QI Scholars Program

Overview

The QI Scholars Program is a highly interactive advanced training program in QI research methods and leadership skills, centered around an improvement project of each Scholar’s choosing. Scholars receive dedicated mentorship, and data and statistics support and enjoy the opportunity to engage with nationally known improvement experts. Scholars receive training to pursue careers in academic quality improvement while building operational leadership skills that often result in a Director of Quality position within their divisions.

Key Details

• WHO: Designed for junior and mid-level faculty pursuing QI as a scholarly focus.
• WHAT: A yearlong competitive, advanced training program centered around completing and publishing a rigorous QI research project; Scholars receive support of a mentorship team and participate in 12 half-day, in-person seminars and additional monthly meetings.
• COST: $8,000 and 5% protected effort, funded jointly by the division/department and hospital from which the Scholar originates.

Key Dates

Program Components

Research Project

Each Scholar is expected to complete a QI research project and submit a first-authored manuscript of the results. Scholars receive project mentorship from an academic research coach and are required to meet at least monthly to refine project design, identify resource needs, interpret data, and draft a manuscript. Scholars have access to a data and analytics resource who assists with data acquisition/cleaning and analysis. Scholars are eligible for an additional 12-month project extension to support ongoing statistical or data needs.

Monthly Seminars

Scholars are exposed to a wide variety of state-of-the-art QI research methods during 12 monthly half-day, in-person seminars, which they are required to attend. The seminars are a blend of didactics, small group exercises, and practical hands-on applications led by both internal and external experts in the field of QI science. Scholars are provided with pre-readings two weeks in advance of each session.

Quarterly Presentations and Work-In-Progress Sessions

All program faculty (Scholars, mentors, data analysts, statisticians) meet quarterly for a 2-hour work-in-progress conference. Each Scholar is expected to provide an update on their project and receive feedback from the other meeting attendees.

Eligibility 

Applicants must hold a University of Washington School of Medicine faculty appointment at the time QI Scholars funding will begin.** Preference is given to junior to mid-level faculty in the UW Medicine system with a demonstrated focus on QI. Seattle Children's Hospital employees have a separate application process. If you work at Seattle Children's, please apply through this portal. 

Strong applicants will have a QI project that is planned or already implemented prior to the program start date of October 2024, and is aligned with UW Medicine priorities: 

• Improving patient care outcomes
• Increasing patient care efficiency
• Enhancing patient and family experience of care
• Promoting communication with patients and families or between clinicians
• Strengthening equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Supporting the care delivery process
• Innovations in care delivery using AI or robotic process automation

Full professors (on any track) and faculty scientists are not eligible for the program.
**If an applicant will be appointed to a faculty position between the date of submitting the application and the start of the program, a letter from the Department Head/Division Chief is required stating that such an appointment will commence at the time that QI Scholars funding will begin.
 

Requirements

All QI Scholars are expected to successfully complete a rigorous QI research project with the support of a mentorship team. 

In addition to working on the improvement project itself, QI Scholars are required to attend the following:

• 12 monthly half-day (4 hr) seminars
• 12 monthly meetings (1 hr) with the Scholar’s mentorship team, statistician, and data analyst
• Quarterly work-in-progress meetings (2 hr)

At the completion of their project, QI Scholars are supported in publishing their work in a peer-reviewed journal.

tuition

Tuition for QI Scholars is funded jointly by the Division/Department from which the selected Scholar originates and the hospital at which the project takes place. Applicants must work with their Division/Department to secure $8,000 in tuition funding and mandatory 5% protected effort.

Each application accepted by the QI Scholars Review Committee receives a contribution of $7,000 from the hospital where the project will occur that covers programmatic costs beyond the $8,000 contributed by the Scholar's Division/Department.

Please note that Seattle Children's Hospital has a separate application process. If you work at Seattle Children's, please apply through this portal. 

Selection Process

A selection committee comprised of senior quality and safety leaders at UW Medicine and QI Scholars faculty will select the Scholars through a competitive application process. Each application will be reviewed and independently scored by at least 3 reviewers. Consideration will be given to the career development goals of the applicant, the feasibility and focus of the proposed QI project, as well as alignment with organizational priorities. All applicants will receive written feedback on their proposals.

Program History

Seattle Children’s Hospital started the QI Scholars Program in 2016 and has been providing this advanced training to junior and mid-level faculty for 6 years. In 2021, for the first time, the QI Scholars Program expanded to include a cohort of UW Medicine participants along with the Seattle Children’s cohort, creating a cross-fertilization of ideas and innovation.