Ann DiGirolamo, PhD, MPH, is a pediatric psychologist and Senior Scientist with ICH, and is Adjunct Assistant Professor with Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. Her main interests are in maternal and child health and development, with particular emphasis on the psychosocial factors influencing child growth, development, and mental health, and in the interface between nutrition and psychology. As Principal Investigator (PI) of a study in Mexico funded by Fogarty International Center, NIH, in collaboration with the National Institute of Public Health, Mexico, she examined the role of maternal depression and child-care giving for young child growth and development. Having identified a large percentage of women in the study reporting elevated levels of depressive symptoms, she subsequently used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to address the issue of depression and well-being among women in the study village. She and her Mexican community and research partners then received

Prior to coming to ICH, Dr. DiGirolamo was an Assistant Professor in the Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University where she taught a graduate level course in CBPR. She also worked as a Senior Health Scientist with the Child Development Studies Team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), participating in studies addressing factors associated with typical and atypical child development and children’s mental health. She received her undergraduate education from Emory University, majoring in Psychology and French, and her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University. She completed her internship and postdoctoral training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Pediatric Psychology. She later received her MPH degree from Emory University and completed further postdoctoral training in public health at the CDC.

At ICH, Dr. DiGirolamo contributes her expertise in parenting, child development and mental health, maternal and child nutrition, and community-based participatory research. One of her main projects is participating in the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Program within the Community Engagement Core of the Harvard Catalyst, a program that aims to provide education and mentoring to Harvard investigators and community partners in community-based participatory research.

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