Broadly Engaged Team Science in Clinical and Translational Research

Debra Lerner, MSc, PhD, is Associate Director of Organizational Impact for Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), Director and founder of the Program on Health, Work and Productivity at Tufts Medical Center, and Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry of Tufts School of Medicine and Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Science. She has dedicated her career to reducing the human and economic burden of illness and disability and translating research results into evidence-based workplace policies and practices that enable all adults to remain productive throughout their lives. She is a national thought leader on health and work productivity improvement as well as workplace mental health. She is an expert survey researcher whose questionnaires, including the Work Limitations Questionnaire, are used worldwide.



Dr. Lerner has authored over 80 peer reviewed publications, is the recipient of numerous research grants and contracts, and received the prestigious Mark Dundon Research Award from the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) and President’s Award from the Institute of Health and Productivity Management (IHPM). She has consulted on employee health and productivity improvement for many organizations, including the US Veterans Benefits Administration, Social Security Administration Disability Programs, the Assistant Secretary’s Office for Planning and Evaluation within the Department of Health and Human Services, One Mind, the World Economic Forum, and many private-sector health insurers and employers. Dr. Lerner serves on the board of directors of The Health Project, which awards the prestigious C. Everett Koop award to employers that have demonstrated excellence in employee health promotion and disease prevention and is Board Chair of the Center for Workforce Health and Performance.