PIPC Congratulates New PCORI Board Chairman, Dr. Grayson Norquist

WASHINGTON - Sept. 19, 2013 - PRLog -- The Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) welcomes the selection of Dr. Grayson Norquist as the new Chairman of the PCORI Board of Governors.  PIPC’s Chairman Tony Coelho stated, “Although we were disappointed when Dr. Washington resigned as the PCORI Board Chair, I am pleased by today’s decision by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Dr. Norquist has consistently provided thoughtful insights during PCORI’s Board proceedings, including a continued emphasis on engaging patients and their caregivers in PCORI’s work.  He embraces the   vision and opportunity of PCORI as an Institute doing research differently so that it is guided by, and responsive to, the needs of patients and their caregivers.”

Grayson Norquist, MD, MSPH, is Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. His research focuses on the use of telemedicine to reduce disparities in mental health treatment for those living in the Delta region in Mississippi and to improve the quality of care they receive at local community health centers. He served in a number of leadership positions at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), including Director of the Division of Services and Intervention Research, a division responsible for clinical, prevention and services research at NIMH.

Noting Dr. Norquist’s background, PIPC Chairman Tony Coelho further said, “Dr. Norquist’s work to reduce disparities in mental health treatment in the Delta region makes him a wise choice to lead the PCORI Board in defining clear, national priorities for research that address the varying needs, outcomes and preferences of different patient groups.”

PIPC's Steering Committee is comprised of the following organizations: The Alliance for Aging Research, the American Association of People with Disabilities, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American Gastroenterological Association, BIO, Easter Seals, the Epilepsy Foundation, HealthHIV, the National Association for Hispanic Health, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, PhRMA, and the American Association for Cancer Research. PIPC can also be followed on Facebook and Twitter at @pipcpatients.