Jamie Pina named RTI’s first vice president of data strategy

Industry leader to spearhead enterprise-wide data modernization  

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Independent scientific research institute RTI International has named Jamie Pina, Ph.D., MSPH, FAMIA, its first vice president of data strategy. In this new role, Pina will lead the development and implementation of RTI’s enterprise-wide data strategy to transform data governance, infrastructure and analytics in alignment with the institute’s scientific priorities and long-term growth objectives. 

Pina will establish RTI’s first Office of Data Strategy. The new office will position data as a strategic institutional asset by building a centralized data strategy team, guiding AI-driven innovation and advancing data governance frameworks that support quality, trust and reusability. 

"RTI’s mission to improve the human condition depends on our ability to harness the full power of data,” said Pina. “I’ve been fortunate to work alongside talented colleagues throughout my career to align people, systems, and strategy in support of ethical and effective data use. I’m excited to help move the institute toward a more modern, strategic data ecosystem that supports our staff, partners and clients in solving some of the world’s most complex challenges."

Pina will work closely with scientific, technical and business leaders across RTI to align and modernize data infrastructure investments to meet evolving research priorities and expand opportunities for institutional growth.  

“RTI is navigating client transformation and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence,” said Mike Kaelin, RTI’s chief operating officer. “Thinking strategically about how data informs our decision-making is critical to our future, and we are excited Jamie is going to lead our efforts here.”  

Pina brings more than 20 years of experience in developing and evaluating data systems across a wide range of public health and research domains. Most recently serving as center director for RTI’s Center for Data Modernization Solutions and scientific director of Public Health Technology, he also founded and led RTI’s Population and Public Health Informatics Program. 

He is also an adjunct professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and serves on the Health Informatics Advisory Board at George Mason University. Pina was recently named a Fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association in recognition of his lifetime achievements in biomedical and public health informatics. He holds a Ph.D. in biomedical informatics from the University of Washington, an MSPH in public health informatics from Emory University, and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston.