Marion R. Sills, MD, MPH

Online Resume

MARION R. SILLS, MD, MPH

SUMMARY

Physician-scientist and health services researcher with over 20 years of experience in academic medicine and industry. Proven track record in building high-performing teams, securing federal and foundation funding, and leading quality improvement initiatives. Expertise in clinical practice, research leadership, population health research, digital communications, and translating research into practice and policy impact.

EXPERIENCE

Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine

University of Colorado School of Medicine
 August 1999 – Present | Aurora, Colorado

  • Dual-board-certified pediatric emergency physician with an active and unrestricted medical license and 20+ years of clinical practice in emergency department, urgent care, and community-based clinical settings.
  • Promoted to Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine in 2015 for excellence in clinical care, research, teaching, and academic leadership (full curriculum vitae available).
  • Published over 60 peer-reviewed articles on clinical and policy drivers of health outcomes, including several utilizing AI/ML-based predictive modeling.
  • Led multidisciplinary quality improvement initiatives to improve care and outcomes, including development of decision support tools in the electronic health record.
  • Collaborated on multiple quality improvement and process improvement teams including the emergency department discharge process team and the asthma guidelines team.
  • Co-directed the COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Council, synthesizing the emerging COVID literature for clinical guideline development at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
  • Maintained a consistent track record of federal and foundation research funding, with a focus on studies of how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures, healthcare delivery processes, health technologies, and personal behaviors affect access to healthcare, the quality and cost of healthcare, and health outcomes.
  • Represented Emergency Medicine on the hospital’s Clinical Informatics Committee.
  • Served as academic lead in multiple programs, including:
    • Senior mentor in the Scientist Training and Intensive Mentorship (STIM) Program in the Department of Emergency Medicine, mentoring junior faculty in establishing careers as independent investigators
    • Co-director of the TL-1 Team Oriented Training across the Translational Sciences Spectrum (TOTTS) program at the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI)
    • Senior mentor in the Children’s Hospital Association’s research program affiliated with Children’s Hospital Colorado
  • Taught and mentored students, residents, and fellows in both the School of Medicine and the Colorado School of Public Health.
  • Served as core academic faculty in the Pediatric Emergency Medicine subspecialty fellowship, teaching clinical topics at bedside and through didactics, as well as providing research mentorship.
  • Created and managed digital communications strategy, including website, social media, and blog content for the division.
  • Strong clinical and research understanding of privacy and regulatory compliance.
  • Working knowledge of Health Level Seven International (HL7) standards for the exchange of electronic health information, including APIs like FHIR and universal coding systems like LOINC.

Director of Research Scientist Team

OCHIN, Inc.
 December 2021 – March 2025 | Remote (Portland, Oregon)

  • Founded and scaled a research team of 24 scientists in a large health IT company, transitioning from a “staff scientist” model to an independent investigator track.
  • Achieved a fivefold increase in funded research projects by establishing academic, industry, and foundation partnerships.
  • Doubled publication output (from 30 to 61 papers/year) and expanded research infrastructure.
  • Led research proposal development strategy, adapting to shifting priorities of federal and foundation funders, achieving >30% funding rate (exceeding national averages).
  • Built transdisciplinary relationships across internal departments and with external academic collaborators to enhance funding success and advance research projects.
  • Recruited and retained 15 research scientists and 3 operations staff, maintaining their financial allocations in 100% soft-money positions in an organization with a low indirect rate.
  • Maintained financial oversight over budget projections at project and program levels.
  • Developed and implemented concise, transparent promotion processes based on an academic model.
  • Led cross-functional collaboration with clinical informaticists, data scientists, and data warehouse architects to utilize extensive data resources to drive organizational goals.
  • Utilized large-scale data analytics, including NLP and AI, to derive insights advancing the company’s mission of achieving health equity.
  • Integrated research findings to drive improvement through an Institute for Healthcare Improvement QI approach, increasing childhood vaccination rates by 4%.

Chief Medical Officer

Data2Care Technologies, LLC
 January 2017 – December 2023 | Denver, Colorado

  • Co-founded Data2Care Technologies, a software development startup focused on leveraging technology to improve patient self-care.
  • Spearheaded the development of an innovative mHealth application using AI techniques to enhance patient self-care for dehydration, securing small business funding from NIH.
  • Curated branding and digital media for marketing the application, including web-based and social media messaging.
  • Continue (2025) to consult on mHealth software app development with other product developers.

Digital Media Consultant

Various organizations
 August 2017 – Present | Denver, Colorado

  • Developed digital media communications plans in collaboration with political and advocacy strategists for two successful statewide office campaigns.
  • Tracked and responded to key performance indicators for target audience engagement.
  • Created strategic content for web, social media, and email campaigns.

EDUCATION

  • Harvard University
    • BA • History & Literature (magna cum laude)
  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
    • MD
  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
    • Pediatrics Residency
  • Children’s National Medical Center (George Washington University)
    • Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship
  • Milken Institute School of Public Health (George Washington University)
    • MPH • Health Policy and Management
  • University of Colorado School of Medicine
    • Health Services Research Fellowship
  • Institute for Healthcare Quality, Safety and Efficiency (University of Colorado) 
    • Quality Improvement Leadership Program

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS

Medical License

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies 

Issued: 22-July-1999 

Expires: 30-April-2027

License Number: DR038047 

Board Certification – Pediatric Emergency Medicine

American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) 

Issued: 13-November-2000

Expires: 18-December-2025

Certificate Number: 1042

Board Certification – Pediatrics

American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) 

Issued: 9-October-1996

Expires: 18-December-2025

Certificate Number: 60288

Research Certification: Conflicts of Interest

CITI Program

Issued: 14-Jan-2025

Expires: 14-Jan-2028

Record ID: 64982496

Research Certification: Human Subjects Research

CITI Program

Issued: 10-Jan-2025

Expires: 10-Jan-2028

Record ID: 65185129

Research Certification: Responsible Conduct of Research

CITI Program

Issued: 14-Jan-2025

Expires: 14-Jan-2028

Record ID: 65713992

SKILLS

  • Clinical Experience
  • Clinical and Research Leadership
  • Population Health Research
  • Strategic Planning
  • Digital Communications
  • Quality and Process Improvement
  • Decision Support Tools
  • Research and Career Mentorship
  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Health Informatics
  • AI/ML in Healthcare Applications