Alaina “Lainie” Davis, MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor and clinician educator at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt whose commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care extends throughout her clinical, research, and community work.
Dr. Davis earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and later completed the James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence Intermediate Improvement Science Series at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital while working as a general pediatrician. She completed both her pediatrics residency and pediatric rheumatology fellowship at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. During fellowship, she also earned a Master of Public Health with a focus in epidemiology. She joined the faculty following completion of her training in 2017.
She was drawn to Pediatric Rheumatology for its collaborative, multidisciplinary approach and the opportunities it provides for lifetime learning and growth. What she values most, however, is the opportunity to build lasting relationships with her patients and their families and support them throughout their care.
Within CARRA, Dr. Davis is involved in the Mental Health Workgroup and Mental Health Screening Subcommittee, as well as the Implementation Science Workgroup. Her involvement has provided opportunities to participate in collaborative research aimed at advancing care for children with rheumatic diseases. Through CARRA, she has developed relationships with mentors and co-investigators who share her research interests and has contributed to larger collaborative studies focused on improving mental health care for youth with rheumatic diseases. As a primary clinician, CARRA has provided opportunities to engage in this type of collaborative research that may not have been available otherwise.
One accomplishment she is particularly proud of is the years of collective work that contributed to the development and publication of the American College of Rheumatology Guidance Statements for Addressing Mental Health Concerns in Youth with Pediatric Rheumatologic Diseases.
Looking ahead, Dr. Davis hopes to continue developing and implementing interventions that reduce health disparities among vulnerable pediatric populations. Her work focuses particularly on understanding the relationships between depression, medication adherence, and health outcomes among youth with systemic lupus erythematosus and juvenile dermatomyositis.
Outside of work, Dr. Davis enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband have two daughters, Izzy, 13, and Ellie, 9. Together, they enjoy cooking, attending concerts, and traveling. She also enjoys spending time with her Vanderbilt pediatric rheumatology colleagues, many of whom she considers close friends. They often share meals, participate in puzzle competitions, and gather with their families at a nearby public park.
She also serves as an active member of the Arthritis Foundation Local Leadership Board and the Cure Juvenile Myositis Clinical Care Network, extending her commitment to improving the lives of children and families affected by rheumatic diseases beyond her clinical and academic work. When Dr. Davis was nominated for a CARRA Membership Spotlight, her colleague highlighted not only her dedication to providing the highest standard of care, but also the compassion she brings to her work. She was recognized for her particular attention to the mental health needs of children with rheumatic diseases, her willingness to consistently go above and beyond for her patients, and her commitment to identifying the best therapies for them. Her contributions in Nashville also include developing an ultrasound program that now serves the pediatric rheumatology community throughout the region. Through her dedication to her patients, colleagues, and the broader pediatric rheumatology community, Dr. Davis represents the compassion and collaborative spirit that are at the heart of CARRA.
– Bailey Parker, Membership Coordinator
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