News

Joann Petrini Named Chief Science Officer

April 19, 2016

Joann PetriniJoann Petrini, PhD, MPH, has joined NICHQ’s executive team as the Chief Science Officer. In this role she provides leadership and guidance on NICHQ's content and evaluation strategy, oversight of all contracts and grant-funded projects, and standardization of research protocols and metrics across NICHQ's programs.

Petrini comes to NICHQ from Western Connecticut Health Network where she has been director of Clinical and Health Outcomes Research in the Department of Research and Innovation for the past seven years. In this role, she has led research including both industry-sponsored clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies at three hospitals in Connecticut. Prior to that, Petrini served in various roles at the March of Dimes Foundation, where she launched and directed the Perinatal Data Center and was a senior advisor to the Office of the President. 

Petrini has served as one of 15 members of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services’ Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality. In 2002, Petrini was selected as the recipient of the National Young Professional Achievement Award from the Coalition for Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology. She is published widely in the fields of perinatal epidemiology and public health. 

“Joann brings a distinguished career in maternal and child health and epidemiology and a passion for children’s health that is an excellent fit for NICHQ,” says NICHQ CEO Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH, FAAP. “We are thrilled to have someone of Joann’s caliber joining our leadership team to help guide NICHQ into the future.”

Petrini currently has academic appointments as a clinical associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. She holds a master’s degree in Public Health from Yale University and has a second master’s degree in Public Administration and a doctoral degree in Health Policy, Finance and Research from New York University.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Josh Licursi
Josh Licursi
NICHQ Communications Manager
[email protected] or 617-391-2757