Clinical Research Assistant; ACORN) |School of Medicine | Family Medicine

Job Summary

The Department of Family Medicine and Population Health at Virginia Commonwealth University is seeking a part-time, hourly Clinical Research Assistant to join the ACORN Research Team, a multidisciplinary group dedicated to improving the quality of primary health care.

The Clinical Research Assistant will support ongoing patient recruitment and enrollment for two ongoing clinical trials. This position requires in-person engagement with patients and clinic staff at sites located across Virginia - including Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, and the Tappahannock region.

For interested applicants, there is an opportunity to contribute to a study focused on reducing opioid mortality in Virginia. This is a community-engaged research study that involves creating evidence-based resources for cities and counties to support them in implementing substance use treatment and recovery programs.

Interested applicants will support ACORN’s quadrennial Virginia primary care evaluation.

Applicants must be available to work a minimum of 16 hours per week, with at least four consecutive hours of in-person work availability between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some evening and weekend availability depending on clinic schedules and study needs.

In Northern Virginia, weekend hours may extend from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and Saturdays.

• Travel to primary care clinics, urgent care clinics, and community events across Virginia.
• Engage and build rapport with clinic staff to promote the studies and follow established workflows.
• Engage patients presenting to clinic visits, before, during, and after clinic appointments.
• Effectively communicate study information to practice teams and patients accordingly.
• Recruit, screen, and enroll patients in accordance with study protocols.
• Conduct patient engagement in-person and remotely as patients are referred (by phone and via Zoom).
• Deliver study supplies to participants, including home delivery (with mileage reimbursement).
• Respond promptly to participants and follow up to ensure timely data collection.
• Review and record medical documentation and participant surveys in REDCap and Excel databases.
• Participate in meetings, trainings, and study-related administrative tasks.
• Support the Principal Investigator and senior study staff to ensure compliance with all study and institutional requirements.
• Participate in community events to support broader study recruitment.
• Support research studies across the ACORN research team.
• Opportunity to contribute to study on opioid mortality in Virginia, including:
  • Creation of informational materials for cities/counties, including one-pager needs assessments with community-level metrics that can guide local programs
  • Updating Opioid Abatement Authority Toolkit website to include additional evidence-based resources and community examples
  • Review of currently funded OAA funded projects to help guide future community programs
• Opportunity to contribute to Virginia primary care evaluation, including:
  • Prepare mailing of over 2,000 pieces
  • Contact practices to collect survey responses
  • Assist with updating/cleaning statewide primary care database of practices and clinicians

The primary study this position is hiring for, NOSES, aims to identify the most effective treatment options for patients with sinus infections. The study is enrolling adults aged 18-75 with sinus-related symptoms, which may include those with acute sinus infections, the common cold, influenza, or COVID-19. This is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial with four treatment groups for patients who do not improve with supportive care.

The NOSES study is open to English and Spanish speaking patients.

This position will have the option of participating in another ACORN study focused on opioid mortality in Virginia. Our team is conducting a study to develop the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority Toolkit, which involves the development of an evidence-based online toolkit to guide cities and counties in implementing programs to reduce opioid mortality in their communities. This is a community-engaged research project that involves partnership with localities and the development of interactive resources, based on research, that can be translated into action within communities.

This position will have the option of supporting ACORN’s quadrennial Virginia primary care evaluation. Every primary care practice in the state is surveyed to assess current strengths, challenges, gaps, and future directions for primary care. Responses are used to inform research and policy advocacy.

Minimum Qualifications

• Previous research experience with patient engagement and enrollment.
• Reliable transportation to travel to the clinics or to deliver study supplies to participants.
• Excellent verbal communication, as recruitment is a key responsibility.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish rapport with patients, clinical staff,…