The Learning Health systems training to improve Disability and chronic condition care (LeaHD) center announces its second class of Learning Health System Scientists

By Maggie Whitten

LeaHD, funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute is one of 16 E-STAR centers across the country dedicated to supporting learning health systems. LeaHD trains learning health systems scientists who will be poised to transform the delivery, quality and outcomes of care for persons with disability and chronic conditions by focusing embedded research on rehabilitation and long term services and supports (LTSS).

Our newest LHS Scientists will begin their year and half-long training activities in September, 2025. They include: Ellen McCreedy, Ph.D., M.P.H. (Brown University) who will be embedded with BAYADA Home Health; Rachel Pruzynski, D.P.T., Ph.D., N.C.S. (University of Washington) who will be embedded with Intermountain Health; Christopher Lewis, M.D. (University of Washington) who will be embedded with Spaulding Rehabilitation; and Jennifer Weaver, Ph.D., O.T.R./L., C.B.I.S. (Colorado State University), who will be embedded with the Cleveland Clinic. LHS Scientists will work together with their health system partners with guidance from health system mentors, academic mentors and methodologic experts to identify and address important questions focused on rehabilitation and LTSS for persons with disability and chronic conditions.

We are excited to welcome this new group of exceptionally talented investigators, who were selected from a large pool of applicants who competed for this unique training opportunity. The incoming group of Scientists come from diverse disciplinary backgrounds including gerontology, physical therapy, physical medicine & rehabilitation, and occupational therapy. They bring a shared commitment to improving care and outcomes for individuals living with disabilities and chronic health conditions. Each incoming Scientist has been carefully matched to a health system and academic mentor who will mentoring team to help guide their training and research activities.

Linda Resnik LeaHD Principal Investigator

LeaHD is a collaborative effort of the Brown University School of Public Health, the University of Pittsburgh and Boston University, together with ten health system and health organization partners. LeaHD’s principal investigator is Linda Resnik, P.T., Ph.D., FAPTA, professor of health services, policy and practice at Brown’s School of Public Health. Resnik also serves as a research career scientist at the Providence VA Medical Center. LeaHD faculty include Professors Theresa Shireman, Rosa Baier, and Emma Belanger of the Brown University School of Public Health; Professors Janet Freburger and Elizabeth Skidmore of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh; as well as Professor Mary Slavin of the Boston University School of Public Health.

For more information about the new Scientists, our current cohort of Scientists and the LeaHD program, please visit the LeaHD website, or contact LeaHDResearch@gmail.com

Visit the LeaHD website