As a Research Associate, Debbie supports collaborative research on a range of topics, including the transition of HIV services from donor funding to local leadership, financial analysis of global HIV programs, and the economic impact of social work. She contributes to literature reviews, research design, case studies, financial analysis, and…

Graduate Fellow Zoë Richman supports the staff and affiliated faculty of the Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health (CISWH), contributing to strategic planning efforts and helping to introduce the systems dynamics framework to center. She was part of a Boston University (BU) collaborative virtual reality project on social…

Senior Project Director Allyson Baughman leads the Health Equity Research Lab. A thought leader and policy specialist, she guides and oversees initiatives that advance research, policy, and practice to promote health equity. Allyson bring to her work nearly two decades of expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods and analysis,…

In the Power Building & Leadership Lab, Policy Fellow Sarah Gentner works on the Beyond 2025 Action Hub. She assists in tracking and organizing current and proposed federal policies to build out the Beyond 2025 database. Sarah also authors policy analysis, providing the public with a concise understanding of current…

Centered in the belief that building lasting relationships and looking out for those left behind are crucial for true equity, Policy Fellow Molly Heald brings commitment to these values to her work. Focusing on the Beyond 2025 database, she provides information about the policies proposed in “Project 2025” and the…

Social Work Graduate Fellow Abdul Haseeb Hamza has been engaged in research, advocacy, and program development projects at the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) since 2023. His primary focus is improving health equity for people with disabilities. He also contributed to a project using virtual…

Doctoral Fellow Edima Ottoho works closely with CISWH’s executive director to enhance the center’s strategic initiatives. She provides guidance and tools to strengthen team procedures, streamline planning and implementation tracking, and improve performance measurement. Her work supports integration efforts to maximize the effectiveness, cohesion, and impact of CISWH’s labs, projects,…

Doctoral Fellow Melanie Morris is working on the Economic Case for Social Work in Public Health Settings and Healthcare. She has explored the current literature on the role of social work in healthcare, the cost savings and cost-effectiveness of social work interventions, and how social work promotes health equity. Through…

Policy Fellow Sheila Siracusa is tapping her work experience in research and analysis, particularly around environmental and energy policy, as she contributes to the Beyond 2025 Action Hub. Additionally, Sheila teaches Acting, Directing, and First Folio Shakespeare in Performance, and is a professional stage director based in the…

Jess Rogers is a Policy Fellow with BU’s Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health. In this role, she examines The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, and the current administration’s executive orders and policies that impact education, the LGBTQIA+ community, and women’s rights. Rogers began her career in…