Division of Campus Life

Dr. Patricia (Pat) Poitevien (she/her) serves as Vice President for Campus Life at Brown University, where she leads a dynamic division of more than 20 departments, offices, and centers. Appointed in June 2025, she plays a key role in advancing holistic student success and fostering a vibrant, inclusive campus culture. As a senior university leader, Dr. Poitevien is a member of the President’s Cabinet and collaborates closely with the Corporation of Brown University to support students across all academic levels—undergraduate, graduate, and medical—and to provide resources for the broader Brown community.

Dr. Poitevien is a board-certified pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics at the Warren Alpert Medical School. Since joining Brown in 2018, she has held multiple leadership roles, most recently serving as senior associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Division of Biology and Medicine. In that capacity, she led initiatives to build a more inclusive academic and clinical environment and served as a key liaison among medical students, university offices, and clinical partners. She also served as interim vice president for Brown’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), where she provided steady and strategic leadership during a time of significant change.

Her earlier experience includes directing the Brown Pediatrics Residency Program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and serving for over a decade as an assistant professor and residency program director in the Department of Pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine. Nationally, she is a recognized leader in pediatric education and equity in medicine. Dr. Poitevien is the immediate past president of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors and a founding member of its Learning Community on Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine. Her work reflects a long-standing commitment to mentorship, health equity, and student support.

Dr. Poitevien is a proud alumna of Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) and maintains a deep connection to the Brown ethos and student experience. Her leadership is rooted in empathy, belonging, and a belief in the transformative power of education. She works across academic and administrative boundaries to ensure that all students are empowered to thrive—academically, socially, and personally.

A.B., French Literature, Brown University
M.D., Brown University (Program in Liberal Medical Education)
M.S., Clinical Investigation, NYU School of Medicine

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Meetings available by appointment. Contact Laurinda Grasso, executive assistant, at 401-863-1800 or laurinda_grasso@brown.edu.