Academic Medical Organization of Southwestern Ontario (AMOSO)

What is AMOSO? AMOSO is the local Governing body responsible for the London Ontario Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) Alternate Funding Plan (AFP) contract – all six Ontario medical schools have a funding plan AMOSO was established in 2003 as an unincorporated association with representation from the Clinical Teachers Association at Western, London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Care London and Western University. Dr. John Sangster, Chair of the AMOSO Governing Committee and Ms. Patricia Telfer, Executive Director of AMOSO

How Can AMOSO Help Me? The AHSC AFP Provincial plan provides faculty-wide alternate funding to compensate academic physicians for both academic and clinical deliverables AMOSO distributes over 35 million in Clinical and Academic funding to 16 AFP Practice Plans. The AFP Practice Plans are based mainly around University or Hospital Depts. Each AFP Practice Plan has its own governance structure All AFP Physicians belong to one of the 16 AFP Practice plans and are eligible to participate in AMOSO Fund competitions

AMOSO AFP Physician Funding Competitions As part of this funding model, AMOSO supports two funding competitions for AFP Participating Physicians: Opportunities Fund competition (locally funded and the only one in province) held twice yearly (recent Sept 30 th deadline – next April 15 th 2014) Innovation Fund competition which is held annually as determined Provincially – current local deadline midnight October 31, 2013

AMOSO OPPORTUNITIES FUND COMPETITION

AMOSO Opportunities Fund Established locally by AMOSO from Academic funding back in 2003 to support teaching and research projects by providing one time startup funding to compensate newly recruited AFP physicians or existing AFP physicians for new academic roles. Projects must be approved by your AFP Practice Plan Financial Management Committee (FMC) before submission to AMOSO (sign off forms provided). Contact your AFP Practice Plan administrator well in advance to understand their process and timelines.

AMOSO Opportunities Fund Projects can be 1-3 years in length. Projects must show collaboration with another Department which can include Western Basic Science Depts. Budget is for protected AFP Physician time for the project (no more than 2 days) AMOSO Compensation guidelines are applicable for time not otherwise clinically remunerated: Not to exceed $32,500 per annum for one day/week, up to a maximum of $65,000 for two days/week across all AMOSO funded projects. Half days can be applied for and Practice plan allowed to top up if applicable.

AMOSO Opportunities Fund Funding is provided for the initial year if ethics approval or exemption in place. The release of the remainder years done annually contingent on an annual review process to ensure the project is achieving its stated objectives. Final reports are required and AMOSO will be following up successes after 2 years.

AMOSO Opportunities Fund All submissions are adjudicated by the Opportunities Fund Sub-Committee and a score based on the CIHR Scoring System determines the merit of each project. Current Chair is Dr. Mark Levstik Recommended projects are considered by the AMOSO Governing Committee for final approval

AMOSO Opportunities Fund Funding to date funding for projects has totaled in excess of $8 million. Many new faculty apply. Detailed reviewer comments provided and if unsuccessful, can reapply. Many project leads have gone on to generate further funding including CIHR funding.

AMOSO INNOVATION FUND COMPETITION

AMOSO Innovation Fund Established provincially to support the development of new and innovative practices in health care delivery (both quality initiatives and research projects) and to support leadership and the dissemination of knowledge across the healthcare system Call for Proposals are sent out annually with a submission deadline date usually falling at the end of October.

AMOSO Innovation Fund Provides seed money to support clinical innovation: to enable academic physicians to develop a program sufficiently to qualify for additional support to facilitate the translation of new strategies into medical practice and to evaluate novel strategies to transform health care delivery in Ontario

AMOSO Innovation Fund Projects can be up to 2 years in length. Budgets often do not fund physician but more supportive costs/support staff costs. Projects must be approved by the AFP Practice Plan Financial Management Committee (FMC) before submission to AMOSO Contact your AFP Practice Plan administrator well in advance to understand their process and timelines.

AMOSO Innovation Fund Funding is provided for the initial year with the release of the remainder contingent on an annual review process to ensure the project is achieving its stated objectives Compensation guidelines are applicable for AFP Physician time not otherwise clinically remunerated: Not to exceed $32,500 per annum for one day/week, up to a maximum of $65,000 for two days/week for all AMOSO funded projects. AFP Practice plan can top up if applicable

AMOSO Innovation Fund All submissions are adjudicated by the Innovation Fund Sub-Committee and a score based on the CIHR scoring system determines the merit of each project. The Current Chair of our Innovation Fund Subcommittee is Dr. Michael Rieder. Recommended projects are considered by the AMOSO Governing Committee with final approval by the Innovation Fund Provincial Oversight Committee (IFPOC) by March each year

AMOSO Innovation Fund The competition resulted in the approval of $1.4M in Innovation funding. To date close to 8 million dollars has been awarded. For fiscal there is same amount available (1.4 M). The local deadline is midnight October 31 st A slate of projects will be submitted Jan 2014 for Provincial approval by the end of March.

Where Do I Find More Info? Please refer to our AMOSO Website to find out about AMOSO, the AFP, Practice plans and the Research Funding Competitions. You will see information about applications, the competition and be able to see a list of projects funded. User name – amoso Password – afpfunding Feel free to AMOSO ( or contact Ms Patricia Telfer

Innovation Fund Showcase In 2010 and now Nov 28, 2013 the Province has held an Innovation Fund Showcase conference to highlight successful projects This year 14 of our projects were selected to present posters out of a possible 600 projects. Several physicians also selected to be on panels.

AMOSO AFP Physician Funding Competitions QUESTIONS?