This article may reflect the Service Line Directors’ initial thinking, which may experience changes as the Service Lines develop.
What are Research Data Services?
The Research Data Services (RDS) team at SMPH offers an integrated approach to supporting research activities by bringing together various data teams. The RDS team includes the Clinical Research Data Service (CRDS), Radiology Imaging staff, the CREW Data Team, and the REACH Program Team. Our goal is to streamline data access and management, enhance efficiency, and facilitate collaboration among data teams to meet the evolving needs of researchers. Modernizing data services ensures that researchers have the tools and support they need for a seamless and effective research experience at SMPH.
Q+A with Research Data Services Director Gabe McMahan
What is your role and initial focus as a new Service Line Director?
As the Research Data Services Director, I lead multiple data teams that support research activities within SMPH. Current data services and staff under RDS include the Clinical Research Data Service (CRDS), Radiology Imaging staff, the CREW Data Team (Children’s Respiratory Research and Environment Workgroup), and the REACH Project Team (which builds on the work of the Survey of Health of Wisconsin – SHOW).
One of my initial focuses is to find ways to bring the teams together to learn from each other and create efficiencies. For example, investigators often need both imaging and EHR discrete data fields related to a given set of patient encounters. Currently the data teams pulling the images and database elements have completely different request processes and sit in completely different teams. Moving forward, I hope to bring these teams together in a way they can work together, making the data request and delivery process smoother for both the data teams and the investigators.
What inspired you to step into this leadership position?
I feel that the role is a natural fit for my experience here at SMPH. I have managed the CRDS team for the past five years and more recently have started to oversee the data operations of some of the other teams. This position oversees a lot of the activities I have already been a part of in some capacity. When I saw how the service lines were being drawn, I was excited about the opportunity.
How do you envision your service line supporting the goals of the Office of IIT?
There is a large and growing demand for research data within the school. Bringing the different data services under one umbrella makes it easier for us to share knowledge, implement new technologies across groups, and work together on delivering data and services.
What are you most looking forward to in this new role?
I am most looking forward to helping the data teams implement new technologies and services that make the research data experience at UW more modern and capable.
What’s one key message you’d like to share with your new team?
I’m excited to work with everyone on the team while we evaluate and revamp our data service offerings.
Anything else you would like to add?
I’m excited for the new challenges this role brings and look forward to supporting our investigators with efficient and modern data services into the future.