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 5/5/2025

    Chen S, Aldrich A, Andrews-Higgins S, Back-Haddix S, Bartkus M, Brown JL, Davis J, Drainoni ML, Goddard-Eckrich D, Goetz M, Gumudavelly D, Huerta TR, McAlearney AS, Roberts S, Walker DM. The Digital Divide and Tele-MOUD: A Qualitative Study of Opioid Community Coalition Perspectives During COVID-19. Telemed J E Health. 2025 May 05. PMID: 40323675.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/25/2025

    Mohanty A, Austad K, Bosch NA, Long MT, Nolen-Doerr E, Walkey AJ, Drainoni ML, Rizo I, Fantasia KL. Assessing Clinician Engagement with a Passive Clinical Decision Support System for Liver Fibrosis Risk Stratification in a Weight Management Clinic. Endocr Pract. 2025 Apr 25. PMID: 40288606.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/18/2025

    Garg A, Brochier A, Tripodis Y, BarahonaPaz K, Drainoni ML. Potential Pediatric Healthcare Consequences of Not Getting Help for Disclosed Social Needs. Acad Pediatr. 2025 Apr 18; 102834. PMID: 40254054.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/27/2025

    Olvera RG, Cogan AG, Bartkus M, Benjamin SN, Davis J, Frazier LA, Henry BF, Hunt T, Kinnard EN, Mattingly H, McAlearney AS, Rivera D, Drainoni ML, Walker DM. Community coalitions' navigation of policies to address the opioid epidemic: insights from qualitative interviews in four states. BMJ Public Health. 2025 Jan; 3(1):e001924. PMID: 40051546.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/3/2025

    Silver SR, Jones KC, Kim EM, Khaw-Marchetta S, Thornton S, Kremer K, Walkey A, Drainoni ML, Fantasia KL. Disparities in Diabetes Distress and Nutrition Management Among Black and Hispanic Adults: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Social Determinants. Sci Diabetes Self Manag Care. 2025 Feb; 51(1):24-35. PMID: 39901603.

    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