David Pelletier

 

David Pelletier

Associate Professor
212 Savage Hall
Division of Nutritional Sciences
 
Phone: (607) 255-1086
Email: dlp5@cornell.edu
View Cornell University Contact Info
Curriculum Vitae
 
Biographical Statement:

My interests relate to the formulation, implementation and evaluation of nutrition policy in developed and developing countries.  I approach this work from a transdisciplinary, engaged and problem-oriented perspective, in which the key research questions and choice of methods emerges in the course of engaging with policy and program actors at global, national or sub-national levels.  This approach is guided by robust theoretical frameworks and ensures that the research is responsive to real-world concerns and more likely to be understood, valued and used by those responsible for policies and programs.

 
Teaching and Advising Statement:

There is a saying that "the world has problems and universities have departments." (aka disciplines).  When it comes to food, nutrition and health problems we must go beyond disciplinary knowledge, indeed beyond the walls of the university, to find possible solutions.  This perspective underlies my approach to knowledge, teaching and advising: problem-oriented, transdisciplinary and contextual.   This not only prepares students to be more effective professionals and problem-oriented researchers, it also is a more interesting and engaging way to teach and learn.

 
Current Professional Activities:

Cornell University Graduate Field Active Membership: Nutrition; Epidemiology; Public Affairs; International Development

Professional Societies:

American Society for Nutrition

Society for the Policy Sciences.
 

Recent Policy Setting and Outreach:

World Bank Nutrition Section, Development of policy recommendations as part of the Lancet series on undernutrition; Development of a global nutrition strategy for the Gates Foundation; Expert Consultation in UNICEF's Global Nutrition  Strategy; Expert Consultation on WHO's Nutrition Landscaping Analysis; Dialogues on the Global Nutrition Architecture; the Innocenti Meeting on Micronutrient Program Assessment; Global Nutrition Partners Meeting and SCN Reform; WHO Partners Committee on Scaling Up; WHO Health Growth Project; NY Academy of Sciences Committee on Delivery Sciences; Bread for the World Technical Advisory Committee.Global Healthy Advocacy and Policy Project.

 
Current Research Activities:

Research Interests: Improved methods for nutrition policy analysis and development; mainstreaming nutrition in Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, Vietnam and Bangladesh; the Whole Community Project for addressing childhood obesity (Ithaca/Tompkins County); policy commitment for addressing the dual-burden of malnutrition in Nigeria; barriers and innovations in nutrition program implementation in Mozambique and Bolivia; development and testing of a micronutrient program assessment tool; evaluation and strengthening of the World Vision mobile clinic program in Haiti; strengthening strategic capacity and adaptive management in Burkina Faso, Mali, Ethiopia and Uganda.

 
Current Extension Activities:

My extension/ public engagement goals are to develop, promote and apply improved methods for policy analysis, development and implementation in developing countries and the U.S.  This year and beyond i will be prioritizing the development of a new stream of research in the emerging field of implementation sciences.  As in previous years, this new emphasis area will represent the seamless integration of my research and outreach activities.  See the section on Research Goals for further details.  
 

 
Education:

PhD, 1984 - Pennsylvania State University, Anthropology
MA, 1979 - Pennsylvania State University, Anthropology
BA, 1977 -  University of Arizona, Anthropology
BS, 1977 -  University of Arizona, Biology

 
Courses Taught:

NS3500: Epidemiology in Context
NS4600: Explorations in Global Health

 
Administrative Responsibilities:

University Faculty Senate

University Faculty Committee

Field of Nutrition Academic Affairs Committee

 
Selected Publications:
Bryce, J., Coitinho, Denise, Darnton-Hill, I., Pelletier, DL., Pinstrup-Andersen, P.. (2008).Maternal and Child Undernutrition: Effective Action at the National Level.  Lancet 371(9611):510-526.
 
Pelletier,D., Frongillo, D., Frongillo, EA., Gervais, SG., Menon, P., Ngo, T. (2011). The Nutrition Policy Process: The Role of Strategic Capacity in Advancing National Nutrition Agendas. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 32(2): S59-S69.
 
Hoey, L and Pelletier, D. (2011) Bolivia’s Multisectoral Zero Malnutrition Program: Insights on Commitment, Collaboration and Capacities.  Food and Nutrition Bulletin 32(2): S70-S81.
 
Hoey, L and Pelletier, D. (2011) The Management of Conflict in Nutrition Policy Formulation: Choosing Growth Monitoring Indicators in the Context of Dual Burden.  Food and Nutrition Bulletin 32(2): S82-S91.
 
Hill, R., Gonzalez, W and Pelletier, D.  (2011) The Formulation of Consensus on Nutrition Policy: Policy Actors’ Perspectives on Good Process. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 32(2): S92-S104.
 
Menon, P, Pelletier, D., Frongillo, EA, Stoltzfus, RJ, Ahmed, S, Ahmed, T.  (2011) Assessment for of Epidemiological, Operational, and Sociopolitical Domains for Mainstreaming Nutrition.  Food and Nutrition Bulletin 32(2): S105-S114.
 
Porter, C and Pelletier, DL. (2012) Finding Common Ground: Perspectives on Community-Based Childhood Obesity Prevention.  Health Promotion Practice 13(6):826-34.
 
Levitt, EJ, Pelletier, DL, Dufour, C and Pell A.  (2011). Harmonizing agriculture and health sector actions to improve household nutrition: policy experiences from Afghanistan (2002–2007). Food Security DOI 10.1007/s12571-011-0135-2.
 
Pelletier, D, Corsi, C, Hoey, L, Faillace, S and Houston, R. (2011) The Program Assessment Guide: An Approach for Structuring Contextual Knowledge and Experience to Improve the Design, Delivery and Effectiveness of Nutrition Interventions. Journal of Nutrition 141(11): 2084-2091.
 
Pelletier, DL, Porter, CM, Aarons, GA, Wuehler, SE and Neufeld, LM (2013). Expanding the Frontiers of Population Nutrition Research: New Questions, New Methods and New Approaches. Advances in Nutrition4:92-114.

 
Searchable Keywords:
nutrition policy, policy analysis, policy development, implementation science, malnutrition, maternal and child nutrition, global health

 
The information on this bio page is taken from the CHE Annual Report.