Tamar Klaiman, PhD, MPH

Tamar Klaiman, PhD, MPH, is Director of Qualitative Methods. Dr. Klaiman leads the methodological development and implementation of qualitative methods for research projects across the two organizations, elevates their research proposals, and leads training initiatives for new and established faculty, trainees, and staff.

Prior to coming to Penn, she was Director, Research, Evaluation, and Data at AccessMatters, a sexual and reproductive health organization that innovates, empowers, and works to equalize access to sexual and reproductive health care for teens and adults in need. While she has experience in numerous qualitative research methods, she holds particular expertise in the use of positive deviance – a framework for identifying and learning from high performing organizations, systems, and individuals in order to share lessons learned with lower performing peers to improve outcomes. Prior to AccessMatters, Dr. Klaiman was Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Public Health at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia where she conducted public health systems and services research and taught Public Health Policy and Management, Social and Behavioral Foundations, and Disparities. She also advises MPH and Health Policy Doctoral students. Dr. Klaiman has worked in the areas of emergency preparedness and response, clinical health registries, and maternal and child health, among other areas. Her work has been funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, California HealthCare Foundation, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (DHHS), Pfizer Foundation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.