HEAL-VA Health Counselor

Advertising Summary

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Family Medicine

Position Summary and Primary Responsibilities

The Health Equity Across the Lifespan Laboratory is seeking a Clinical Research Coordinator to join their research team. The overall responsibility of this position will be to assist in conducting research projects aimed at reducing cancer among underserved populations. The position will assist in the coordination and conduct of all research activities including: screening and enrolling participants, conducting assessments, providing information and performing smoking cessation counseling, providing information about cancer screening, completing follow-up calls, and mailing study materials. This position will receive training to become a certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist.

Key Responsibilities

• Identifies resource needs and develops clinical and other research documents, such as job aids, tools, processes, and training. Contributes to the development of protocols
• Performs quality checks
• Serves as main point of contact for research participants, providing information regarding research procedures, expectations, and informational inquiries. Ensures participants follow the research protocol and alerts Principal Investigator of issues
• Identifies work unit resource needs and manages supply and equipment inventory levels
• Manages research workflow components, collects, prepares, processes, and submits data and samples to appropriate entities, adhering to research protocols
• May assist with training of staff
• Recruits, screens, selects, and determines eligibility and enrolls research participants, collects complex information, performs medical assessments, and answers varied questions under supervision of medically licensed professional. Performs medical assessments after completion of required training/certification, such as collecting vital signs, obtaining weight, and performing phlebotomy
• Schedules logistics, determines workflows, and secures resources for research studies
• Provides individual and group tobacco cessation counseling
• Assists in data abstractions and organization for presentations and publications
• Perform other tasks essential to the research activities of the lab as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., psychology, public health, or a related discipline)
• Strong active listening and written communication skills
• Detail oriented, and able to follow instructions precisely
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a part of a research team
• Two or more years of experience conducting tobacco-related health disparities research
• Demonstrated familiarity with cultural practices, traditions, or community issues in Black or African American communities.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technology including virtual meeting platforms (Zoom, WebEx)
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two or more years of personal, professional or volunteer experiences serving Black or African American communities.
• Two or more years of direct service experience with patients/customers
• Knowledge of tobacco, nicotine, or related addictions.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating group discussions.