Heritage College Clinical Professor Amber Healy appointed to national PCORI Governing Board

Amber Healy, D.O. ('09), clinical professor at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and practice lead physician for OhioHealth Physician Group Heritage College Diabetes and Endocrinology, has been appointed to the Governing Board of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a nationally recognized organization dedicated to funding research that helps patients and providers make better-informed health care decisions.

The appointment was announced Sept. 23, by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which is responsible for appointing members to the 21-person governing board. Healy will serve a six-year term through September 2032.

A nationally respected diabetologist, educator and physician leader, Healy has dedicated her career to improving health outcomes for patients with complex chronic diseases, particularly those living in rural and underserved communities. As clinical professor at the Heritage College, she has helped train future physicians while advancing patient care, research and community health initiatives.

"I was really surprised to have been chosen for PCORI because only 21 people serve on the Board of Governors," Healy said. "It is an honor to have the opportunity to have an impact at a more national level, and I look forward to learning more about the research that is being funded to improve patient outcomes."

PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to fund patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research. The organization's governing board helps shape its strategic direction, research priorities and policies to ensure funded research addresses questions that matter most to patients, caregivers and clinicians.

Healy said her path to the appointment began through a nomination from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). 

As a PCORI governing board member, Healy will participate in quarterly board meetings and serve on one of the organization's standing committees.

Heritage College Interim Senior Dean Jennifer Gwilym, D.O. (‘03), praised Healy's appointment.

"Dr. Healy's appointment to the PCORI Governing Board is a testament to her expertise, leadership and unwavering commitment to patient-centered care," Gwilym said. "Her voice will help represent the needs of patients, physicians and communities, particularly those in rural and underserved areas, as PCORI continues to shape the future of health outcomes research."

Healy serves as director of the Heritage College's Diabetology Fellowship Program, a role she has held since 2015. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for excellence in both education and patient care, including receiving the 2025 Outstanding Clinical Faculty Specialty Medicine Award and the 2022 Distinguished Osteopathic Commitment Award.