Brenda Paulsen has 30 years of leadership experience in academic and medical administration, principally in partnership with clinical department chairs and hospital executives, leading financial, human resource, and administrative activities in support of the tripartite missions of research, education, and clinical services (inpatient and outpatient). She is currently the Chief Operating Officer for the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. She is responsible for all financial, personnel, compliance, administrative, and operational aspects of pediatric basic, clinical, translational, population, and community research administration.

At Children's Health, she was the Senior Vice President, Physician Administration. She provided comprehensive operational support and oversight of the administrative functions within the Office of the Chief Medical Officer. As a hospital executive, Brenda was responsible for Children's Health research administration (clinical, translational, and population health), administrative leadership for graduate medical education and Medical Staff Affairs, the Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence, and University of Texas Southwestern pediatric physician engagement.

Previously, Brenda held leadership positions at the University of Arizona, Duke University, and the University of Michigan, primarily as an administrator for Psychiatry and Medical School Administration. At all three institutions, she successfully collaborated with physician leadership, Medical School administration, and clinical operations and finance (hospital and physician practice) leadership to improve financial performance, optimize clinical operations, and reduce compliance risk. Brenda earned her undergraduate degree in Accounting with a Certificate of International Business from Arizona State University and a Master's of Education, Counseling, and Human Resources (with Distinction) from Northern Arizona State University. Brenda was also awarded a Certified Public Accounting Certificate from Arizona in 1994 (currently inactive).