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JoAnna K Leyenaar, MD, MPH, PhD

Title(s)
Professor of Health Policy and Clinical Practice
Professor of Pediatrics
Paul Batalden Chair for Clinical Improvement and Professional Development

Additional Titles/Positions/Affiliations
Vice Chair of Research, Department of Pediatrics

Department(s)
Health Policy and Clinical Practice
Pediatrics

Websites
https://sites.dartmouth.edu/leyenaarlab/

Contact Information


Professional Interests

Healthcare quality for hospitalized children
Urban-rural disparities in pediatric healthcare quality
Healthcare delivery for pediatric mental health conditions
Hospital-to-home transitional care

Grant Information

Comparative Effectiveness of Direct Admission & Admission through Emergency Departments for Children (PCORI)

Urban-Rural Disparities in Children with Chronic Illness (NIH - NIMHD)

Biography

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.


Selected Publications

 

Response to Letter to editor.
Dev A, Horner-Johnson W, Schaefer A, Stukel TA, Goodman DC, Leyenaar JK
Disabil Health J. 2026 May 11;:102082. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2026.102082. Epub 2026 May 11.
PMID: 42142965

Early Intervention Enrollment Among Substance-exposed Infants in Massachusetts: A Population-level Analysis.
Peacock-Chambers E, Gu KQ, Miller E, Shieh MS, Jurkowski BL, Palmer S, Diop H, Singh R, Litt JS, Leyenaar JK
J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2026 May 1; doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000001486. Epub 2026 May 1.
PMID: 42081262

Variation in Suicide Risk Screening by Pediatricians Across Subspecialties.
Huttle A, Gasper G, Green CM, Leslie LK, Leyenaar JK
Pediatrics. 2026 May 1;157(5) pii: e2025071208. doi: 10.1542/peds.2025-071208.
PMID: 41974443

Behavioral and Mental Health Screening Practices, Barriers, and Facilitators: A National Survey of Pediatricians.
Gasper GM, Huttle A, Green CM, Leslie LK, Leyenaar JK
Acad Pediatr. 2026 May-Jun;26(4):103291. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2026.103291. Epub 2026 Mar 17.
PMID: 41856273

Characteristics of United States Rural Hospitals by General Pediatric Care Availability, 2023.
McDaniel CE, Seryozhenkov E, Dever R, Ralston Daniel M, Freyleue SD, Leyenaar JK
Acad Pediatr. 2026 May-Jun;26(4):103264. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2026.103264. Epub 2026 Feb 21.
PMID: 41730332

Race, ethnicity, and nativity differences in pregnancy and birth outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled women with disabilities.
Dev A, Horner-Johnson W, Schaefer A, Stukel TA, Goodman DC, Leyenaar JK
Disabil Health J. 2026 Jul;19(3):102052. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2026.102052. Epub 2026 Feb 14.
PMID: 41714270

Rural-urban disparities in primary care and geographic continuity of care for children with medical complexity.
Arakelyan M, Schaefer AP, Freyleue SD, Moen EL, O'Malley AJ, Goodman DC, Leyenaar JK
J Rural Health. 2026 Jan;42(1):e70122. doi: 10.1111/jrh.70122.
PMID: 41626991

Sex-Based Differences in Pediatric Mental Health Hospitalizations at US Hospitals-Reply.
Leyenaar JK, Freyleue S
JAMA. 2025 Oct 16; doi: 10.1001/jama.2025.14970. Epub 2025 Oct 16.
PMID: 41100107

Rural-Urban Differences in Emergency Department Choice for Children With Medical Complexity, 2012-2017.
Freyleue SD, Arakelyan M, Schaefer AP, Moen EL, O'Malley AJ, Goodman DC, Leyenaar JK
Pediatr Emerg Care. 2025 Dec 1;41(12):957-964. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000003469. Epub 2025 Sep 8.
PMID: 40908749

Hospitalizations by Children With Medical Complexity From 2009 to 2022.
Leyenaar JK, Freyleue S, Arakelyan M, Schaefer AP
Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 1;156(2) pii: e2025071774. doi: 10.1542/peds.2025-071774.
PMID: 40675610

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