“The Perfect Ask”
In the following proposal for this position, I outline the clearly defined outcome measures I have found that we share. These can be boiled down to three words found across three fields: conceptualization, consolidation, and communication in social determinants of health, community health, and LGBTQ+ health.
REQUEST TO FORM AN INTERNAL & EXTERNAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE POSITION
Between January and June of 2019, there are twenty-seven Key Activities listed to be completed by various members of the AMAF staff. Currently, you share 48% of the responsibility in some way, as does Tiffany. Emily and Sandi each share 44%; Ivy shares 29%; Parker and Marcy each share 15%; Katherine, Dave, the Development Team, Development and Communications each share 3%, and Bell shares none. I identified nine projects that I would serve to be useful on, therefore sharing 33% of the responsibility. I understand these numbers do not truly reflect the nature of the twenty-seven Key Activities listed, so allow me to mention those that I would serve on:
E131: Continue to design and execute LGBTQ Fellowship program
G131: Pilot “Own Backyard Program”
I131: Collaborate with AMA re: 2019 Medical Student Clinical Skills Workshop
A133: Conduct program portfolio process analysis
C133: Conduct SWOT Analysis
A134: Provide recommendations to increase Foundation effectiveness in programming
A231: Further refine fundraising metrics and goals based on ongoing data analytics
C231: Grow & strengthen Communication to support programming & increase fundraising
D231: Obtain industry, private/family foundation and/or Specialty/State Medical Society support of AMA Foundation program portfolio
E231: Create compelling AMAF Program proposals that meet prospective funders’ criteria
Ultimately, between January and June of 2019, I will bring a revitalization to the various projects and materials mentioned in these Key Activities that will lead to increased funding, consistency in language and strength, and lifting the “Own Backyard Program”/CCHGI off the ground in the most practical and informed way possible. This will be done by utilizing my extensive background knowledge in addition to my natural tendency to collect and consolidate vast amounts of information. I have taken the liberty of creating a Key Functions document for this position to serve as a metric of evaluation. You will also find that I have included a letter of recommendation from an Emeritus Associate Professor in our Sociology Department at UIC to serve as justification for my chosen competency levels.
Essentially, the Foundation is a front runner in having such cutting-edge programs, which I view as a strength. However, what is lacking is a clear, focused, driven set of goals. These goals are somewhat financial, but are also useful in driving the mission of the Foundation forward by providing equitable, sustainable, and productive programs. These goals surround measuring as well as language including the social determinants of health, community health standards, and LGBTQ discrimination. The programs affected (mentioned/listed before) currently show potential in their ability to be coherent across the board in achieving these goals. For example, the 2019 Physicians of Tomorrow Application had made crucial improvements to its gender category. However, to be unified on all fronts, it is going to take a lot more work and dedication. To involve these topics areas would put a strain on this system, and that is not something that would bode well for the Foundation in this home stretch.
An Internal & External Research Associate prevents any strain. Instead, this position would only add grease to the wheels – I project it has the potential to speed up the process of some activities. This proves to be necessary, as the implementation of measurements of social determinants of health, community health standards, and LGBTQ discrimination across the board is a large undertaking. It spans numerous projects and, if not done in a mindful manner, has the potential to incorrectly exploit the foundation that has been built up to this point in time. It is a venture that, if not allocated properly, will quickly deplete resources in a search for information. Rather than having several team members running around to gather this knowledge, there should be a sole person in charge of internally and externally compiling evidence to then be delivered to senior team members. Having a single position in charge of this endeavor saves time and resources.
Another attribute I’ve come to truly admire in you and the Foundation is the appreciation of value in relation to cost. A cost-saving aspect of this entry-level position would be the absorption of the paid internship. I am keenly aware of the benefits supplied through having an intern, as I have been on one end of some those benefits for quite a few months now. However, I would argue another great benefit of interns is the acquisition of an indispensable employee. I have noticed you tend to stack your team with those types – hence, my request for this position to be added.
In light of my awareness that skills extend beyond the industry, allow me to introduce my Signature Themes from GALLUP’s CliftonStrengths Assessment. This is actually an assessment I believe you would thoroughly enjoy – it provides you with five Signature Themes, which are in order of dominance. The chances of sharing the same five themes with someone is one in thirty-three million, and the chance of having the same order as someone is a number followed by 26 zeroes. In order, mine are input, individualization, intellection, activator, and relator. Having input as my first strength means I have an open, agile mind and I equate language with power. Individualization means I am skilled at piecing together events, unraveling problems, and can quickly adjust my behavior and speech depending on the context I am in. Intellection means I offer a different, well-informed perspective, and I enjoy instructing others. Being an Activator means I am great at turnarounds, energizing people with my ideas, and I am forthcoming in nature. Finally, being a Relator means people value my insight and I derive satisfaction from seeing those around me succeed.
My strengths can be summarized in two key areas: strategic thinking and relationship building. For strategic thinking, I thrive in keeping people focused on “what they could be” and I am constantly pulling the team I am on forward. I am also highly skilled at continually absorbing and analyzing information used to help the team I am on make better, well-informed decisions. In terms of relationship building, I tend to be the glue that holds a team together. I possess the ability to transforming a group of individuals into a team capable of carrying out complex projects and goals. In this case, I would be particularly helpful in carrying out the goal of incorporating social determinants of health, community health standards, and addressing LGBTQ discrimination into fundraising proposals, community health grants, deliverables, communications, and other various Foundation materials.
In a sense, this position would allow me to serve as a liaison between fundraising and programs. I am uniquely qualified for this position as I possess a reservoir of concepts, language, and details that would prove necessary to the Foundation over the next 6 months and beyond. Thus far, I have brought Research Skills, Professionalism, Interpersonal Skills, Active Listening Skills, Background Knowledge, and Organization to the Foundation. I have gained Project Management, Facilitation, and Stewardship Skills through my time here since September, and these compliment my original skill set in various ways.
The programs here are phenomenal. But to secure the proper funding, there needs to be a solid foundation put in place quickly. This is where I come in; I bring a distinguished understanding to these concepts and can ensure that there is language that is friendly to these concepts in all the Foundation’s materials. Social Determinants of Health was a hot button item at the Board Meeting that I sat in – this is now an industry standard in measuring success. I would be the team’s dark horse as I would venture so far as to say I am extremely well versed in my expertise on this topic and many more.
