Research Associate - Digital Health and Health Equity

Company Description

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. 

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality. 

www.uhn.ca 

Job Description

Union: Non-Union
Number of vacancies:  1
Site: Toronto General Hospital
Department:  Cardiology
Reports to:  Director, Research and Strategy
Work Model: Hybrid or In-Office  
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: $73,599.93 - $91,999.91per annum
Shifts: Monday to Friday
Status: Temporary Full-Time (One Year Contract) 
Closing Date: May 9, 2025

The Heart Function Program at the University Health Network is currently recruiting a research associate to work on digital health equity projects and partnerships with Indigenous communities and health authorities under the co-supervision of Dr. Heather Ross and other researchers in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research. This will be a temporary, full-time position for the duration of one year, with potential for renewal. The research projects will involve relationship-building and supporting community-based participatory research activities co-led with Indigenous community partners, projects focussed on barriers and enablers of health equity as well as those seeking to integrate digital wearables (e.g., Apple Watch, Kardia devices) and mobile applications to enhance diagnosis and prognostication of cardiac disease.  This is a unique opportunity to perform transformative Indigenous health and digital health research while advancing health equity at one of the world’s leading cardiovascular institutions.

Working with the team and key collaborators, the Research Associate will: 

• Participate partially or fully in protocol development/project design, setting of research goals, selection and development of procedures.
• Engage in relationship-building with community partners, ensuring activities are guided by local priorities and guidance.
• Plan, implement and coordinate aspects of data collection and/or project coordination.
• Assist in study related recruitment and enrollment of study participants.
• Work with the clinical and research teams to optimize study workflow and processes in the context of the patient and clinic flow.
• Draw preliminary conclusions for review by investigators and incorporation into final research reports.
• Have strong understanding of research methodologies (i.e., observational studies, mixed methods, community-based participatory research methods).
• Be familiar with the analysis of data related to conventional statistics and AI.
• Assist in interpretation of results and preparation of material for presentation, publication, and/or grants.
• Assess literature in the field of study.
• Support the evaluatiive and project planning components of community engagement and research projects. 
• Perform study-related administrative tasks, where applicable.

This position requires an action-oriented individual with advanced research knowledge and skills, strong organizational experience, superior time management capabilities, demonstrated problem solving capacity, and advanced writing and communication skills.  The ideal candidate possesses has been involved with community-based participatory research projects, with Indigenous communities and/or other equity-deserving groups. They are ready to engage in a culturally-safe and meaningful way with patients, community partners, collaborators and researchers to achieve research study and quality improvement project objectives and goals. They maintain an eye for detail and the ability to initiate the follow up on items or determine appropriate steps for timely resolution. 

Those selected for an interview should be ready to articulate any cultural safety, anti-bias, anti-black racism training you have completed, as well as outline your experience in working on digital health or health equity projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in Health Sciences, Indigenous Health, Public Health, Behavioural Science, Health Informatics, Human Computer Interaction, Design, or Systems Design or a related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years related experience
• Relevant research skills in protocol and study design, management of research ethics processes, data collection and management; evaluation of user experience and user-centered design.
• Experience working with First Nations, Inuit or Métis communities and knowledge of Indigenous Ways of Knowing and research methods is highly valued. 
• Exceptional technical skills in IOS and Android technologies (i.e., phone and wearables).
• Knowledge of health data and infrastructure; digital health; comfortable capturing and communicating project data requirements to technical staff.
• Ability to understand, demonstrate, interact and support patients and care providers in their utilization and interaction with health technology tools (e.g., wearables, apps).
• Exceptional organization and time management skills.
• Be able to work both independently and as a team in a high-paced clinical environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Zoom/Microsoft Teams as well as conventional statistical analyses methods and R.
• Completion of cultural safety training, Anti-Bias in Research and Anti-Black Discrimination training is preferred. 

Additional Information

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN. 

• Competitive offer packages  
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/) 
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service 
• A flexible work environment  
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization 
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.) 

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.  

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.