Methods for building a staff workforce of quantitative scientists in academic health care

Collaborative quantitative scientists, including biostatisticians, epidemiologists, bioinformaticists, and data-related professionals, play vital roles in research, from study design to data analysis and dissemination. It is imperative that academic health care centers (AHCs) establish an environment that provides opportunities for the quantitative scientists who are hired as staff to develop and advance their careers. With the rapid growth of clinical and translational research, AHCs are charged with establishing organizational methods, training tools, best practices, and guidelines to accelerate and support hiring, training, and retaining this staff workforce. This paper describes three essential elements for building and maintaining a successful unit of collaborative staff quantitative scientists in academic health care centers: (1) organizational infrastructure and management, (2) recruitment, and (3) career development and retention. Specific strategies are provided as examples of how AHCs can excel in these areas.