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Center for Health Optimization & Implementation Research

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Veteran Consultant Network

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What is the Veteran Consultant Network (VCN)? 

Veterans and caregivers are experts in their health and health care experiences. We have created several ways that this expertise can be brought to individual research studies to improve the quality and relevance of research findings. CHOIR’s VCN is comprised of Veterans and/or caregivers who have expressed interest in sharing their expertise on CHOIR’s research, evaluation, and quality improvement studies and signed up to be included in our consultant database to learn about opportunities to get involved. 

What are the Opportunities? 

There are two types of Veteran Consultant roles: Veteran Experience Partners, who work with one or more study teams in an on-going capacity, and Ad-Hoc Veteran Experience Experts, who provide input on specific questions or products on an as-needed basis.  

Veteran Experience Partners

Veteran and/or caregiver consultants who work with study teams in an on-going capacity to improve research, evaluation, and quality improvement studies by contributing their insights into Veterans’ experiences and views.  

Example activities as a Veteran Experience Partner: 

  • Attend project meetings (frequency is mutually agreed upon with study lead).  
  • Give feedback on research questions and study design.  
  • Review data collection tools, e.g. interview guides, with an eye toward Veteran experiences. 
  • Review aggregate data (grouped or summarized data, without personal identifying information). 
  • Provide input on design of interventions or materials, like a program or brochure. 
  • Provide suggestions for how and where to disseminate study findings. 

Compensation: 

Veteran Experience Partners are compensated $30 per hour for their time. Per VA regulations, Veterans and caregivers can be compensated up to $2500 per year for the time they contribute to VA studies.   

Ad-hoc Veteran Experience Expert

Opportunities for Veterans and/or caregivers to provides input on an ad hoc basis to address specific study questions that will inform the development, conduct, or analysis of a study, or provide feedback on specific products. 

Example activities as Ad-hoc Veteran Experience Expert: 

  • Attend a Veteran Research Conference and provide input to a study team that is developing a research grant. You may be asked your opinions about a study idea, questions, recruitment approaches and/or study materials (e.g., surveys, recruitment flyers). 
  • Meet with a research team one time to help on a specific component of a study. Typical examples include reviewing a survey or interview guide to provide feedback on the questions asked or recruitment materials to provide input for improvement. 

Compensation: 

Veteran Experience Partners are compensated $30 per hour for their time. Per VA regulations, Veterans and caregivers can be compensated up to $2500 per year for the time they contribute to VA studies.   

Interested in More Information? 

The Veteran Consultant Network is run by the Veteran Engagement in Research Group (VERG). If you are interested in more information about the Veteran Consultant Network, please send an email to Jacqui Boudreau, CHOIR Communications Director, who will route you to the appropriate person. One of our coordinators will be in touch to answer your questions and add you to our network if you are interested! 

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