HSR&D/QUERI National Conference 2022

Call for Submissions:

Advancing Health Equity through Research, Implementation Science, Diversity, and Inclusion

Submissions are due July 11, 2022

The HSR&D/QUERI National Meeting is planned as an in-person meeting for October 2022 (dates and location TBD). Individuals, including Veterans and their caregivers, who are engaged in health services research or implementation science focused on improving the health and health care of Veterans are invited to make submissions for presentation at this conference. Submissions may address health equity and other health services research and QUERI implementation/evaluation priorities (see below), health services research methods, or VA health policy and legislation. Populations of special interest include Veterans who identify as Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC); women Veterans; LGBTQ+ Veterans; rural residents; Veterans experiencing homelessness and other social risk factors, among others.

Special consideration will also be given to submissions that focus on:

1. The differential impact of COVID on the VA healthcare system and its workforce, in addition to VA COVID-related research and implementation science.
2. Partnerships with Veterans, VA operations, VA workforce, and community organizations to promote health equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Submission Formats

The meeting will accommodate four presentation formats (see below). Each format will require a different type of preparation and form of presentation, as described below. Individuals making submissions will be asked to indicate their preference for presentation format, but final decisions will be made by the Review Committee. Conference submitters will also be asked whether a Veteran and/or their caregiver is part of the submission as a lead scientific presenter, or workshop or forum panelist. [Detailed submission requirements coming soon]

1. Scientific Presentations
   1. Oral Presentations are focused on a single topic that will be grouped with presentations on similar topics to comprise a scientific session. The presenter is allotted 10 minutes to present followed by 5 minutes for a question-and-answer exchange with the audience.
   2. Posters also focus on a single topic, but provide a summary of information using a visual form consisting of text, tables, figures, etc. Posters are accompanied by the lead author (presenter) for an assigned period of time, usually 90 minutes, allowing for question-and-answer exchanges with session participants.
2. Workshops provide opportunities for attendees to gain new knowledge, skills, or expertise in a particular area relevant to health services research, evaluation, or implementation science. Workshop content should be focused, substantive, and interactive for at least half of the session. The interactive components can consist of large group discussion and/or smaller group work. Workshops are 90 minutes in duration.
3. Veteran Engagement Forums can focus on engagement methods, designs, measurement, outcomes, and experiences, and should highlight best practices. We seek a wide range of approaches and experiences with Veteran engagement from investigative teams, as well as Veterans themselves. We encourage Veterans to submit their own experiences with research, including what has worked well and/or what needs improvement. Forums are 90 minutes in duration, with 30 minutes of presentation time and 60 minutes for an interactive feedback session with Veterans and other participants.
4. Veteran Posters should describe experiences with research, quality improvement projects, or other Veteran Engagement Group activities. This is a special call designed for this meeting to invite Veterans (those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, regardless of discharge status) and their caregivers (individuals who speak on behalf of a Veteran under their care) to submit abstracts for poster presentation. Please see the detailed description and FAQs for more information.

Evaluation/Selection Process

Selection criteria for all formats are based on the quality of the work presented and its relevance to the conference theme, populations of interest, and special considerations, as noted above. All submissions will be evaluated by reviewers with scientific expertise in the subject matter area who will be blinded to authors' identities and VA facility. Veteran engagement forums and Veteran posters will also be evaluated by members of HSR&D's National Veteran Engagement Workgroup, made up of both Veterans and researchers. Submissions with the highest scores and greatest relevance to the meeting theme will be selected. Decisions will be made by the Review Committee in collaboration with the meeting co-chairs and will be final. Authors will be notified of decisions by August 31, 2022.

All submissions will be made online on this website.

Travel

For Veteran Forums, travel funds will be provided for the moderator and up to 4 additional panelists/presenters (limit 5 people in total). For workshops, travel funds will be provided for up to 3 presenters. For posters and oral presentations, travel funds will be provided for the lead presenter of each accepted abstract (as identified during the submission process).

For questions concerning content or processing of abstract submissions, please contact HSRDWeb.Boston@va.gov.