Dr. Claire Brindis is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UCSF. She is Director of the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, Dr. Brindis is Executive Director of NAHIC, Associate Director of the Public Policy Analysis & Education Center for Middle Childhood & Adolescent Health, and Director of the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, UCSF.
Dr. Brindis' research interests focus on adolescent and child health policy and women's health. Dr. Brindis served as a frequent policy advisor to federal, state and local policymakers and private foundations. Her writings, publications and personal consultation in the field of adolescent pregnancy prevention were extensively utilized in the planning and implementation of various state and federal initiatives. Dr. Brindis served as Chair of the Population, Reproductive Health and Family Planning Section of the American Public Health Association and is on the Board of the Guttmacher Institute. She also participated on the Steering Committee of the CDC's National Health Objectives for the Year 2010, as well as the National Initiative to Improve Adolescent Health. She is a member of the National Advisory Committee for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy's Latino Pregnancy Prevention. Dr. Brindis was honored by the California Department of Health Services in 2000 with the Beverlee A. Myers Award for Excellence in Public Health, and was recognized by a California State Senate Resolution for her achievements. In 2001, she was honored by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs with the annual John C. MacQueen Lecture Award, and in 2001, she was honored with the Maternal and Child Health Director's Award in recognition of her contributions made to improve the health of infants, mothers, children, adolescents, and children with special health care needs in the Nation. Among her multiple publications, Dr Brindis has co-authored a statewide comprehensive strategic plan for California, entitled Investing in Adolescent Health: A Social Imperative for California's Future. She has authored a five-volume monograph series, "Communities Responding to the Challenge of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention," as well as a "Guidebook for Evaluating School-Based Health Centers." She also co-authored a monograph on implementing the Healthy People 2010 21 Critical Health Objectives, entitled Improving the Health of Adolescents and Young Adults: A Guide for States and Communities.
In the area of reproductive health, Dr. Brindis has led a multidisciplinary evaluation team evaluating California's Office of Family Planning's Family PACT (Planning, Access, Care and Treatment) program. Evaluation of findings indicate that this program has successfully served over a million women and men, and that for every dollar spent on the program an estimated savings of $4.48 in medical and social costs is realized through the prevention of unintended pregnancies. In addition, Dr. Brindis is conducting evaluations of statewide initiatives in Iowa and Colorado aimed at increasing the numbers of women receiving long-acting,, reversible contraceptive methods, as well as a California state-wide initiative aimed at Teenage Pregnancy Prevention . Dr. Brindis' educational background includes a Doctoral Degree in Public Health and Behavioral Sciences from U.C. Berkeley and a Master's Degree in Public Health from UCLA. A native of Argentina, Dr. Brindis is fluently bilingual in English and Spanish.
