Leadership and Other Staff Profiles

Learn more about NICHD leadership, researchers, and grantees.

Director

John Gaitanis, M.D., became Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development on August 23, 2026. Previously, Dr. Gaitanis served as Chief of Child Neurology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and Director of Child Neurology at Brown Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Gaitanis has advanced research and clinical care for individuals with complex neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, expanded access to specialized services, and trained physicians to deliver comprehensive, individualized care. His work has also advanced clinician education and evidence-informed approaches that support the health, communication needs, autonomy, and dignity of nonspeaking individuals with autism. Dr. Gaitanis received his M.D. from Brown Medical School and completed his pediatrics residency at the University of Rochester. He subsequently completed his neurology training at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where he served as chief resident, followed by fellowship training in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. 

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Other Profiles

• Deputy Director, NICHD, Dorothy Fink, M.D. 
• Director, Division of Extramural Research, Rohan Hazra, M.D.
• Director, Division of Extramural Activities, Rebekah Rasooly, Ph.D.
• Scientific Director, Christopher McBain, Ph.D.
• NICHD Clinical Director, Catherine Gordon, M.D., M.S.
• Director of Population Health Research, Division of Intramural Research, Una Grewal, Ph.D., M.P.H.
• Director, NICHD National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, Theresa Hayes Cruz, Ph.D.
• NICHD Research Profiles: Series that highlights the efforts and activities of institute-funded grantees and trainees

If you need additional biographical information on NICHD leadership or would like to schedule an interview with an NICHD staff member, contact the Office of Communications and Public Liaison via the Media Contacts page.