Research in the program's Section in Neonatal Epidemiology and Health Policy is directed at issues surrounding infant mortality in the United States, integrating population and clinical perspectives. Specific areas of interest include:
- Risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcome, especially those contributing to racial disparities
- Risk factors for specific complications of the newborn period, such as persistent pulmonary hypertension and intracranial hemorrhage
- Assessment of the role of perinatal and neonatal technology through evaluation of clinical interventions and practices, the relation of admission severity to resource use, and inter-institutional variation in outcomes and cost
- Characterization of the outcomes of high-risk infants and post-discharge interventions
- Impact of financial healthcare policy on the care of mothers and newborns
The section encourages fellows to seek a graduate research degree or equivalent experience at the Harvard School of Public Health. The section also maintains computing resources and databases available to fellows. In addition, the trainee can participate in the program's initiated Harvard Institute for Reproductive and Child Health, a multi-institutional program which seeks to assess and improve maternal and child health care policies.
