The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the appointment of Jamie Feinstein, MD, MPH, as the new Ergen Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Outcomes Research, effective July 1, 2026, following the distinguished service of Allison Kempe, MD, MPH, who has held the chair since it was founded in 2019.
The Ergen Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Outcomes Research supports a broad and impactful portfolio of projects dedicated to improving health outcomes for children across diverse populations. It supports research that has direct implications either for improving health care delivery or for guiding policy. This “real-world” science includes a focus on children with chronic illnesses, children with mental health problems, children who lack access to essential preventive care, and children at heightened risk for poor health outcomes due to adverse social determinants such as poverty, housing instability or exposure to abuse.
During her tenure as the Ergen Family Endowed Chair, Kempe made lasting contributions to the field of pediatric outcomes research. Her leadership helped advance evidence-based approaches to prevention, access to care and health equity, and strengthened the institution’s national reputation for impactful pediatric research. She trained hundreds of researchers, created and led multiple fellowship training programs and has mentored most of the pediatric health service researchers in our department. During her tenure, the chair funds were used primarily to provide pilot grants for junior or mid-level faculty in pediatric health services research, jump-starting the careers of multiple successful faculty. We are deeply grateful for her service, scholarship and enduring commitment to improving the health and well-being of children.
Feinstein’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the endowed chair. A nationally recognized leader in pediatric outcomes research, he brings deep expertise in translating research into meaningful improvements in clinical care, health systems and policy. His collaborative, multidisciplinary work aligns closely with the mission of the Ergen Family Endowed Chair – ensuring that research addresses real-world challenges and leads to measurable improvements in children’s health, particularly for those most vulnerable. His strong focus on creating systems that increase access to optimal care for children with complex illnesses and co-existing mental health problems is especially aligned with the priorities of the Ergen Family. In addition, his campus-wide roles as a senior principal investigator at ACCORDS, medical director for the Colorado Child Health Research Institute (CCHRI), and director of the CCTSI Clinical Faculty Scholars Program will be particularly important in extending the chair’s impact.
The Ergen Family Endowed Chair reflects the Ergen family’s extraordinary commitment to advancing pediatric health through sustained philanthropic partnership. Their support enables innovative, interdisciplinary research and the development of future leaders dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Allison Kempe for her exemplary leadership and congratulate Jamie Feinstein on his appointment. We look forward to the continued impact of the Ergen Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Outcomes Research under Feinstein’s leadership.