Learning Objective #1: Develop strategies to create innovative infrastructures in his/her work setting

Learning Objective #2: Motivate others to work collaboratively across disciplines to create innovative infrastructures

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Innovative leadership can occur through active development of an infrastructure to facilitate collaborative research across multiple disciplines. The purpose of this paper is to describe the genesis and development of a Working Interdisciplinary Qualitative Research Group that was created in response to an identified need for faculty and students at the University of Pittsburgh to systematically learn how to conduct qualitative research. Initially a small group of about 5 people from various health care disciplines came together for a group independent study with the author. The group grew to about 20 people as others learned about the group and contacted the author to ask if they could join. The author responded to this clear and obvious need by taking a leadership role in formalizing this group. She applied for funding to maintain the group, to develop a website, and to organize a conference. She received funding from a Steven Manners Award from the University Center for Social and Urban Research at the University of Pittsburgh. The innovative aspects of this group are the following: 1) it is interdisciplinary, in keeping with the new Roadmap Initiative from the National Institutes of Health, 2) it has led to subsequent programs, including the development of some community outreach activities, a training program on using qualitative software, and regular meetings that allow colleagues to present and critique ongoing scholarly work, 3) further projects are being developed to sustain this group, and 4) new people continue to join the group, with a current list of about 75 people. The development of this group is an example of leadership through infrastructure development, creating a context in which needed work can be accomplished. This paper will present the history of the group, the ongoing development and challenges to development, and goals for sustaining the group.