Dr. Terrie Inder, a dual-trained neonatologist and child neurologist, has been named to the newly created position of director of the Center for Perinatal and Infant Research at CHOC, part of Rady Children’s Health.
In her new role, Dr. Inder will lead the development of a robust research program focused on clinical and comparative outcomes aimed at improving the health and developmental outcomes of the most vulnerable patients: newborns and infants.
“This new center allows for continued growth aligned with our organization’s mission to improve the outcomes for every infant and family in our community,” Dr. Inder said. “We will be aiming to systematically study and apply the best approaches to improve care and outcomes for our infants and families from conception to kindergarten and beyond – partnered with our families about what matters most to them.
“I am honored to live the true values of our organization with creativity, a spark of adventure, believing in the impossible and advancing the well-being of the children we care for.”
Driving innovation
Nationally recognized for her clinical and academic excellence, Dr. Inder joined CHOC in September 2022 as chair of neonatal research.
Since then, she has been instrumental in building the foundation of CHOC’s Center of Neonatal Research, driving innovation in neonatal-perinatal medicine.
Recently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Dr. Inder and and Peter Anderson, PhD, a research neuropsychologist at CHOC, a $2.7-million grant to continue the world’s largest ongoing study of brain development, thinking skills and behavior of children born very preterm.
No other cohort like it exists in the world.
A ‘unified vision’
Dr. Inder’s appointment underscores CHOC’s deep commitment to advancing pediatric research, education, and clinical care, said Kim Milstien, regional president – Orange County of Rady Children’s Health.
“Dr. Inder is part of an exceptional team of researchers and clinicians who share a unified vision to make CHOC a national leader in neonatal research, care, and training,” Kim said.
Dr. Inder will continue to serve clinically in the neonatology division. In her new role, she will report directly to Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Terence Sanger.
“Dr. Inder’s work will further advance the hospital’s tremendous strength in neonatology, developing innovative new treatments and improving outcomes for the youngest children in our care,” Dr. Sanger said.
A storied career
Prior to joining CHOC, Dr. Inder served as chair of the department of pediatric medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School.
Earlier in her career, she founded the Neonatal Development Research team at Washington University and secured NIH funding to establish the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, which is dedicated to accelerating discoveries in developmental disabilities.
Dr. Inder is a prolific academic with more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and is widely regarded as a dedicated mentor and leader.
Her contributions to clinical science were recognized with the prestigious Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award and recently as a prestigious fellow of the International Newborn Brain Society.
CHOC was named one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals for neonatology by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings.
