Developing Center Resources to Support Research

Carolyn Schafer, MPH, is the center administrator for the Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research at Feinberg’s Institute of Public Health and Medicine. 

Schafer grew up in Cleveland, OH and worked in research management in Malawi and Sierra Leone before moving to Chicago. She joined the Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research in December 2021 and was recently promoted to her current role empowering investigators and staff to conduct their research. 

Where is your hometown?  

I am from Cleveland, Ohio. I am a proud alumna of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, where I obtained my BS, and St. Louis University where I obtained my MPH. 

What led you to Northwestern?  

I initially came to Northwestern to work as a Research Project Manager with Dr. Tara Lagu on two NHLBI R01s focused on increasing use of cardiac rehabilitation for patients with heart failure. Dr. Lagu is extremely engaging and full of life; it was an easy draw to come here! Her research is focused on improving health systems and using implementation science techniques, which aligned with my experience with implementation science in developing and under-resourced settings, making it the perfect career move for me. Having spent the beginning of my career in international public health research in Malawi and Sierra Leone, I wanted to gain more experience in the U.S. healthcare system, so joining Dr. Lagu brought a lot of my interests together. Additionally, Northwestern has a breadth of resources and opportunities that I want to explore, and I'm hoping to further my education here.  

What are you currently working on?  

I was recently promoted to the Center Administrator of the Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research (CHSOR) within the Institute of Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM). My work has shifted from direct project management to center operations, where I am applying my prior research experience and moving my career in a direction I am excited about. First and foremost, I am lucky enough to continue my work with Dr. Lagu, as she is the Center Director. We work together on faculty and staff support via engagement, finances, hiring, etc. Right now, I am focused on filling a couple of open staff positions and creating a research resource repository for CHSOR members. I began my role as a Research Project Manager during the tail end of COVID when office use was inconsistent, making it difficult to know which staff members whom I could turn to for guidance. The goal of the research resource repository is to serve as a starting point for new CHSOR staff and bring together the myriad resources you can find at NU for research operations. I am also trying to reinvigorate our workspace post-COVID with in-person faculty and staff meetings. It has been such a pleasure to work in person with so many colleagues on our floor, which we are lucky enough to share with the Center for Education in Health Services and the newest IPHAM center — the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science. I am extremely grateful to those Centers and my colleagues who have helped me seamlessly transition into this new role.  

How does your work support the research enterprise at Feinberg?   

As a center administrator, I work with investigators, research administrators, Institute administrators, human resources, Feinberg department administrators, and CHSOR staff to ensure everyone has what they need to conduct research. This includes allocating working space on our floor, focusing on financial operations, performance excellence, and staff professional development — from payment requisitions to making sure our working space is welcoming. Simply put, I am the hub of administration for CHSOR. This position allows me to work with colleagues to problem solve and celebrate achievements. An overarching theme of my career has been quality improvement. Some examples include improving healthcare delivery via research, standardizing research operations for Dr. Lagu, and implementing standard operating procedures. My focus on quality improvement is something I plan to continue in my new role as Center Administrator. I aim to be a competent and compassionate resource for any of my colleagues at Northwestern.  

Why do you enjoy working at Northwestern?   

I enjoy working at Northwestern because I can show up as my full authentic self when I come to work. Northwestern has brought me a community of unique colleagues and peers that I am constantly learning from. Everyone I've had the opportunity of working with is dedicated to their work and making healthcare more accessible, equitable, and efficient. In my new role as center administrator, I thoroughly enjoy problem solving and learning more about business operations and NU systems. I feel supported in my career development at Northwestern, where I have been able to sharpen my strengths and hone new ones.