David Pelletier
David Pelletier
Professor Emeritus
Division of Nutritional Sciences

Curriculum vitae

Biography

My interests relate to the formulation, implementation and evaluation of nutrition policy, primarily in low and middle income countries.  My approach to this work has been from a transdisciplinary, engaged and problem-oriented perspective, in which the key research questions and choice of methods emerges in the course of engaging with policy and program actors at global, national or sub-national levels.  This approach is guided by robust theoretical frameworks and ensures that the research is responsive to real-world concerns and more likely to be understood, valued and used by those responsible for policies and programs.

Research activities

Improved methods for nutrition policy analysis and development; mainstreamed nutrition in Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, Vietnam and Bangladesh; policy commitment to address the dual-burden of malnutrition in Nigeria; development and testing of a micronutrient program assessment tool; evaluation and strengthening of the World Vision mobile clinic program in Haiti; exploring the potential for knowledge brokers to enhance policy implementation in complex adaptive stakeholder systems in Burkina Faso, Mali, Ethiopia and Uganda; a project to strengthen the theory and practice of nutrition policy advocacy in seven SE Asian countries as well as Ethiopia and Burkina Faso; and an implementation science initiative in Kenya and Uganda to strengthen the implementation of large-scale anemia control programs and document the practice of implementation science in real-life settings.

Selected publications
  1. Shiffman, J, Quissell, K, Schmitz, HP, Pelletier, DL, Smith, SL, Berlan, D, Gneiting, U, Slyke, DV, Mergel, I, Rodriguez, M, and Walt, G.  (2015). “A framework on the emergence and effectiveness of global health networks.”  Health Policy and Planning, doi: 10.1093/heapol/czu046

 

  1. Shiffman, J, Quissell, K, Schmitz, HP., Pelletier, DL, Smith, SL, Berlan, D, Gneiting, U, Slyke, DV, Mergel, I, Rodriguez, M, and Walt, G.  (2016). “The emergence and effectiveness of global health networks: findings and future research.” Health Policy and Planning. (2016) 31 (suppl 1): i110-i123.

 

  1. Kambarami, RA.,Mbuya, M, Pelletier,D.,  Fundira, D., Tavengwa,N., Stoltzfus, RJ.  (2016). Factors associated with village health worker performance differ by task in a multi-tasked setting in rural Zimbabwe.  Global Health: Science and Practice. 4(2):238-50. PMID: 27353617

 

  1. Omotayo MO, Dickin KL, Pelletier DL, Martin SL, Kung’u JK, Stoltzfus RJ. (2017). Feasibility of Integrating Calcium and Iron-Folate Supplementation to Prevent Preeclampsia and Anemia in Pregnancy in Primary Healthcare Facilities in Kenya. Maternal and Child Nutrition 13(S1):e12437. DOI 10.1111/mcn.12437

 

  1. Michaud-Letourneau, I., and Pelletier, DL. (2017). Multisectoral approaches for nutrition: A Q methodology study to explore the perspectives of national key leaders on the coordination challenges in Mozambique. Food Policy 70:84-97.

 

  1. Omotayo MO, Dickin KL, Pelletier DL, Cassano PA, Mwanga E, Kung’u JK, Stoltzfus RJ (2017). A Simplified Regimen Compared with WHO Guidelines Decreases Antenatal Calcium Supplement Intake for Prevention of Preeclampsia in a Cluster-Randomized Noninferiority Trial in Rural Kenya. Journal of Nutrition. 2017 Oct;147(10):1986-1991. doi: 10.3945/jn.117.251926.

 

  1. Fox EL, Pelto GP, Rasmussen KM, Young SL, Rouzier V, Debrosse GM, Pape JW, Pelletier DL. (2017). Who knows what – An exploration of the infant feeding message environment and intra-cultural differences in message salience between health workers, HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected mothers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Maternal and Child Nutrition (in press): doi: 10.1111/mcn.12537

 

  1. Phillips, E, Stoltzfus, R, Michaud, L, Fils Piere Gracia, L, and Pelletier, D. (2017). Do mobile clinics provide high-quality antenatal care? A comparison of care delivery, knowledge outcomes and perception of quality of care between fixed and mobile clinics in central Haiti.  BioMed Central Pregnancy and Childbirth doi 10.1186/s12884-017-1546-7.

