Seema Sonnad, Ph.D., appointed to advisory panel of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Seema S. Sonnad, Ph.D., director of Health Services Research at Christiana Care Health System’s Value Institute, has been appointed to represent researchers as a member of the recently established stakeholder Advisory Panel on Assessment of Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
PCORI is an independent, non-profit organization authorized by Congress as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Its mission is to produce and promote high quality, evidence-based information from research guided by patients, caregivers and the broader health care community.
The panel will identify and prioritize critical research questions for possible funding initiatives under PCORI’s research priority for the Assessment of Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options. It will also provide ongoing feedback and advice on evaluating and disseminating the research conducted under the program.
The 21-member panel represents different sectors across the health care community, including researchers, clinicians, patients, caregivers, insurers, employers, policymakers and industry. Dr. Sonnad is participating in the advisory panel representing researchers.
“Our advisory panels will help us identify and prioritize the questions that are important to patients, caregivers clinicians and others, and also help us evaluate all of our research programs,” said Anne Beal, M.D., MPH, PCORI’s deputy executive director, chief officer for engagement and chief operating officer.
Dr. Sonnad was one of 84 individuals selected to serve on four advisory panels. PCORI received applications from 1,021 individuals for panel membership. PCORI staff thoroughly reviewed each application and evaluated candidates based on their personal experience, qualifications and ability to represent their respective stakeholder communities.
Dr. Sonnad joined Christiana Care in 2012. She previously served as director of outcomes research in the departments of surgery at the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to completing her Ph.D. in Health Services and Policy Analysis, Dr. Sonnad received a MS in statistics from Stanford University, co-founded a medical diagnostics company and worked in business development for Stanford University Hospital.
Her research interests include a broad range of interdisciplinary and collaborative topics in health care, particularly research that improves the understanding of how individuals and organizations make decisions about new technology.
Charters for PCORI Advisory Panels, including the scope of work for panelists, are available on the PCORI website. Advisory panel members receive one-year appointments, with the opportunity for reappointment for a maximum of two terms.