Population Health embrace the stated values of the University of Ottawa? What values could be added to these based on our unique perspective, contributing disciplines and vision? What would be distinct about the values we embrace in Population Health?
IDENTITY
What is the ‘essence’ of IPH/IRSP that should distinguish its image, its external communications and its identity within the University of Ottawa?
How should IPH/IRSP market itself in an increasingly ‘noisy’ and competitive environment?
CROSS-CUTTING QUESTIONS
How ‘current’ is the original vision, mission and objectives as envisaged for IPH/IRSP?
How well has this vision been realised?
What might any new vision for the University of Ottawa include?
What are obvious gaps between current capacity and performance and those envisaged?
What are the University’s existing strengths (recognised areas of excellence) and weaknesses? Not only in IPH/IRSP but across the campus in Population Health?What are the greatest opportunities for Population Health? How ready are we? ¶ 7:12 p.m.
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA
Workshop 10 January 2006
Your participation in our workshop is greatly valued. This document has been designed to initiate reflections and prompt informal exchange and discussion.
In 2006, the University of Ottawa finds itself in an environment that differs significantly from that in which it created IPH/IRSP in 2000. First, the University has ratified Vision 2010, in which it has reaffirmed its commitment to research excellence, high-quality learning, passion for knowledge and innovation, leadership on language issues, and openness to diversity. Second, there is even greater recognition of the significant opportunities arising from our unique geographic location to partner with government departments and national and provincial agencies. Third, findings of the IPH/IRSP review conducted in 2004 provide an informed critique of strengths and weaknesses of current structures in Population Health. Fourth, development of administrative and governance structures to better promote interdisciplinarity at the University of Ottawa is underway. Fifth, organisational expansion continues to create designated positions for research chairs and Faculty appointments pertinent to Population Health. Sixth, a smooth change of leadership in IPH/IRSP itself was achieved in 2005. Seventh, other Canadian universities now are creating innovative enterprises in Population Health with similar if not identical mandates as originally afforded IPH/IRSP to promote research and training.
By reaffirming Population Health within HEALTH as a Strategic Area of Development, the University of Ottawa is inviting its renewal and seeking a clear statement of strategic direction. At its meeting on 12 September 2005, the College of Principal Scientists of IPH/IRSP recognised this opportunity and many other challenges requiring thoughtful, timely and incisive analysis and response. Dialogue instigated during the 2005 summer reinforced the breadth of unrealised potential at the University of Ottawa beyond IPH/IRSP in Population Health research and training. Subsequent investigations revealed a positive readiness to broaden the scope of consultation and dialogue to engage a wider community in the development of the future for Population Health in Ottawa.
Hence, the first proposed objective towards which our workshop represents a key step is to articulate the vision, scope, performance and future impact of Population Health.
It then is intended that a framework document will be produced that will convey a contemporary vision, mission, values, objectives, strategies (ie actions for the next five years) and performance indicators for Population Health. This planning framework will enable subsequent decisions about issues such as governance, structures, priorities, resources, capital development and recruitment foci at the University of Ottawa to be informed, timely, enabling and reflective of a shared understanding of Population Health. Through the College of Principal Scientists at IPH/IRSP, it has been proposed that this framework be entitled Opportunities and outcomes: Possibilités et résultantes 2010.
Opportunities and outcomes: Possibilités et résultantes 2010
The following questions that have been generated to provide prompts for reflection ahead of the workshop. Key developments since 2000 also are summarised in a series of ten brief appendices to update all participants.
FOCUS QUESTIONS
POPULATION HEALTH RESEARCH AGENDA
What is it that we have in common? What unites us as Population Health researchers
What is the Population Health research agenda that IPH/IRSP should commit to deliver? How might it differ from other health research agendas?
How should its research be characterised in terms of quality, direction, underpinning values?
What are the advantages of creating designated clusters of research and what should these be?
What expertise is currently missing for IPH/IRSP to be a credible and comprehensive Population Health research enterprise?
How well do the current classifications of association and conditions of employment enable researchers to excel?
What new research agenda emerge from the Health Goals for Canada?
What is our obligation to provide postdoctoral training in Population Health research? How well do we do this now?
What happens once postdoctoral experience is obtained? How should we nurture the careers of junior researchers to ensure that each becomes an outstanding and effective contributor in Population Health?
SIGNIFICANCE AND OPPORTUNITIES AS A STRATEGIC AREA OF DEVELOPMENT
What are the implications of being a designated focus within HEALTH as a Strategic Area of Development (SAD) for the University of Ottawa?
What are our deliverables?
Who is nurturing our development? Who can measure our performance? How are they doing this? How can performance management help us?
How should IPH/IRSP better avail itself of appointment mechanisms, new initiatives and time-limited opportunities such as CRCs, ORCs, etc?
What might be done that is new, bold and builds upon our first five years?
TRAINING AND TEACHING
What is the Population Health training agenda that IPH/IRSP should deliver? Should it be research-only training at PhD level?
What is the role for IPH/IRSP with respect to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies?
What have we learned from the development of alternative graduate opportunities such as graduate certificates? What is our future with respect to Masters courses that are vocationally oriented (eg Masters in Health Services Management, Masters in Public Health)
What markets are we trying to reach? How well do we equip our graduates for the positions they seek?
How should our training be characterised in terms of quality, direction, underpinning values?
What expertise is currently missing for IPH/IRSP to be a credible and comprehensive Population Health training enterprise?
What additional resources are needed to deliver this Population Health research training agenda?
How well do the current classifications of association and conditions of employment enable our students to acquire the best learning experience possible?
FUNDING THE FUTURE
What might a more strategic approach to CFI and other funding opportunities look like to ensure longterm stability and infrastructure for Population Health?
How should IPH/IRSP position itself in relation to philanthropic donations, foundations and long-term institutional funding arrangements?
Is there anything we shouldn’t do or any partnerships we ought never progress?
VALUES, ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE and INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOUR
What are the values that underpin our enterprise?
What behaviour is condoned? What behaviour is unacceptable?
What standards and behaviours will distinguish those who work in IPH/IRSP and what will be unacceptable standards and behaviours?
To what extent do those contributing to Population Health embrace the stated values of the University of Ottawa? What values could be added to these based on our unique perspective, contributing disciplines and vision? What would be distinct about the values we embrace in Population Health?
IDENTITY
What is the ‘essence’ of IPH/IRSP that should distinguish its image, its external communications and its identity within the University of Ottawa?
How should IPH/IRSP market itself in an increasingly ‘noisy’ and competitive environment?
CROSS-CUTTING QUESTIONS
How ‘current’ is the original vision, mission and objectives as envisaged for IPH/IRSP?
How well has this vision been realised?
What might any new vision for the University of Ottawa include?
What are obvious gaps between current capacity and performance and those envisaged?
What are the University’s existing strengths (recognised areas of excellence) and weaknesses? Not only in IPH/IRSP but across the campus in Population Health?What are the greatest opportunities for Population Health? How ready are we? ¶ 7:12 p.m.
