Research at Geisinger

Research has been a key element of Geisinger’s mission since its beginnings. The current phase of research began in 2009, when we began a comprehensive Research Strategic Planning process which confirmed and elevated the role of research in Geisinger’s mission. It emphasized research that improves health and healthcare - not only for our own patients, but also patients nationally and globally through scholarly publications and presentations. Our board and leadership challenged us to conduct research that can be uniquely done at Geisinger – leveraging our high quality patient care, fully integrated healthcare system, large, stable patient population, advanced electronic health record, and clinical data warehouse. Research is key to the development and implementation of the next generation of best practices with the goal of disease prevention as well as improved outcomes across a broad spectrum of clinical areas.

The theme of the Research Strategic Plan is Personalized Healthcare Research with an emphasis on developing and testing innovative approaches that will enable us to identify the unique differences between patients - genetic, environmental, or social - so that each patient receives the 'right care at the right time in the right way' to increase quality and improve outcomes. Geisinger encourages and supports a broad range of research topics throughout our clinical enterprise as well as in our research centers and institutes. There is an emphasis on collaborative “team science” approaches to solving the biggest problems in healthcare.
Leadership for Geisinger’s research enterprise is provided by David H. Ledbetter, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. A geneticist with an interest in genetics of pediatric developmental disorders, Dr. Ledbetter is Geisinger's first full-time chief scientific officer. He guides the growth of research across the Geisinger Health System, and helps develop research in the clinical areas as well as in the research centers and institutes. In this role he is assisted by David Carey, PhD, Associate Chief Research Officer and Cathy Beinlich, PhD, Associate Vice President, who provide scientific oversight and administrative support to Geisinger's centers and institutes. Research in the clinical divisions is guided by the division chairs and department chiefs; some divisions have directors of research. A number of administrative directors and managers provide organizational support to the research community.