Gary Adamkiewicz is an Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Exposure Disparities at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH), where he leads the Healthy Cities Lab (www.healthycitieslab.org). Dr. Adamkiewicz’s work focuses on the connections between housing and health, and on understanding disparities in environmental exposures. His research has included studies of indoor environmental conditions within the homes of children with asthma, and studies that aim to understand the housing factors that contribute to environmental risks. He has worked with national, state, and local agencies on projects that aim to reduce the burden of disease from environmental issues. Dr. Adamkiewicz has served as a member of the Science Advisory Committee for the National Center for Healthy Housing and has served on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Technical Guidance Review Panel, under the auspices of the agency’s Science Advisory Board. He has also served as an advisor to the World Health Organization’s effort to establish indoor air quality guidelines. Dr. Adamkiewicz holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Public Health from HSPH.

Dr. Jennifer Barkin is a tenured Professor of Community Medicine and OBGYN at the Mercer University School of Medicine.  She serves as Vice-Chair and Director of Research for the Community Medicine Department.  She is also the Director of South Georgia Healthy Start, a federally-funded initiative that serves 10 rural counties in Georgia.  A University of Pittsburgh-trained biostatistician (M.S.) and psychiatric epidemiologist (PhD), she completed a postdoctoral scholarship at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Barkin’s intellectual property, the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF), was developed during her time as a doctoral student at the Epidemiology Data Center (University of Pittsburgh).  The BIMF has been commercially licensed thirteen times, including for the clinical trials for FDA-breakthrough postpartum depression medication Zulresso® (brexanolone).  Dr. Barkin collaborates with organizations all over the world to validate the index and explore pertinent research questions related to maternal functioning.  She serves on the Steering Committee for the Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action and the clinical advisory board for Memora Health and Joyuus, Inc.  In her former role as Chair of Corporate Sponsorship (Board of Directors), for Postpartum Support International, Georgia Chapter she led an impressive fundraising effort for the Black Maternal Mental Health Summit – the chapter/conference was nationally recognized with the Jane Honikman Award. She has provided expert testimony before the Georgia House of Representatives Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Committee and has been invited to present before legislators at various levels of government.   Her recent work has been described as “state-of-the-art” and includes a focus on the mental health effects of climate change on mothers and children. She has participated on numerous expert panels including the New England Journal of Medicine’s Resident 360 Roundtable, the Global Women’s Leadership in Climate Panel, and the Mothers and Others for Clean Air Month panel.  Her work has also been featured by Mad in America, the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, ecoAmerica, the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), the University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University (B.S., Statistics) – to name a few.  Dr Barkin has over 80 publications and has acquired and managed over 7 million dollars in federal funding as Principal Investigator.  She brings 15 years of experience in perinatal mental health and key Maternal Child Health Partners to the table for South Georgia Healthy Start.  

David W. Cash serves as Regional Administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 1 office, which covers Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and ten Federallyrecognized Indian Nations. Dr. Cash has spent his career in public service harnessing science, innovative policy, and community involvement to help solve challenges and seize opportunities at the intersection of environmental protection, economic development, and equity. As Regional Administrator, Dr. Cash oversees all aspects of EPA’s work in New England, with particular focus on infrastructure programs, climate change, environmental justice, and equity. Before joining the EPA, Dr. Cash was Dean of the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Dr. Cash spent a decade in Massachusetts state government in a range of senior positions, working to transform the Commonwealth’s environmental and energy policy. As Assistant Secretary of Policy in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in Governor Deval Patrick’s administration, he was an architect of several nation-leading climate, clean energy, and environmental justice policies. He then served as a Commissioner in the Department of Public Utilities, followed by serving as the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. With experience serving as an environment and an energy commissioner, he focused on breaking down silos and addressing complex issues in comprehensive ways throughout the Commonwealth. In all these senior roles in state government, Dr. Cash collaborated across government and with community leaders and the private sector to craft and implement innovative science-based policies for climate action, environmental justice, clean energy, job creation, clean water, sustainable land use, waste management, and grid modernization. Dr. Cash holds a Ph.D. in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, a science teaching degree from Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR, and a BS in biology from Yale University. He and his wife Annie Weiss, a psychotherapist, live in the Boston area and have two young adult daughters, who are both pursuing careers in addressing systemic climate injustice and ecosystem health.

William Curry, MD is the Adeline Rose Wydotis Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School and the Chief Medical Officer of the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Massachusetts General Physicians’ Organization, and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear. He is a practicing neurosurgeon, specializing in neuro-oncology and skull base surgery. Throughout his career, he has been a translational researcher, focusing on bench-to-bedside pathways for development of novel approaches to brain cancer treatment, particularly in the fields of cell and gene therapy. Dr. Curry graduated from Cornell University Medical College in 1997, after which he trained in Neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. He joined the Mass General Neurosurgery faculty in 2004. He has held multiple disease and specialty leadership positions, including being the Director of Neurosurgical Education, the Director of Neurosurgical Oncology, the Director of the Translational Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Laboratory, and Co-Director of Mass General Neuroscience. As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Curry oversees Quality and Safety, Health Equity, Patient Experience, Clinician Well-Being, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for faculty, trainees, and students. Dr. Curry believes in collaborative and integrated approaches for best clinical care and in the power of team science for clinical and translational innovation.

