Shivonne L. Laird, PhD, MPH, is a Program Officer for the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Awards at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Laird is responsible for strategic decision-making and high-level management and monitoring of the program, its funded projects, and program activities that advance PCORI’s Engagement mission.

Prior to joining PCORI, Laird was a senior advisor in the Office of Legislation of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  As a liaison between HRSA and members of Congress and their staff, her work included advising office, agency, and department senior leadership on legislative analysis, policy, and programmatic activities. She has also worked in academic settings, conducting qualitative and quantitative research related to disparities in health and healthcare, and presenting results to technical and non-technical audiences. Laird's work focused on health workforce shortages, as well as interpersonal aspects of care, such as patient-centeredness. 

Laird received a BA in biological sciences, with a minor in sociology, from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.  She has earned an MPH in international health policy and management from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.  Laird has also earned a PhD in health behavior and society, with a concentration in health communication, from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.