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

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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 30th deadline – next April 15th 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
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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 2012-13 competition resulted in the
approval of $1.4M in Innovation funding. To date
close to 8 million dollars has been awarded.

For fiscal 2013-14 there is same amount
available (1.4 M). The local deadline is midnight
October 31st 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.
www.amosoweb.ca
User name – amoso
Password – afpfunding
Feel free to email AMOSO ( amoso@lhsc.on.ca) or contact Ms Patricia Telfer
(patricia.telfer@lhsc.on.ca)
Innovation Fund Showcase
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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?