Estrelitta Harmon is a transformative leader and the Executive Director of the Center for Better Aging (CBA), where she spearheads innovative efforts to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities for older adults, particularly on Chicago’s South Side. With a career spanning nearly two decades in government, public health and healthcare management, Estrelitta is recognized for her strategic vision and commitment to advancing health equity. Under her leadership, CBA has become a model for holistic, person-centered care, focused on enhancing the quality of life for older adults through integrated healthcare services. She oversees the execution of a $122.5 million Healthcare Transformation Collaborative grant, positioning CBA as a leading institution dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of underserved communities. Estrelitta’s extensive experience includes senior roles at the Illinois Department of Public Health, where she managed more than $100 million in annual grant awards and led the Get Covered Illinois program, facilitating access to critical healthcare services statewide. She also served as a lead Consultant with Health Management Associates, where she advised government agencies and organizations on strategic growth, stakeholder engagement, and operational excellence. With a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, Estrelitta brings a blend of academic rigor and practical expertise to her work. Her ability to foster collaboration, drive innovation, and create measurable impact makes her a dynamic leader in the field of aging services. A lifelong resident of Chicago’s South Side, Estrelitta is deeply committed to the community where she lives and works. Through her leadership at CBA, she continues to champion initiatives that empower older adults to age with dignity, independence, and confidence. Her passion for her community is an extension of her passion for her family. Estrelitta, who is married to a full-time bass player, is also a proud mother of two tenacious, confident risktakers who support her in her mission to leave a lasting legacy on Chicago’s South Side.

Dr. Howard K. Koh is the Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Harvard Chan), the inaugural Chair of the Harvard Chan Initiative on Health and Homelessness and a member of the Faculty Executive Committee of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative. He is also Co-Director of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality and Religion at Harvard University and formerly headed the School’s Center for Public Health Preparedness. After being nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the US Senate, he previously served as the 14th Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (2009-2014). Also, after being appointed by Governor William Weld, he was Commissioner of Public Health for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1997-2003). Dr. Koh also completed a term on the National Cancer Advisory Board (2000-2002) after being appointed by President Bill Clinton. A graduate of Yale College (where he was President of the Yale Glee Club) and the Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Koh trained at Boston City Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, earned board certifications in four medical fields, served as Principal Investigator of research grants totaling $28M and published more than 325 articles in the medical and public health literature. He has received over 70 awards and honors for interdisciplinary accomplishments in medicine and public health including six honorary doctorate degrees, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award for National Service, the Sedgwick Memorial Medal from the American Public Health Association (its highest honor), the Champion Award from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Cancer Society. As part of recognition as a “Medical All Star” by the Boston Red Sox for promoting the early detection and prevention of melanoma, he delivered the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park (2003). In 2019, HHS established the annual Dr. Howard K. Koh Award for Excellence in Leadership sponsored by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council. He and his wife Dr Claudia Arrigg are the proud parents of three adult children and the proud grandparents of five grandchildren.

Rebekka Lee, ScD is a Lecturer at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She serves as the Director for the Community Engagement Program at Harvard Catalyst: The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center supporting bi-directional engagement to improve the relevance, quality, and impact of research. She has spent two decades conducting community-engaged mixed methods research with partners in Boston and Massachusetts including the Boston Public Health Commission, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, YMCA, and Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. Her research focuses on designing and evaluating chronic disease prevention interventions that translate into real world policy and practice change, focusing in particular on investigating the contextual factors that impact effective implementation and promote health equity. She teaches courses on program planning and program evaluation and is the co-director of Leaders in Health community training program.

Shruthi Mahalingaiah is an assistant professor of environmental, reproductive, and women’s health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She serves clinically as a physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Fertility Center where she specializes in ovulation disorders, reproductive endocrinology, and infertility. Her research seeks to understand the links between environmental and modifiable risk factors on human reproduction and gynecological diseases. Shruthi is the creator of the Ovulation and Menstruation Health (OM) Study and one of the principal investigators of the Apple Women’s Health Study.

Dr. Kathryn Rexrode is the Chief Academic Officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Chief of the Division of Women’s Health in the Department of Medicine at BWH, and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. As Chief Academic Officer she supports and advances the research and educational missions of the hospital, including the Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology. Dr. Rexrode has broad and deep research experience in women’s health and is the author of more than 300 research publications. She leads multiple research studies funded by the National Institutes of Health with a focus on the impact of metabolism and female-specific risk factors on the risk of heart disease and stroke in women. She has received multiple scientific and mentorship awards and currently is Co-PI of the BIRCWH K12 training program and leads the Career Enhancement Core for the ROSA Center Specialized Center of Research in Women’s Health. Dr. Rexrode is also the Director of the Gretchen and Edward Fish Center for Women’s Health which provides comprehensive women’s health services, including 14 specialties and a dedicated clinic for menopause and midlife care. Building on its core mission of leading the field in state-of-the-art care for women, the Division of Women’s Health conducts translational women’s health research and leads innovative education programs for medical students, residents, and faculty to advance the health of women.

