The Society for Pediatric Research Welcomes Dr. Joyce Javier as 2026 President

She completed her pediatrics residency and general academic pediatrics fellowship at the Stanford University School of Medicine. As a pediatrician scientist, Dr. Javier is a leader in research on Filipino child health using community-based participatory research methods, concentrating on topics such as youth suicide and depression prevention and the implementation and evaluation of evidence-based parenting interventions. Her work has been funded by KL2, K23, and R01 awards from the National Institutes of Health and grants from other sources including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

An active SPR member since 2015, Dr. Javier served as the SPR Advocacy Committee Co-Chair and as a member of the Pediatric Policy Council from 2018-2025. In 2024, she became the Advocacy Lead for the SPR Executive Council and also served as the SPR liaison for the AAP Committee on Federal Government Affairs and AAP Committee on Pediatric Research.

“SPR has helped shape me into the pediatric scientist I am today by providing a community of mentorship, collaboration, and shared commitment to improving child health through science. As I reflect on this last year as President-elect, I am deeply grateful to 2025-2026 President, Eric D. Austin, MD, MSc, for his leadership, as well as to Past President, Brenda Poindexter, MD, MS, Strategy and Operations Officer, Ann Chahroudi, MD, PhD, our Executive Council, Bruce Hammond, CAE, Liz Giannini, and the entire SPR team.

“As the first Filipina-American president of SPR, this role is deeply meaningful because I grew up in a health professional shortage area and am the first in my family to become a physician. During pediatrics residency, I learned that research was a pathway in which I could help communities with unmet health needs and give back to the community that raised me.

“Children depend on us to champion their needs, protect their well-being, and advocate for policies that support every child, in every community—and through pediatric research, we can ensure that our advocacy is informed by science, shaped by youth, family, and community voices, and focused on the needs of the next generation.

“Despite ongoing challenges facing our members and the scientific community more broadly, SPR and our partner organizations have shown remarkable resilience, and collectively we will continue advancing a brighter and healthier future for all children. To our SPR members, leadership, and staff: I look forward to what we will accomplish together in the year ahead,” said Dr. Javier.

Dr. Javier’s priorities include strengthening pathways for scientific career development in pediatric research, expanding collaborative partnerships at the national and global level, and promoting meaningful engagement of youth, families, and communities across the pediatric clinical and translational research continuum.

Dr. Javier succeeds Eric D. Austin, MD, MSc, who served as SPR President from June 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026. During his presidency, Dr. Austin advanced SPR’s strategic plan by strengthening international partnerships, advocating for the future of pediatric research, and expanding support for emerging investigators. He will continue supporting SPR as Past President. The Society extends it’s sincere gratitude to Dr. Austin for his outstanding service and congratulates Dr. Javier on her new leadership role.

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About the Society for Pediatric Research

The Society for Pediatric Research® (SPR) encourages and supports pediatric research endeavors by cultivating a diverse network of child health researchers through collaboration, community, mentorship, and advocacy. Collaboration among SPR members creates meaningful progress for the future of children’s health. For more information, please visit www.societyforpediatricresearch.org, and follow us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and X.