Dr. Eichner is the Director of Operations and Evaluation with the UPMC Center for Social Impact. In this role, Joan works with a multidisciplinary team to design, implement, and evaluate Health Plan-sponsored initiatives that address member and community social needs. Joan works collaboratively with clinical and analytic partners to assess the impacts of these interventions on health and social outcomes, health care quality, and cost. This work involves building mutually beneficial collaborations and data exchange opportunities with community-based partners.

Joan joined the Center for High-Value Health Care in 2017 as a Program Administrator, where she collaborated to design and implement evaluation projects to improve health care quality, efficiency, patient experience, and patient outcomes. Prior to joining the Health Plan, Joan was Director of the
Division of Applied Research and Evaluation at the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development. As Director, Joan oversaw a portfolio of 15-20 concurrent projects and managed the division’s funding, resources, and personnel. She has extensive experience in program design and evaluation with community-based partners, and grant-writing. Joan’s interests include health equity, social determinants of health, maternal and child health, and early childhood social-emotional development.

Joan holds an MPH and DrPH in Behavioral and Community Health from the University of Pittsburgh in addition to an MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management. Joan is on the board of directors for HEARTH, a transitional supportive housing program for families, is Vice President of the Board of the Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation, and recently began volunteering with East End Cooperative Ministries. Joan also served as Community Education Volunteer with the Peace Corps in South America.