Student Affairs

Dr. Murtha completed her undergraduate studies at Boston University, where she graduated magna cum
laude, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2008 with concentrations in English and Biology. After graduating
from Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health in 2013, she completed a residency in
pediatrics at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, and remained at Yale for fellowship training in
pediatric critical care medicine. While pursuing her fellowship training, she completed a Master’s in
Health Science in the Medical Education Pathway in 2020. After fellowship and completion of her MHS,
Dr. Murtha spent two years in a joint position at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and Harlem
Hospital, where she was the assistant fellowship program director for pediatric critical care. She
subsequently joined the Department of Pediatrics faculty at Brown, where she is an assistant professor
and cares for patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Hasbro Children’s. She became the inaugural
Liaison for the Learning Environment for the Department of Pediatrics in 2023, and the Assistant Dean of
Student Affairs in 2025.

Her research interests include medical education, the learning environment, improving communication of
serious news through simulation and interdisciplinary training, and debriefing after challenging clinical
experiences. Beyond her exceptional bedside teaching, which garnered a highly deserved Dean’s
Excellence in Teaching award in 2024, she has developed, implemented, and evaluated curriculum on
sharing serious news for pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows at the local and national level. Dr.
Murtha has distinguished herself as a dedicated and thoughtful mentor, helping students navigate the
highs and lows of their medical school experience. Outside of medicine, she has two sons who keep her
very busy as a hockey mom and enjoys reading, knitting, running, and the beach.