Mari-Lynn Drainoni, PhD, MEd

Research Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Mari-Lynn Drainoni, M.Ed., Ph.D., is Research Professor in the Section of Infectious Diseases in the School of Medicine in the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine and in the Department of Health Law, Policy & Management at the Boston University School of Public Health. She is also Director of the Evans Center for Implementation and Improvement Sciences at Boston University. Dr. Drainoni's areas of expertise include the conduct of implementation research, qualitative research methods and mixed method studies with a focus on integrating research into practice in safety net settings. Her specific studies have focused on the content areas of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, as well as substance use, antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic stewardship, and integrating screening for social determinants of health into clinical practice. Dr. Drainoni has conducted numerous implementation studies to integrate research into practice, studies evaluating demonstration programs for at-risk populations, and mixed methods studies that include both surveys involving primary data collection and qualitative data collection and analysis. Dr. Drainoni serves as the Director of CIIS. She is also a Research Professor in the Section of Infectious Diseases in the School of Medicine in the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine and in the Department of Health Law, Policy & Management at the Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Drainoni’s areas of expertise include the conduct of implementation research, qualitative research methods and mixed method studies with a focus on integrating research into practice. Her specific studies have focused on the content areas of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, as well as substance use, antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic stewardship, and integrating screening for social determinants of health into clinical practice. Dr. Drainoni has conducted numerous implementation studies to integrate research into practice, studies evaluating demonstration programs for at-risk populations, and mixed methods studies that include both surveys involving primary data collection and qualitative data collection and analysis. Dr. Drainoni also is the Implementation Science Lead on the Providence-Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and Implementation Science Lead on the Lifespan/Brown Criminal Justice Research Program on Substance Use and HIV and an AHRQ/PCORI funded learning health systems center. Dr. Drainoni's passion is for mentoring junior faculty towards independence in implementation research.

Publications

  • Published 6/5/2026

    Austad K, Nguyen N, Jadovich E, Poznanski B, Laguerre M, Fernandez A, Drainoni ML, Jack B, Mitchell S, Salloum RG, Moore G. Adapting a Complex Health Intervention Guided by the Core Functions and Form Model: A Methodology and Case Example of Participatory Adaptation. Res Sq. 2026 Jun 05. PMID: 42282020.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/25/2026

    Walker DM, Aldrich AM, Chen S, Jadovich E, Goetz M, Andrews-Higgins S, Walley AY, Knudsen HK, Huerta TR, Hunt T, Drainoni ML. The role of external and internal context on adoption and implementation of evidence-based practices: a serial case study qualitative analysis of top performers in the HEALing Communities Study. Implement Sci Commun. 2026 Apr 25; 7(1). PMID: 42035176.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/18/2026

    Weinstein ZM, Jadovich E, Drainoni ML, LaRochelle M, Yan S, Lee J, Bettano A, Beers D, Walley AY, Samet JH. Implementation of addiction consult services and bridge clinics in the HEALing communities study in Massachusetts. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2026 Jul 01; 284:113165. PMID: 42033894.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/30/2026

    Cordova-Ramos EG, Colvin BN, Witt RE, Estevez M, Peña MM, Austad K, Colson ER, Drainoni ML, Parker MG. Factors Influencing Mothers' Own Milk Provision Among Spanish-Speaking Latina Mothers of Preterm Infants. J Hum Lact. 2026 May; 42(2):396-405. PMID: 41906929.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/25/2026

    Burrowes SAB, Drainoni ML, Barlam TF. Are there racial/ethnic differences in antibiotic treatment of community acquired pneumonia in the inpatient setting? PLoS One. 2026; 21(3):e0345788. PMID: 41880361.

    Read at: PubMed

Other Positions

  • Research Professor, Health Law, Policy & Management
    Boston University School of Public Health
  • Co-Director, Evans Center for Implementation & Improvement Sciences
    Boston University
  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University

Education

  • Northeastern University, PhD
  • University of Massachusetts Boston, MEd
  • Tufts University, BA