National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., announced the selection of John Gaitanis, M.D., as director of NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Dr. Gaitanis is set to begin his role on August 23, 2026.
As NICHD director, Dr. Gaitanis will shepherd the investment of NICHD's approximately $1.7 billion annual budget, facilitating research to advance maternal, gynecologic, and child health, as well as the health of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He will lead a staff of about 1,100 who either conduct research at NICHD or support some of the institute's approximately 2,300 research grants and projects at organizations throughout the United States and internationally.
"With the burden of chronic disease on the rise, Dr. Gaitanis's forward-thinking approaches for NICHD research will help us adapt to the realities of today," Dr. Bhattacharya said. "We're eager for research advances in prevention, precision, and systems-level understanding to pinpoint root causes of these conditions and yield transformative advances in clinical care to improve health for women, children, and people with disabilities."
Dr. Gaitanis, a nationally respected expert in complex neurodevelopmental disorders, epilepsy, and autism, brings nearly three decades of clinical, academic, and leadership experience to the position. He previously served as Chief of Child Neurology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and Director of Child Neurology at Brown Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Gaitanis has advanced research and clinical care for individuals with complex neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, expanded access to specialized services, and trained physicians to deliver comprehensive, individualized care. His work has also advanced clinician education and evidence-informed approaches that support the health, communication needs, autonomy, and dignity of nonspeaking individuals with autism.
Dr. Gaitanis received his M.D. from Brown Medical School and completed his pediatrics residency at the University of Rochester. He subsequently completed his neurology training at Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where he served as chief resident, followed by fellowship training in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Gaitanis previously served on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation of New England and currently serves on the board of the Medical Academy of Pediatrics and Special Needs (MAPS), a national leader in translating emerging science into clinical care for children with severe, chronic, and complex medical conditions. MAPS is home to the only U.S. fellowship program of its kind, providing physicians with advanced training in the application of translational medicine across this highly complex and historically underserved pediatric population. In recognition of his leadership and contributions to the field, Dr. Gaitanis received the MAPS Trailblazer Award in 2025.
"I also want to thank Dorothy Fink, M.D., who served as NICHD Acting Director from August 9 during this leadership transition," Dr. Bhattacharya said. "I appreciate Dr. Fink stepping in to lead the institute during this period."
