Practitioner-Oriented Implementation Science Education (POISE) Training

Program Description

The HIV Implementation Science Coordination Initiative (ISCI) at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine is welcoming applications for the Practitioner-Oriented Implementation Science Education (POISE) Training program. The goal of the POISE training program, which is designed for HIV public health and service providers (e.g., people who provide direct HIV services, engage in HIV program planning, work in health department HIV programs, and/or fund HIV-related services), is to offer training on implementation science and innovative tools that can be applied to real-world practice. The training includes basic implementation science concepts, identifying implementation barriers and facilitators and implementation strategies to address them, and identifying measurable implementation outcomes. The multimodal, practice-based, five-month hybrid training is composed of a series of presentations on implementation science (didactic) sessions, an in-person meeting, self-study components, real-world case study, peer-to-peer learning, and interactive online discussions.

The time required to complete the entire training program is estimated to be 1.75 days for an in-person meeting, plus an additional 45 to 50 hours over the course of a five-month period to complete pre-readings, learning activities, and a final virtual meeting. Travel costs and lodging for the in-person meeting will be covered by ISCI. A total of 12 applicants will be selected for the 2025 training cohort (see the application process below for additional details).

The training program will: 1) increase understanding of how to apply implementation science tools for planning and writing requests for proposals; 2) provide templates to operationalize program development and implementation throughout an organization; and 3) offer science-based strategies to develop and improve HIV-related services. By the end of the training program, participants will have developed an initial implementation plan for a locally relevant HIV-related program and will receive a Certificate of Completion of the POISE training.

Selected participants are expected to:

    • Fully attend and participate in all training program components and activities during the 2025 program period (see required dates below)
    • Work at an organization that provides HIV services
    • Identify a project relevant to their organization to apply implementation science concepts and develop an implementation plan as part of the program
    • Have institutional support to devote time and effort to the program
    • Be located in an Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US priority jurisdiction

2025 Program Components

Program period: February 1 – June 30, 2025

    • Virtual kickoff meeting (February 6, 2025)
    • Initial virtual didactic session (February 27, 2025)
    • In-person training session in Chicago (March 10 – 11, 2025)
    • Virtual learning labs (April 10, May 1, and May 22, 2025)
    • Final full-day virtual meeting (June 12, 2025)
    • Training activities and assignments (throughout the training program)

Application Process

The required components of the online application include:

    • Basic demographic information and information about your organization
    • Three 250-word essays that address the following: (1) why you are interested in learning more about implementation science; (2) the HIV- related evidence-based intervention, practice, or program at your organization that you plan on implementing as part of the training exercises to identify barriers/facilitators, implementation strategies and outcomes; and (3) ways in which you will receive support from your organization to complete the training and its activities.
    • CV or resume

Applications for the 2025 POISE Training closed on January 6, 2025. Check this webpage later in the year or subscribe to our Interchange newsletter for more information on when the next application cycle will open.

Applicants will be notified the week of January 20, 2025. Applicant selection will be made to ensure the 2025 training cohort includes a wide range of backgrounds based on geography, type of organization, and HIV services offered by the applicant’s organization. Travel arrangements for in-person travel will begin the week of January 27.

Please direct any questions to ISCI@northwestern.edu with “POISE Training” in the subject line. You can also sign up for our biweekly Interchange newsletter to be notified of any updates to the POISE Training and application cycle.