Heather Delaney
System Medical Director, Research and Simulation
Dr. Heather Delaney is a double-board-certified neonatologist and pediatrician, as well as a nationally recognized leader in clinical research, simulation, and healthcare quality. With over two decades of experience and a 17-year military career spanning both the U.S. Air Force and Army, she brings a unique lens to her role as System Medical Director for Simulation and Research at CHRISTUS Health.
Dr. Delaney has served as a Principal or Sub-Investigator on over 50 FDA-regulated clinical trials across multiple therapeutic areas, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, obesity, women’s health, ECMO, simulation, and neonatology. Her experience spans academic and industry-sponsored protocols, and she previously served as Chief Medical Officer of a prestigious research organization, where she led large-scale research site start-ups, multi-center trial coordination, and oversaw clinical operations for Phase 2/3 trials across North America.
Her academic foundation includes a Doctor of Medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and a BA in Biology and Biochemistry from the University of Colorado, graduating summa cum laude. She completed her pediatric residency and neonatology fellowship in Honolulu, Hawaii, serving as both Chief Resident and Chief Fellow.
A Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Dr. Delaney is also known for designing innovative translational simulation programs that bridge research, education, and patient safety. She served as Chief of Simulation at Brooke Army Medical Center for five years. She was the Principal Investigator on a Department of Defense-funded ECMO simulation trial, published in BMJ Simulation & Technology Enhanced Learning.
Dr. Delaney is passionate about building collaborative research ecosystems, mentoring future investigators, and translating data into measurable clinical outcomes. She also holds faculty appointments and advisory roles, including serving as Medical Director for Baylor University’s inaugural Physician Assistant Program and the Scientific Advisory Board for Milkify, Co.
Outside of work, Dr. Delaney is the proud mom of two daughters, wife to an active-duty Army physician, and a longtime advocate for military families and maternal-infant health.