Key Researcher
Diana Cutts, MD
Diana Cutts, MD, graduated from the University of Illinois Medical School, then completed pediatric residency training at Boston University and Harvard University, and a chief residency at Boston City Hospital. She has been involved with clinical care, teaching, and research at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for more than 30 years.
An Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Dr. Cutts is a founding member and co-lead principal investigator of Children’s HealthWatch, a national policy-oriented pediatric research network established in 1998 to monitor children’s health on the front lines of care, with a focus on very young children. Her national research on childhood hunger, housing insecurity, and other hardships has been published in over 100 peer-reviewed journals and advocacy briefs, and she’s provided spoken testimony at state and national congressional hearings.
At HHS, Dr. Cutts serves as Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and directs the HHS Children's Growth and Nutrition Clinic. She works collaboratively with Twin Cities community partners to create cutting-edge hospital-based programs that address food insecurity, including the development of on-site food resources and electronic medical record referrals for food assistance.
Children’s Issues
Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI) researchers study issues affecting the well-being of the youngest members of society to ensure their right to grow up healthy and strong.
Since 1998, HHRI has supported the Children’s HealthWatch surveillance program. Children’s HealthWatch is a nonpartisan network of pediatricians, public health researchers, and children’s health and policy experts. This multi-site study is designed to measure the impact of public policy changes on the health, development, and nutrition of low-income babies and toddlers. Intervention, advocacy, and follow-up are also an important part of this study. Families with young children who are identified as experiencing hardship are provided with information on food, housing, and other resources.
Pediatric Research, Education, and Advocacy
The Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS) is committed to healthy and happy children.
Research ensures a healthier tomorrow for children in the community. The pediatric research program studies issues from conception to early adulthood, with a special concentration on studies important to a diverse, urban population.
As the first teaching hospital associated with the University of Minnesota Medical School, HHS has a history of preparing physicians to serve patients in clinics and hospitals across Minnesota and the nation.
The staff of the HHS works as a team to improve children’s lives through advocacy. They are committed to protecting the most vulnerable citizens through advocacy efforts such as helping families find support services, improving literacy, evaluating public policy impact on child health, and sharing research findings with policymakers and the community.
Generations of patients have received medical care at HHS. Our staff has cared for children through typhoid and polio epidemics to present-day illnesses and injuries. Preventive care now forms the cornerstone of our approach. The Pediatrics Department will continue to work to improve the lives of the children in the heart of the city.
HHRI is not responsible for the content on external websites. The appearance of these links on the HHRI website does not constitute an endorsement by HHRI.
Key Researcher
Diana Cutts, MD
Dr. Cutts received her Medical Degree from the University of Illinois. She is the Assistant Chief of Pediatrics at HCMC [the flagship acute care and teaching hospital of the Hennepin Healthcare System] and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
She also directs the Children’s Growth and Nutrition Program. Her work on childhood hunger and related adverse outcomes has been published and provided testimony at state and national congressional hearings.