June 1, 2018

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have tapped an OHSU School of Medicine department chair to lead a committee on health equity and childhood development. Jennifer DeVoe, M.D. R '04, M.C.R. '10, D.Phil., professor and chair of family medicine, was recently named chair of the Committee on Applying Neurobiological and Socio-behavioral Sciences from Prenatal through Early Childhood Development: A Health Equity Approach. Dr. DeVoe's appointment lasts until Aug. 31, 2019.

The NASEM has charged the committee with translating scientific evidence in a way that will advance health equity policies, programs and research focusing on the prenatal and early childhood periods. Specifically, Dr. DeVoe will lead the committee to:

1. Provide a brief overview of stressors that affect brain development and health
2. Identify promising models and opportunities for translation of the science to action
3. Identify outcome measures and develop a roadmap to apply the science to tailored interventions
4. Provide recommendations in these areas

Dr. DeVoe is an author on more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Her considerable research experience includes topics such as health care disparities, access to health care and children's health insurance. She was appointed chair of the Department of Family Medicine in 2016 and continues to see patients at the OHSU Family Medicine at Gabriel Park clinic.

The committee is part of the NASEM Culture of Health Program, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.