Robert H. Houlihan, FACHE, CCRP, CRA
Dr. Robert H. Houlihan,
DHA, FACHE, CCRP earned a B.S. in Community Health Services from Worcester
State College, an M.B.A. in Health Services form Clark University, and in 2009
completed work required to fulfill the requirements for a Doctor of Health
Administration (DHA) degree from Central Michigan University.
In 2001, he joined the University of Massachusetts Medical School as the
Administrator for the UMass Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, a Mental Retardation
and Developmental Disability Research Center (MRDDRC). In this capacity, he
oversaw the financial and administrative obligations of a thriving research
center. As part of his responsibilities, he administratively managed a National
Institute Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Center (P30) Gant, four
Program Project (P01) grants, and a number of NIH research project (R01) grants.
At the time, the Center’s annual research portfolio was more than $14M and had
an annual operating budget of $2.3M. n was asked to join the organization’s Vice Chancellor for
Administration and Finance’s staff. In this capacity, he oversaw a number of
institutional initiatives that included the creation of the first publically
funded Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) program to increase the number of nurses
practicing in the state; the establishment of a viable online education program
to grant CME credits for busy clinicians; the development of an educational
Simulation Center for medical and nursing students; the centralization of
research cores for the institution; and, the creation of the UMass Policy Office
that manages, maintains, and disseminates all policies and procedures for the
institution.
In 2005, Dr. Houlihan joined the Department of Cancer Biology and the UMass
Memorial Cancer Center of Excellence as the senior Administrator for both
activities. In these roles he brings the depth of experience developed from
managing complex education, research, and service missions and the breadth of
participating in cross-organizational practices in an academic medical
institution and a thriving clinical enterprise. As such, he is responsible for
general management and administrative oversight for the department and center
that includes, but not limited to: financial management, including budgetary and
administrative preparation of sponsored research projects; administration of pre
and post-award finances to insure compliance with sponsoring agency guidelines;
development, submission, and monitoring, of operating budgets; and, oversight of
ILATs (Core Services) for both the department and UMass Memorial Cancer Center,
IS/IT systems, equipment and capital purchases; and space allocation and effort
certification of all employees. Dr. Houlihan is also responsible for all Human
Resource management that includes participation and approval of the hiring and
development of staff, students, and faculty; responsibility for all personnel
action decisions; and, institutional and sponsor policy interpretation and
adherence.
Recently, Dr. Houlihan was recruited by the Virginia Commonwealth University
Massey Cancer Center to assume the newly developed position of Director for
Research Administration and Center Operations. In this role he combines his
experience in sponsored projects management and administrative knowledge to aid
the Massey Cancer Center in achieving National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated
Compressive Cancer Center status.
Dr. Houlihan is board certified in healthcare management and a Fellow in the
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Dr. Houlihan also maintains a
certification as a Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) through the
Society of Clinical Research Associates.
Research Interest: Cancer clinical trial (CCT) accrual barriers