Welcome Dr. Khara Sauro, Associate Scientific Director, Health Systems

The O’Brien Institute for Public Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Khara Sauro, PhD, as the new Associate Scientific Director, Health Systems, starting Nov. 17, 2025. 

Dr. Sauro is an Associate Professor and Ohlson Professor of Head & Neck Health Services Research in the Departments of Surgery, Community Health Sciences, and Oncology. She is also a member of the O’Brien Institute and the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute.

As a health services researcher with the Ohlson Research Initiative, Dr. Sauro’s work focuses on improving the quality and safety of care for patients with head and neck cancer, particularly those undergoing major surgical treatment. Her research leverages routinely collected administrative data and integrates both qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate and strengthen healthcare delivery.

In her new role, Dr. Sauro will lead the Institute’s health systems programs and initiatives and advance research and innovation that make sustainable, high-quality care equitably available to all.

“I am most excited to work with a diverse and passionate group of researchers to move forward the research needed to improve healthcare,” says Dr. Sauro. “We know that delivering evidence-based care leads to improvements in health and health system savings, but it’s not always the standard of care. Advancing the learning healthcare system is a big step in changing that.”

Dr. Sauro sees innovation and equity as essential partners in strengthening health systems.

“There is emerging evidence that delivering evidence-based care can also make healthcare more equitable. I look forward to working with the O’Brien Institute’s Health Equity HUB to ensure our research, especially around learning health systems, is conducted with an equity lens.”

Her early priorities include connecting O’Brien Institute members working in learning health systems and digital health, fostering collaboration to accelerate progress, and establishing measurable metrics for success.

“By collaborating and leveraging each other’s expertise, we can make real progress toward implementing sustainable, digital, evidence-based solutions that achieve the quadruple aim,” she says.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Khara Sauro to the O’Brien Institute leadership team.