H.D. Covvey, C. DiMarco, P.Kearney, J. MacNeill

The Center for Computer Science Research in Health Informatics (CCSRHI) is the Computer Science component of the University of Waterloo Institute for Health Informatics.

The advancement of Health Informatics (HI) depends on the creation of a Computer Science conceptual infrastructure that will enable progress. The Center for Computer Science Research in Health Informatics (CCSRHI) is an environment that catalyzes and fosters creativity focused on the development of Computer Science knowledge that is essential to the advancement of Health Informatics (HI). We aspire to solve problems that hinder progress in Health Informatics, and to produce HI researchers whose strength is their Computer Science knowledge and credentials. Our focus is distinct from that of groups that apply concepts and tools of the type we produce to satisfying the need for Health Informatics solutions.

Our primary goals are:

• To become a center of excellence in Computer Science research that extends the conceptual underpinnings of Health Informatics.

• To provide a focus for intra- and inter-departmental inter-disciplinary Computer Science (CS) research that attracts both faculty and student involvement and enhances the CS graduate program. Health Informatics problems provide interesting and arresting real-life topics for Masters and Ph.D. theses, as well as for faculty research.

The primary strategies we will employ to achieve our goal wills be to:

1. Build on our strength as a Computer Science department with strong industry affiliations and an emphasis on real-world problems. Hence the emphasis on Computer Science research that creates the underpinnings of Health Informatics, not directly on Health Informatics itself.
2. Maintain a narrow but purposeful focus on what we can do and what will be most valuable to us as a department and particularly as a graduate program.
3. Develop the program gradually around the core of 2 – 3 CS faculty committing at least 50% of their time to the program (e.g., Covvey and DiMarco), 1 – 2 faculty with significant but lesser commitments (e.g., Kearney and Pidduck), and approximately 8 other faculty that have an interest in HI-related topics. Add HI strength by involving highly qualified external faculty as collaborators and/or as adjunct faculty. Recruit internal faculty as progress supports such.
4. Create deliverables of value to HI professionals (e.g., HI researchers, companies, etc.), such as concepts and tools, information, educational opportunities, publications, etc., that attract their attention, their interest, and their respect, and build our credibility and access to interesting projects. This will in turn generate graduate topics that attract and maintain the interest and dedication of our graduate students.
5. Distinguish ourselves through success in various peer review channels, especially publication and competition for funds.
6. Differentiate ourselves by our commitment to CS research that underpins HI and by our emphasis on the production of HI professionals whose strength is their CS knowledge and credentials.

We have recognized that achieving our goals will require that we continuously assess our strengths, carefully choose our foci, produce quality work that builds our credibility, and engage appropriate resources that enable our success. In order to achieve our goal we have identified the following sequential objectives:

1. To identify faculty with an interest in Health Informatics-related research and to cultivate their participation as co-supervisors of graduate students pursuing theses addressing HI-relevant topics, and as collaborators in multi-disciplinary research projects. [1999 – 2000]
2. To attract students to pursue Masters and Ph.D. theses on HI-relevant topics through internal promotion of this area (at least 5 students by the Spring of 2001, and 10 by the Spring of 2002). [Begin Spring 2000]
3. To develop at least one graduate course addressing HI research (e.g., CS786R). [Begin Spring 2000]
4. To develop a small number (1 – 3) of research foci that stimulate collaboration among multiple specialists in Computer Science (e.g.: information management, artificial intelligence, and bio-informatics) and that lead to fundable projects. [Winter 2000]
5. To identify and cultivate collaborators in industry, in the health system, and at other schools with HI programs. [Begin Summer 2000]
6. To develop an advisory group selected from industry, the health system, and from external health informatics programs and to regularly seek their council on the goals, objectives, and activities of the Center. [Summer 2000]
7. To submit at least 1-2 research grant requests to seek the resources required to initiate at least 2 research projects that involve multiple CS specialists and one or more external collaborators. [Spring 2001]
8. To seek internal support for and develop 1 new graduate HI-related course each year beyond CS786R, building up to a total of 4 - 5 [Spring of 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004]
9. To recruit, within 2 years, at least 1 CS faculty member whose primary research area is HI-related. [Spring 2003]
10. To attract and retain at least 5 highly-qualified adjunct faculty with recognized expertise and a track record in HI research as well as credibility in one or more areas of CS. [Begin Winter 2000]
11. To submit and have accepted for presentation, papers, tutorial proposals, etc., that publicize the work of the Center, to major North American Health Informatics Conferences (e.g., AMIA, HIMSS, COACH/InFocus). [Beginning Summer 2000]
12. To submit and have accepted for publication, papers, chapters, monographs, etc., that report the work of the Center, to peer reviewed HI and CS journals (e.g., JAMIA, JHIMS, Medical Informatics, etc. [Beginning Summer 2001]
13. To develop and maintain a website that provides information about the Center, as well as an access point to literature produced by its members or found to be a value to them. [Winter 2000]
14. To hold a pre-scheduled monthly seminar, open to UW faculty and students, as well as to interested parties from the health system and related industries, on an HI topic of current interest. [Begin Winter 2000-2001]
15. To offer each year, for both local and national attendance, at least several seminars/think tanks on topics of importance in HI (wherever these would be supported using virtual conferencing techniques, thereby making them widely accessible). [Begin Fall 2001]
16. To publish at least 2 articles per year that report the results of our major collaborative projects, as well as articles submitted by individuals, in peer reviewed CS and HI journals. [Beginning Spring 2001]
17. To establish a recognized and utilized website that articulates the nature and products of the Center and that serves as a primary information resource for HI researchers [Spring 2001].
18. To obtain program/infrastructural funding for the Center within 3 – 5 years. [Fall 2003 – 2005]

The Center will have the following structure: