Dr. Deborah Duran is the director of NIMHD’s Office of Science Policy, Strategic Planning, Analysis, Reporting, and Data (OSPARD). She has 20 years of experience in organizational strategic planning, system assessments, science policy, measures, metrics, data management, performance monitoring, and reporting. Dr. Duran leads two branches within OSPARD: Science Planning, Policy, and Reporting; and Data, Assessments, Resources, and Evaluation. OSPARD serves NIMHD planning, assessment, analysis, and reporting needs and coordinates trans-NIH minority health and health disparities planning and reporting requirements. Dr. Duran hopes to help NIMHD become the centralized source of minority health and health disparities biomedical data, policies, and scientific advances.
Dr. Duran has spent much of her NIH career serving as performance director in the NIH Office of the Director, handling a wide range of responsibilities, including program performance monitoring, budget performance integration, organization performance assessments, and strategic planning. She designed a centralized online reporting system, currently used by NIH and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to assist in the collection, analysis, and communication of organization performance information.
Dr. Duran trained in social psychology and virus research, statistics, evaluation, counseling, and computer science. She has experience as an educator, principal investigator, advocate, researcher, consultant, and counselor. Her areas of interest include system science, population health, Hispanic health, behavior research, cancer, coping, end-of-life care, palliative care, data systems, data management, and training minority youth.
Dr. Duran has a Ph.D. in social psychology with a minor in research methodologies and statistics. In 2000 and in 2004, Dr. Duran earned the HHS Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service.