Center for Healthcare Delivery Science
- About Us
- Our Research
- Research Impact
- Grants & Affiliations
Driving Pediatric Health Care Innovation
The Center for Healthcare Delivery Science is a team of scientists who partner with health care systems, families, schools, and communities. Through these collaborations we aim to explore, uncover, and transform how children and families thrive. Changing systems is a big job, and each scientist on our team is working on a different piece of the puzzle.
Our researchers from sites in Delaware and Florida use innovative and diverse approaches, like family and learning health systems science, behavioral science, implementation science, informatics, health policy, and behavioral economics.
We also train future academic researchers in a variety of fields, including psychology, nursing, medicine and public health through our two-year intensive fellowship program. Together, we nurture healthy children today, and for generations to come.
Advancing Research: By the Numbers
Recognized for excellence, research at the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science translates to better health and quality of life for kids everywhere. With robust funding and a wide range of projects, we’re making progress in several areas.
$50 million +
Research funding since 2013
$23 million +
Active National Institutes of Health funding in 2023
20+
Investigators conducting research
175+
Annual publications and poster presentations
Our center has received numerous grants, including one from the National Institution of Health for $10.9 million. Our researchers have also been individually recognized with various prestigious honors and awards.
Our research has had significant impact. We lead the development of international practice guidelines, have highly cited publications, and develop innovative interventions.
We use innovative and diverse methodologies across multiple fields to optimize care delivery for children and their families.
We advance pediatric health care delivery through research, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Our Leadership

Anne E. Kazak, PhD, ABPP
Enterprise Director, Center for Healthcare Delivery Science
Principal Research Scientist

Melissa A. Alderfer, PhD
Center Director, Center for Healthcare Delivery Science – Delaware Valley
Principal Research Scientist

Susana R. Patton, PhD, ABPP, CDCES
Center Director, Center for Healthcare Delivery Science – Florida
Principal Research Scientist

Jessica S. Pierce, PhD
Director of Fellowship Training, Center for Healthcare Delivery Science
Senior Research Scientist
Clinical Psychologist

Dana Berger, MPH
Research Program Administrator

Allison Taggi-Pinto, MEd
Clinical Research Manager

Priscilla Jones, BS
Program Manager
Research Team
-
Erica Dolores Sood, PhD
Clinical Psychologist Associate Professor of Pediatric Psychology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Abbas Haider Zaidi, MD
Cardiologist Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE