{"id":208,"date":"2017-07-28T19:35:00","date_gmt":"2017-07-28T19:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-dev.med.unc.edu\/ihqi\/improvement-scholars\/resources\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T15:07:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T20:07:55","slug":"how-to-apply","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/ihqi\/how-to-apply\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Apply"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UNC Institute for Healthcare Quality Improvement (IHQI) invites applications from UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health clinicians who want to develop improvement leadership skills by participating in the IHQI Improvement Scholars Program.<\/p>\n

Please contact Matt Huemmer<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Application Process<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Complete the concept proposal template and email to Matt Huemmer<\/a> by January 5.<\/li>\n
  2. Concept proposal teams will be chosen to meet with an IHQI associate director between January 14 and February 10 to discuss their proposal.<\/li>\n
  3. The most complete proposals will be asked to submit an ISP application by March 13.<\/li>\n
  4. Applications will be reviewed and scored by UNC Health and SOM Leaders.<\/li>\n
  5. Teams will be notified of award status on June 4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    ISP Application Template<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Dates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Concept Proposal Posted<\/td>\nNov 11, 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Concept Proposal Due<\/td>\nJan 5, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Invitation to Apply<\/td>\nJan 14, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Application Due<\/td>\nMar 13, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Notification of Awards<\/td>\nJun 4, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    IHQI Project Support Begins<\/td>\nOct 1, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    IHQI Project Support Concludes<\/td>\nSep 30, 2027<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    \u00a0<\/h2>\n

    Improvement Projects<\/h2>\n

    Improvement Scholars apply clinical improvement skills by leading an improvement project. Scholars identify care gaps and conduct improvement projects to close the gaps. Criteria for successful Improvement Scholar projects include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Implementation of evidence-based approaches<\/td>\nProjects are intended to improve clinical care and outcomes for a population of patients by implementing proven and\/or expert-recommended strategies and approaches. Proposals to research new interventions for efficacy and\/or effectiveness will not be selected.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Equity prioritization<\/td>\nAll projects must assess and address identified health disparities regardless of project focus. IHQI provides guidance and support to accomplish this.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Alignment with organizational improvement priorities<\/td>\nProjects must align with UNC Health improvement priorities. UNC Medical Center and system-level priorities are below. Department and unit level priorities are also considered. If you are unsure about whether your project idea aligns with an improvement priority, please contact Matt Huemmer<\/a> at IHQI to provide information about the priority and discuss the feasibility of IHQI support for the proposed project.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Small-scale testing with opportunity to expand given positive outcomes<\/td>\nMany Improvement Scholar projects test and refine improvements on a small-scale that are then adopted more broadly. (See Appendix C for examples.) The Improvement Scholars Program provides a prototyping and testing ground for piloting and refining effective interventions that can be spread throughout UNC Health.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Leadership support<\/td>\nProject applicants are advised to discuss project ideas and seek guidance and approval from leaders of UNC Health improvement initiatives prior<\/u> to submitting a letter of intent. Although not required, applications are strengthened by commitment of additional resources from the applicant\u2019s home department.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    UNC Health Improvement Priority Areas (example project topics listed as sub bullets)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n