Judy Schaechter

BIO

Judy Schaechter, MD, MBA, is Chair and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont Larner, MD College of Medicine, Physician-in-Chief at Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health, and Network Chair of Pediatrics for the UVM Health Medical Group. A board-certified general pediatrician, physician executive, and public health and policy analyst, Dr. Schaechter’s career spans academic pediatrics, child health advocacy, injury and violence prevention, education, business, research and community development. Her work is grounded in the core pediatric missions of care, education, research, and advocacy, with a sustained focus on improving systems and communities that shape child health outcomes. 

Clinically, Dr. Schaechter is a general pediatrician dedicated to the care of underserved children and families, including minority, immigrant, non-English-speaking, and adolescent populations. She has connected clinical practice with broader efforts to improve access to care through policy, school health programs, mobile clinics, telehealth, health literacy, behavioral and mental health training for primary care providers, and community partnerships. Dr. Schaechter has held major leadership roles across academic medicine, public health, and national pediatric organizations. Most recently, she served as Director of the CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention, leading scientific, programmatic, policy, communications, surveillance, and prevention efforts related to child abuse and neglect, adverse childhood experiences, dating violence, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, homicide, suicide, community violence, and sex trafficking. Previously, she served as President and CEO of the American Board of Pediatrics, Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Miami, and Chief of Service at Holtz Children’s Hospital at Jackson Health Systems. 

Her scholarship applies a research-to-action framework, translating data and evidence into sustainable programs, policy change, educational tools, and community-based prevention strategies, particularly focused on firearm injury prevention, youth violence, child passenger safety, injury surveillance, adolescent health, behavioral health, climate change and child health, advocacy, and the pediatric workforce. She has led or contributed to long-standing programs including HealthConnect in Our Schools, Home Visitation in Miami-Dade County, HelpMeGrow Florida, the Miami-Dade County Injury Surveillance System, Injury Free Coalition for Kids–Miami-Dade, and initiatives that led to the National Violent Death Reporting System. Her national service includes leadership and committee roles with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Injury Free Coalition for Kids, Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs, American Board of Medical Specialties, Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine, and other professional and community organizations. Locally, she has supported the development of the Miami Diaper Bank and Ronald McDonald House, among others.

Courses

• Public Health: Maternal/Child Health, Injury Prevention, Health Promotion and Advocacy, ACEs/PCEs Climate Change, Disasters, Environment & Health 
• Child Health Leadership • Health Education and Behavior 
• Access to Care and Child Health Policy, multidisciplinary courses 
• Pediatrics Boot Camp, Advocacy Module, Health Care Funding 
• Intro to Medical Profession / On Doctoring: Cultural Humility, Communications, Professionalism
• The REACH Institute, Pediatric Behavioral/Mental Health in Primary Care 
• Climate Change and Child Health 
• Violence as a Public Health Issue

Awards and Achievements

• Pioneer Award, Injury Free Coalition for Kids (2025)
• Certificate, Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, MIT Sloan School of Business, 2024 
• Certificate, Climate Change & Health, Yale School of Public Health, 2023–2024
• Women of Impact – Leaders in Health Care, inductee (2023) 
• Fellow Achievement Award, American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention (2021) 
• The Audrey and Gerold Schiebler Advocacy Award, Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2021)
• Certificate in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School, 2020–2021; foci: health economics, decision-making, workplace culture
• Train-the-Trainer, Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care, The REACH Institute, 2020
• Outstanding Service in Advocacy, American Academy of Pediatrics (2018)
•  International Women’s Forum, Florida inductee (2018) 
• Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine (2019–2021) and Top Doctors (2016–2021) 
• Fellow, Academy of Medical Educators, University of Miami (2015–2021) 
• George E. Batchelor Endowed Chair in Child Health (2015–2020)
• Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM), Drexel University, 2015–2016 
• Iron Arrow Honor Society, University of Miami (2012) 
• Best Doctors in America (2007–2021) 
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate, University of Miami, 2011
•  Executive MBA, University of Miami School of Business, Health Sector, 2010–2011; Valedictorian; Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society  
• Dean’s Award for Community Service, Stanford University School of Medicine (1993) 
• MD, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1989–1993; Dean’s Award for Community Service
• Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, Brown University (1988)