Building Research Partnerships with Health Care Organizations: The Scholar Award Model in Action

In the current era of limited funding, researchers need strategic alliances to launch or sustain programs of research to significantly impact the nation's health. This article presents a collaborative model, the Scholar Award Model, which is based on a strategic alliance between a College of Nursing in a research-intensive university and a pediatric campus of a local 22 hospital system. The conceptualization, marketing, and implementation of the Scholar Award Model are described and three examples of the model in action are illustrated. Features that have contributed to the success of the model include mutual goals with clearly defined outcomes, codified operating rules and procedures, and shared resources that differentially capitalize on the strengths and expertise of everyone involved. It is recommended that research directors in academic and healthcare organizations who are seeking ways to promote health research use the model to develop similar alliances.