Dr. Rice is a pulmonary critical care physician and the Director of the BIDMC Institute for Lung Health, Director of the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE), and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is the Director of Research for the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at BIDMC. Her area of investigation focuses on the influence of environmental exposures, especially air pollution, and climate change, on the respiratory health of children and adults. She is developing new applications for portable monitoring technology and non-invasive sampling of the upper respiratory tract to improve our understanding of how indoor exposures affect respiratory symptoms, and how indoor air quality can be improved for lung health. She chaired the American Thoracic Society’s Environmental Health Policy Committee 2018-2021 and is the co-chair of the Environmental Sustainability Committee of BIDMC. In 2020, she received the Jo Rae Wright Award for Outstanding Science from the American Thoracic Society, a national award recognizing tomorrow’s leaders in science, and was selected as one of Medscape’s 25 Rising Stars in Medicine.

Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth (she/they), Chief Medical Officer for The Jed Foundation (JED), is a psychiatrist committed to improving mental health through education and resource creation. She provides guidance on how individuals, families, schools, communities, media, and other youth-serving organizations can take actions to protect mental health and prevent suicide in teens and young adults, ensuring that all young people are being served in data-informed and culturally responsive ways. Dr. Erickson-Schroth joined JED in 2022 after providing crisis intervention and mental health support to thousands of patients in over ten emergency rooms in New York City. She is an associate professor of psychiatry at New York University. Much of her career has focused on LGBTQ mental health, and she continues to see clients at Hetrick-Martin Institute for LGBTQIA+ Youth. Dr. Erickson-Schroth is the editor of “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves” (Oxford, 2014, second edition 2022), a resource guide written by and for trans communities. She has appeared on NPR’s “Fresh Air” and “On Point.” She is a former board member of the Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists and of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality. Dr. Erickson-Schroth obtained her medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School. She completed a psychiatry residency at New York University, public psychiatry fellowship at Columbia University, and consultation-liaison psychiatry fellowship at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Ellana Stinson is a dynamic force in the medical field and a tireless advocate for health equity and workforce diversity. As a board-certified emergency medicine physician at Boston Medical Center, she serves as the president of the New England Medical Association, fostering a strong community among Black physicians across the region. Her dedication to advancing public health is reflected in her leadership roles, including her work with the Massachusetts Medical Society, where she champions health policy reforms that directly address the needs of underserved communities. Formerly the Associate Medical Director at the Reggie Lewis Mass Vaccine Site, Dr. Stinson played a role in leading a large-scale vaccination effort during one of the most critical public health moments in recent history. A proud graduate of Spelman College and Meharry Medical College, she holds an MPH from Harvard and an MBA in finance from Babson College, demonstrating her deep commitment to lifelong learning and multi-disciplinary leadership. Passionate about driving diversity in the healthcare workforce, Dr. Stinson is on a mission to reshape the industry by creating more equitable pathways for emerging professionals. Her work isn’t just about fixing problems—it’s about opening doors and transforming the way healthcare operates at every level. When she’s not pushing boundaries in healthcare or advocating for patients, you can find Dr. Stinson playing hard with her beloved dogs, Yare and Sofie, or unwinding in her garden. In her spare time, she’s also diving into new creative challenges, like learning to play the violin. Her journey is a testament to a life dedicated to health, growth, and joy.    

Rainelle Walker-White, B.S. in Human Service, serves as the Associate Director of Health Equity Programs at the Family Van. For over 30 years, Rainelle has improved equitable access to care for hard-to-reach communities. As a community health worker, she utilizes a client-led, strength-based and relationship-centered approach to care that is rooted in love and compassion. She counsels clients with complex health and social needs and empowers them to live healthier, happier lives. She is skilled in offering culturally-responsive health screening and education related to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, mental health, and cancer. Rainelle has trained and mentored hundreds of aspiring health professionals in how to care for clients with cultural humility. She leads and oversees the direct service team, supervising community health workers, students and volunteers. Rainelle believes in community partnership and is always nurturing new connections and strengthening existing partnerships to improve the health of the whole community.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her grandson Brandon as well as cooking, singing and praying for others.

Rick Yang is a first-year student at Harvard College, civic entrepreneur, public health researcher, and mental health advocate. Through his two organizations, SchoolSight and Frontiers of Fulfillment, he has collaborated with over a dozen senators and US representatives, secured over $125,000 in grant funding for the development of wellness spaces, and reached over ten thousand students across 30 US states through advocacy and lobbying workshops. Rick has published medical editorials in peer-reviewed journals and spoken at the United Nations, various national conventions, and research meetings. He has advised organizations centered around youth wellbeing, including Youth Move National, the New York State PTA, and New York Public Health Association’s Board of Directors, Mental Health America’s Youth Leaders Council, and Strong365’s Advisory Board. He received The Jed Foundation’s 2024 Student Voice of Mental Health Award, was named NTTAC’s 2023 Youth Mental Health Champion, and has been featured on the Washington Post, NBC News, and ABC News.