Children's Hospital New Orleans Appoints Dr. Stacy Drury As Chief Research Officer

Drury, Vice Chair of Research for Tulane University School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics and an alumna of LSU Health New Orleans, brings extensive expertise and leadership to pediatric medical research at Children’s Hospital.

NEW ORLEANS – Children’s Hospital New Orleans proudly announces the appointment of Stacy Drury, MD, PhD, as Chief Research Officer, a critical role in Children’s Hospital’s Department of Research. Dr. Drury holds the Remigio Gonzalez MD Endowed Professorship of Child Psychiatry at Tulane University School of Medicine. She is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Vice Chair of Research for Tulane’s Department of Pediatrics.

“Children’s Hospital has positioned itself as the leading pediatric academic medical center in the Gulf South,” said John R. Nickens IV, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital New Orleans. “With Dr. Drury providing direction and leadership to our research enterprise, we are well-positioned to expand on our legacy of promoting well-being for kids across Louisiana and the Gulf South through innovation, discovery, and scholarly activity focused on improving health outcomes for kids.”

The Department of Research at Children’s Hospital coordinates all clinical and translational research programs for a broad array of interprofessional pediatric providers. Dr. Drury will provide the leadership necessary to enhance research initiatives at Children’s Hospital in collaboration with Children’s Hospital’s two medical school partners, LSU Health New Orleans and the Tulane University School of Medicine.

On March 1, Children’s Hospital welcomed the Tulane University School of Medicine to an already vibrant academic community Children’s enjoys in partnership with LSU Health New Orleans. The new affiliation with Tulane University School of Medicine allows Children’s Hospital to expand its clinical research portfolio. Tulane conducts a significant portion of the pediatric research performed in the State of Louisiana, with more than $5 million annually in federally funded studies.

“Enhancing research efforts for LSU and Tulane faculty will bring new opportunities to improve the health of children in Louisiana,” said Samir El-Dahr, MD, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Tulane School of Medicine and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Children’s Hospital. “Dr. Drury’s leadership and passion for learning will enhance research at every level, and ultimately transform the care that our patients and families receive.”

“The discovery of new treatment approaches for childhood illnesses is a core mission of academic pediatric departments. The unique incorporation of pediatric researchers from LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane University School of Medicine, at one children’s hospital, provides unparalleled opportunities for medical exploration and inquiry through research,” said Raymond G. Watts, MD, Head of the Department of Pediatrics at LSU Health New Orleans and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Children’s Hospital. “The benefits to the children of Louisiana are limitless.”

Dr. Drury is a nationally regarded thought leader on the interaction of genetic and epigenetic factors with early experience and how this interaction shapes neurodevelopment and long-term outcomes in children. Her research focuses on improving outcomes in at-risk children by providing an enhanced understanding of the interaction between early life experiences, the stress response systems, and neurodevelopment.

Dr. Drury completed her BA in religious studies and biology from the University of Virginia, and then went on to earn a MS in Human Genetics from the University of Michigan. She earned both her MD and PhD from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and completed her residency training at Tulane University School of Medicine in General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Drury joined the faculty at Tulane University School of Medicine in 2008.

###

About Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Children’s Hospital New Orleans is a 229-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, delivered just for children. With more than 400 physicians trained in more than 40 pediatric subspecialties, Children’s offers a comprehensive array of pediatric healthcare services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, the hospital operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana and in Southern Mississippi, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette. Children’s Hospital offers primary care services at 15 convenient locations throughout Southeast Louisiana and remotely via its Virtual Care app. Children’s Hospital is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans and West Jefferson Medical Center.