Bio
JoAnna Leyenaar is a pediatrician and health services researcher dedicated to improving pediatric quality of care. Her goal is to improve the lives of children by providing evidence-based, patient- and family-centered clinical care, and by disseminating research that improves our understanding of pediatric healthcare quality and efficiency, particularly among vulnerable and underserved populations. Her main areas of research interest include: care coordination for children with chronic illnesses, urban-rural disparities in healthcare quality, hospital-to-home transitions following hospital discharge, and improving the efficiency of hospital-based care. She is currently receiving funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of direct admission to hospital as an alternative to admission through emergency departments. Leyenaar received her MD from McMaster University (Canada), her MPH from Harvard University, and her PhD from Tufts University. As a member of The Dartmouth Institute faculty, she co-directs the capstone course and the field internship in the on-campus MPH program, as well as co-directs the program's course in social and behavioral determinants of health.
Published Research
Child Mortality in the United States: Bridging Palliative Care and Public Health Perspectives.
Leyenaar JK, Bogetz JF
Pediatrics|2018 Sep 19
Leyenaar JK, Andrews CB, Tyksinski ER, Biondi E, Parikh K, Ralston S
BMJ Qual Saf|2018 Aug 12
Desai AD, Simon TD, Leyenaar JK, Britto MT, Mangione-Smith R
Acad Pediatr|2018 Aug 2
Improving Hospital-to-Home Transitions for Children Entering Foster Care.
DeLucia M, Martens A, Leyenaar J, Mallory LA
Hosp Pediatr|2018 Aug
Multi-Stakeholder Informed Guidelines for Direct Admission of Children to Hospital.
Leyenaar JK, Shevenell M, Rizzo PA, Hill VL, Lindenauer PK
J Pediatr|2018 Jul
Courses Taught
PH 154:
Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health
(4 Credits)
This course examines the social, economic, cultural, organizational, and institutional factors that impact public and population health. These factors include population characteristics (social class, age, gender, cultural background, race, ethnicity), individual beliefs and behaviors, and socio-political systems and practices that affect public health problems and policies.
Required for MPH
Prerequisites: None
PH 161:
MPH Internship
(4 Credits)
The public health field internship provides students with an opportunity to apply principles and skills learned in the classroom - the measurement, organization, and improvement of public health care - to real situations in the field. A minimum of 120 hours is to be spent at the placement site during the winter and spring terms. Typically, this internship occurs in the final term of the year, but other arrangements are possible, typically for part-time students, with permission of the course director. Students who have completed their internships prepare and present an overview of their experience at the conclusion of the spring term and complete an exit appraisal of their experience and achievements.
Required for MPH; Not available for MS, PhD, Post-doc or Special students.
Prerequisites: PH 100, 102, 111, 115, 117, 139, 140, 151, and 154 or consent of course directors.
PH 177:
MPH and MS Capstone Course Series 1
(2 Credits)
The overarching goal of these courses, a series of three capstone seminars taught during the academic year, is to guide and support students throughout the completion of an academically robust, high quality culminating Capstone Project. Each week the class will meet briefly as a single group, followed by smaller group meetings to address the process and content of specific projects.
Fall, Winter, Spring terms; 2 credits each term (HP, P, LP, NC)
Prerequisites: None
PH 178:
MPH and MS Capstone Course Series 2
(2 Credits)
The overarching goal of these courses, a series of three capstone seminars taught during the academic year, is to guide and support students throughout the completion of an academically robust, high quality culminating Capstone Project. Each week the class will meet briefly as a single group, followed by smaller group meetings to address the process and content of specific projects.
Fall, Winter, Spring terms; 2 credits each term (HP, P, LP, NC)
Prerequisites: None
PH 179:
MPH and MS Capstone Course Series 3
(2 Credits)
The overarching goal of these courses, a series of three capstone seminars taught during the academic year, is to guide and support students throughout the completion of an academically robust, high quality culminating Capstone Project. Each week the class will meet briefly as a single group, followed by smaller group meetings to address the process and content of specific projects.
Fall, Winter, Spring terms; 2 credits each term (HP, P, LP, NC)
Prerequisites: None