Biography of Denise Pintello, Ph.D.

Dr. Denise Pintello currently serves as the Special Assistant for the NIDA Deputy Director and oversees the implementation of innovative initiatives and special projects.  She is currently the Co-Chair of NIDA’s Child and Adolescent Workgroup.  Prior to her appointment in the OD, Dr. Pintello worked in the Office of Science Policy and Communications and served as NIDA’s Deputy Liaison for the NIH Roadmap and oversaw a successful research dissemination initiative in partnership with SAMHSA.

Before coming to NIDA, Dr. Pintello designed and conducted quantitative and qualitative research studies and program evaluations within the fields of child welfare, domestic violence, juvenile justice, mental health and substance abuse.  As a clinician and administrator in the field of social work for more 25 years, Dr. Pintello has worked extensively in substance abuse, mental health and child welfare settings and provided clinical and administrative services to over 1500 children, adults and families. Dr. Pintello’s publications have focused on the clinical treatment of intrafamilial child sexual abuse, behavioral factors associated with post-traumatic stress in women, predictors of child maltreatment recurrence, health services research and drug abuse research dissemination.