 

  1. Schuster RC, de Sousa OL, Reme AK, Vopelak CM, Pelletier DL, Johnson LM, Mbuya MN, Pinault D, Young SL. (2017). Performance-based incentives improve teamwork and empower health workers delivering prevention of vertical transmission of HIV services in rural Mozambique. International Journal of Health Planning and Management doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2017.137.

 

  1. Pelletier, D., S. Gervais, H. Hafeez?ur?Rehman, D. Sanou and J. Tumwine (2018). "Boundary spanning actors in complex adaptive governance systems: The case of multisectoral nutrition." The International Journal of Health Planning and Management 33(1): e293-e319.

 

  1. Bliss, J., K. Golden, L. Bourahla, R. Stoltzfus and D. Pelletier (2018). "An emergency cash transfer program promotes weight gain and reduces acute malnutrition risk among children 6-24 months old during a food crisis in Niger." Journal of Global Health 8(1): 010410.

 

  1. Fox, E. L., G. H. Pelto, H. Bar, K. M. Rasmussen, S. L. Young, M. G. Debrosse, V. A. Rouzier, J. W. Pape and D. L. Pelletier (2018). "Capturing Changes in HIV-Infected Breastfeeding Mothers' Cognitive Processes from Before Delivery to 5 Months Postpartum: An Application of the Pile-Sorting Technique in Haiti." Current developments in nutrition 2(6): nzy017.

 

  1. Fox, E. L., G. H. Pelto, K. M. Rasmussen, M. G. Debrosse, V. A. Rouzier, J. W. Pape and D. L. Pelletier (2018). "Who knows what: An exploration of the infant feeding message environment and intracultural differences in Port-au-Prince, Haiti." Maternal & Child Nutrition 14(2): e12537.

 

  1. Theobald, S., N. Brandes, M. Gyapong, S. El-Saharty, E. Proctor, T. Diaz, S. Wanji, S. Elloker, J. Raven, H. Elsey, S. Bharal, D. Pelletier and D. H. Peters (2018). "Implementation research: new imperatives and opportunities in global health." The Lancet 392(10160): 2214-2228.

 

  1. Tumilowicz, A., M. T. Ruel, G. Pelto, D. L. Pelletier, E. C. Monterrosa, K. Lapping, K. Kraemer, L. M. De Regil, G. Bergeron, M. Arabi, L. Neufeld and R. Sturke (2018). "Implementation Science in Nutrition: Concepts and Frameworks for an Emerging Field of Science and Practice." Current Developments in Nutrition.

 

  1. Michaud?Létourneau I, Gayard M, Mathisen R, Phan LTH, Weissman A, Pelletier DL. Enhancing governance and strengthening advocacy for policy change of large Collective Impact initiatives. Maternal & Child Nutrition 2019;15:e12728-n/a.

 

  1. Michaud-Letourneau I, Gayard M, Pelletier DL. Issue Information. Maternal and Child Nutrition 2019;15.

 

  1. Michaud?Létourneau I, Gayard M, Pelletier DL. Contribution of the Alive & Thrive–UNICEF advocacy efforts to improve infant and young child feeding policies in Southeast Asia. Maternal & Child Nutrition 2019;15:e12683-n/a.

 

  1. Michaud?Létourneau I, Gayard M, Pelletier DL. Strengthening advocacy and policy change for infant and young child feeding. Maternal & Child Nutrition 2019;15:e12749-n/a.

 

  1. Michaud?Létourneau I, Gayard M, Pelletier DL. Translating the International Code of Marketing of Breast?milk Substitutes into national measures in nine countries. Maternal & Child Nutrition 2019;15:e12730-n/a.

 

  1. Pelletier, D.L. & DePee, S.  (2019). Micronutrient Powder Programs: New Findings and Future Directions for Implementation Science. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 2019:e12802

 

Education

1984, PhD, Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University

1979, MA, Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University

1977, BA, Anthropology, University of Arizona

1977, BS, Biology, University of Arizona

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