Veteran healthcare executive brings decades of operational leadership, growth experience to advancing evidence solutions for complex clinical and regulatory challenges

Headwater Science, a leading data science and methods company, today announced the appointment of Susan Barnes, Ph.D., as head of operations. In this role, Dr. Barnes will oversee the company's operations and organizational performance as Headwater Science continues to expand its capabilities and impact across the healthcare ecosystem.

Barnes joins Headwater Science following senior leadership roles leading large-scale transformation initiatives and enterprise growth strategies across some of the most respected healthcare and life sciences organizations.

Most recently, Barnes served as Vice President of Clinical and Commercial Business Technology Solutions at Parexel, where she helped drive a global data and technology strategy focused on artificial intelligence and operational efficiency. Prior to Parexel, she spent nearly a decade at IQVIA, serving in several senior leadership positions, including Head of Strategic and Business Operations for IQVIA Biotech, where she led initiatives that generated significant operational savings and improved organizational performance worldwide.

"Susan has spent her career helping complex healthcare organizations scale and deliver results," said Alan Brookhart, president of Headwater Science. "She combines strategic vision with operational discipline and a proven ability to lead.”

"I am excited to join Headwater Science at such a pivotal moment," said Barnes. "The company is uniquely positioned to help healthcare organizations generate meaningful evidence that improves decision-making and patient outcomes. I look forward to strengthening our operational foundation and driving continued growth."

Barnes holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Bradford, a Master of Project Management from Western Carolina University, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Honors from the University of Bradford. She is also a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and was recognized with the 2024 Healthcare Businesswomen's Association Rising Star Award for transformational leadership and business innovation.

About Headwater Science

Headwater Science (formerly NoviSci) is a data science and methods company specializing in principled, reproducible evidence generation for complex clinical and regulatory challenges. With deep expertise in comparative effectiveness, causal inference, healthcare utilization and expenditure research, and regulatory-grade analytical software, Headwater Science provides the methodological foundation that delivers reproducible analytic pipelines, novel epidemiologic and statistical methods, and regulatory-grade software validated to hold up under the most demanding scrutiny. The company works with life sciences organizations as a long-term scientific partner. Headwater Science is a Highlander Health company. Learn more at headwaterscience.com.

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Headwater Science Names Susan Barnes Head of Operations