Leadership opportunity at the Iowa City VAMC
The Iowa City VA Health Care System (ICVAHCS) invites applications for a Program Co-Director (PhD) for the VA Advanced Fellowship in Health Systems Research (HSR). This leadership role provides a unique opportunity to shape the next generation of Learning Health System (LHS) scholars within one of the nation’s premier integrated healthcare systems.
The VA is widely recognized as one of the top rising research institutions in North America, with national leadership in COVID-19 response, women’s health, telehealth innovation, suicide prevention and health systems transformation. The VA Advanced Fellowship in HSR plays a critical role in preparing investigators to contribute to this mission and to advance a high-performing Learning Health System.
The Iowa City fellowship is embedded within a strong and collaborative research environment and has a history of mentoring successful fellows who advance to competitive career development awards, investigator-initiated funding, and national leadership roles. As the program enters its next phase of growth and national engagement, we are seeking a forward looking scholar to join the leadership team and help shape the future direction of the Iowa City fellowship.
About the Fellowship
The VA Advanced Fellowship in Health Systems Research is a two-year, post-residency or post-doctoral training program that provides rigorous research, education, and experiential learning opportunities to physician, dental, nursing, and associated health professionals. The program prepares fellows to:
- Conduct impactful health services and implementation research
- Lead system transformation efforts
- Advance VA’s Learning Health System priorities
- Successfully compete for career development awards and investigator-initiated funding
Fellows benefit from collaborative research experiences that generate peer-reviewed publications, pilot data, and strong foundations for future extramural funding.
Position Overview
The Iowa City VA will provide 20% FTE support for a PhD-level investigator to serve as Program Co-Director in partnership with the current MD Co-Director. The Co-Director will partner in strategic leadership of the fellowship, contributing to the program vision, national engagement, and continued evolution of the Iowa City site as a leader within the VA Advanced Fellowship network.
Appointment is subject to approval of the VA Office of Academic Affiliations.
Required Qualifications
- Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent)
- Minimum 3-5 years post-graduate research experience
- Demonstrated track record of peer-reviewed publications in health services research
- Prior mentoring experience
- Scholarship aligned with one or more of the eight LHS competencies:
- Systems Science
- Research Questions and Standards of Scientific Evidence
- Research Methods
- Informatics
- Ethics of Research and Implementation
- Improvement and Implementation Science
- Engagement, Leadership, and Research Management
- Health Equity
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior or current grant funding in health services research or implementation science
- Experience with VA healthcare systems
- Formal training in medical education (e.g., MME or equivalent)
- Familiarity with LHS competencies
Key Responsibilities
- Lead strategic recruitment efforts to broaden the disciplinary diversity and national reach of the program, with emphasis on non-clinician scholars (e.g., economics statistics, epidemiology, public health, health policy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, health communications, and related disciplines)
- Provide direct mentorship and facilitate mentoring teams
- Participate in and lead didactic sessions
- Oversee implementation of the local curriculum
- Facilitate fellow onboarding
- Prepare annual program reports
- Attend one national program meeting annually (travel support provided when available)
- Coordinate health system improvement experiences for non-clinician fellows
- Assist with grant preparation if fellowship sites are recompeted
Strategic Opportunities
The incoming Co-Director will have opportunities to:
- Shape the future direction of the local curriculum in alignment with evolving LHS priorities
- Expand interdisciplinary recruitment and mentoring models
- Strengthen integration with operational partners and QUERI/HSR initiatives
- Enhance fellows’ competitiveness for funding opportunities
- Contribute to national discussions within the OAA fellowship network
Why This Role Matters
This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for investigators committed to mentorship, systems-level impact, and the development of future health systems researchers. The Iowa City fellowship is embedded within a strong, collaborative research environment and offers the opportunity to influence national VA research priorities while building the next generation of scholars.
Questions about the position:
Contact Bharat Kumar, MD – OAA Advanced HSR Fellowship Co-Director
bharat.kumar@va,gov
bharat-kumar@uiowa.edu
To Apply:
Send a current CV and a one-page letter of interest to bharat-kumar@uiowa.edu by 05/08/2026.