As you know, Francesca L. Beaudoin M.D., M.S., Ph.D., has led the School’s Department of Epidemiology in an interim capacity for over a year. Dr. Beaudoin has shown extraordinary leadership in this role, particularly in navigating the department's efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a national search, we are delighted to announce that Dr. Beaudoin will now be appointed the Department of Epidemiology Chair, effective July 1, 2023.

Dr. Beaudoin is a clinical epidemiologist and practicing physician. She received a master's in kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and received her medical degree at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She completed her residency training in emergency medicine at Rhode Island Hospital and doctoral training in epidemiology at Brown University. She began her academic career as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School in 2010.

Dr. Beaudoin’s research lies at the intersection of pain, opioid use, and opioid use disorders. Her work is widely recognized as impacting the landscape of pain management and improving post-overdose care in acute care settings (e.g., emergency departments). Dr. Beaudoin has written and implemented practice management policies for healthcare systems on pain management and opioid prescribing and has served as a member of the Food and Drug Administration Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee. She collaborates with state stakeholders, such as the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Overdoses. Dr. Beaudoin has also served as Senior Medical Advisor at the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) where she leads work on comparative effectiveness.

While interim chair, Dr. Beaudoin welcomed seven new faculty to the department as well as the launch of the new Pandemic Center. In the past two years, Dr. Beaudoin has published more than 45 peer-reviewed articles and received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Defense, and private foundations. She also led an initiative focused on the health effects of Long COVID, an effort recognized by policymakers and various media outlets such as the Boston Globe, Washington Post, CNN International, and Newsweek. She continues to serve the community providing clinical care at the Nation’s first mobile addiction clinic that provides methadone treatment.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Beaudoin for her outstanding leadership as Interim Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and congratulating her on her new appointment as chair.

Sincerely,

Ronald E. Aubert Ph.D.
Interim Dean, School of Public Health

Megan L. Ranney M.D., MPH
Deputy Dean, School of Public Health