Bio
A pediatrician and health services researcher, Dr. JoAnna Leyenaar's work is focused on improving the quality of healthcare provided to children, particularly those who are vulnerable and underserved. In her clinical role, Dr. Leyenaar works as a pediatric hospitalist and Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Pediatrics at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Dr. Leyenaar's main areas of research interest include: care coordination for children with chronic illnesses, urban-rural disparities in healthcare quality, hospital-to-home transitions, integration of mental and behavioral healthcare in pediatrics, and care of opioid-exposed infants. She is currently receiving funding from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of direct admission to hospital as an alternative to admission through emergency departments. In addition, she is funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to examine urban-rural disparities in healthcare access and outcomes for children with medical complexity. Dr. Leyenaar received her MD from McMaster University (Canada), her MPH from Harvard University, and her PhD from Tufts University.
Published Research
Pediatric Mental Health Hospitalizations at Acute Care Hospitals in the US, 2009-2019.
Arakelyan M, Freyleue S, Avula D, McLaren JL, O'Malley AJ, Leyenaar JK
JAMA|2023 Mar 28
Leyenaar JK, Arakelyan M, Acquilano SC, Gilbert TL, Craig JT, Lee CN, Kodak SG, Ignatova E, Mudge LA, House SA, Brady RE
J Adolesc Health|2023 Jun
Direct Admission to Hospital for Children in the United States.
Leyenaar JK, Hill V, Lam V, Stern R, Vaughan KW, COMMITTEE ON HOSPITAL CARE
Pediatrics|2023 Mar 1
Goodman DC, Romano CJ, Hall C, Bukowinski AT, Mu TS, Gumbs GR, Conlin AMS, Vereen RJ, Leyenaar JK
J Perinatol|2023 Feb 15
Hospitalists' Perceptions of Pediatric Mental Health Boarding: Quality of Care and Moral Distress.
Penwill NY, Wong CT, Taylor DB, Freyleue SD, Bordogna AL, Bode RS, Leyenaar JK
Hosp Pediatr|2023 Mar 1
Courses Taught
PH 177:
MPH and MS Capstone Course Series 1
(2)
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)
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)
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