Engage and Explore

Initial implementation of the Scientists in the Clinic program requires engaging key stakeholders, setting up guiding structures and understanding the context where the program will be taking place.

Program governance

It is important to set up a governance team to ensure there are clear structures in place to effectively manage the project. The program governance team will be responsible for guiding the program, keeping the project to budget, time and scope and making key decisions.

Ensuring you have the right people involved is essential for the program to be successful. You need not only expert members but members who are engaged and are willing to drive, advocate and influence on behalf of the program.

Below is a guide for governance membership, however, should be adapted for your own organisational structure and target audiences.

• One to two representatives/champions of the target audiences (ie both scientists and clinicians).
• It is essential to have the target audience represented in the governance group. This will ensure the program will be designed with the end user in mind.
• These representatives need to be prepared to be a conduit between the program and their craft group and ideally at an executive (or influential) level.
• Project team (ie coordinator or project administrators)
• This includes the main staff involved in implementing the program.
• Education representatives
• It can be helpful to include a member involved in educational program design and delivery. This expertise can assist in making the model, mode and evaluation educationally sound, which will greatly benefit the participants involved in the program.

Aims, objectives and scope of program

During the initial stage it is also important to define the program aim, objectives and scope. This will ensure the program has a clear and agreed direction and purpose. Additionally, it will assist in evaluation by ensuring clear objectives to measure program success against.

For example:

Contextual needs of target population

It is important to be mindful that the Scientists in the Clinic is a generic model and needs to be adapted to your own organisational context and audience needs. The overarching model needs to be explored at the governance level and then tested with a wider selection of the target audience to ensure it is fit for purpose.