Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Senior Associate Director of the Infant Follow-up Program, Children’s Hospital

My research involves epidemiologic and health services research investigations in the areas related to infant mortality and the outcomes of high-risk neonates. More specifically, current projects are in the following areas:

Outcomes of infants experiencing neonatal complications like low birth weight, and interventions potentially ameliorating adverse outcomes

Specific studies include:

• The Infant Health and Development Program. We have obtained early school-age data on a multi-site cohort (n = 1000) of low birth weight pre-term children who participated in a randomized trial of an early childhood educational intervention program. This study represents the largest trial of early intervention to date. Follow-up data at age 18 years has been collected and is being analyzed.
• An ongoing accumulating data-base on the follow-up of VLBW children managed in any of the three neonatal intensive care units staffed by the Division of Newborn Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Current studies include an examination of post-discharge growth patterns.
• We are currently analyzing the differences in use of hospital services and outcomes among moderately low birth weight infants managed in community hospitals in Massachusetts and California.

The evaluation of programs designed to improve the health of families and children.

Specific studies include:

• The evaluation of the national Healthy Start program. In collaboration with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., we are assessing the effect of a national program to reduce infant mortality rates by 50% in 15 of the highest risk communities in the United States.
• The Infant Health and Development Program (Cf. above)
• Under the aegis of the PROS (Pediatric Research in Office Settings) network of the American Academy of Pediatrics, we are conducting a study of the transition of young parent in the month following delivery among the patients of a large number of private pediatric practices.
• With personnel at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of the Department of Health and Human Services, we have initiated an annual report on access to and utilization of health services for children and youth.

Maternal health and prematurity

We are in the planning stages of a study to examine the risk factors for depression in mothers of NICU babies in order to plan interventions to improve the outcomes of both mothers and children.

M.D., 1971, The Johns Hopkins Medical School
Sc.D., 1978, The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health
Honorary Doctor of Human Letters, 2006, Emmanuel College