Initiative on Health and Homelessness
The Initiative on Health and Homelessness (IHH) fosters a network of researchers and practitioners dedicated to inspiring and supporting emerging public health professionals in addressing health and homelessness, providing resources to drive real-world change to improve the health and lives of unhoused individuals.
677 Huntington Avenue
Kresge 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02115
Central Team
The Initiative on Health and Homelessness has a talented team whose hard work and dedication bring the Initiative’s goals to life.
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 and Chair of its Initiative on Health and Homelessness. A physician and public health leader, he has dedicated his career to advancing health equity and leadership development.
Previously, he served as the 14th Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leading major national initiatives in disease prevention, health disparities, and emergency response. He was also Commissioner of Public Health for Massachusetts, overseeing statewide public health efforts.
An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Koh has published over 325 articles and received numerous honors for his contributions to public health. At Harvard, he continues to shape policy and education to improve health outcomes for all.
Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum is Senior Advisor at the Initiative on Health and Homelessness (IHH), where she brings decades of experience advancing evidence-based solutions to homelessness. She is also the Founder and CEO of 2Elevate, a consulting and executive coaching firm that helps agencies and leaders navigate complex challenges while staying mission-driven.
Previously, Dr. Adams Kellum served as Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), where she led a major reduction in unsheltered homelessness across Los Angeles and partnered with Mayor Karen Bass to launch Inside Safe, a citywide initiative that has helped more than 4,000 people move into housing. Earlier in her career, she spent 15 years as President and CEO of St. Joseph Center, where she expanded the organization’s reach and pioneered multidisciplinary approaches to housing and supportive services for the most vulnerable.
A recognized leader at the state and national levels, Dr. Adams Kellum has served on numerous advisory boards, including California’s No Place Like Home Program and the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. She currently serves on the California Policy Lab Advisory Board and the Mount Saint Mary’s University Board of Trustees.
Dr. Adams Kellum earned her B.A. from the University of Southern California, M.A. from Ball State University, and Ph.D. from Stanford University.
Emily Lazowy has been a foundational member of the Initiative on Health and Homelessness (IHH) at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health since its inception. As Assistant Director, she plays a pivotal role in advancing IHH’s mission to bridge research, education, and advocacy to improve health outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness. Emily’s work encompasses coordinating research efforts, developing educational programming, and expanding the Initiative’s reach through strategic communications. Her background in health communication and program development enables her to create opportunities for collaboration between researchers, students, and practitioners, driving meaningful change in the field. Prior to her tenure at IHH, Emily supported faculty and department-wide projects related to research administration, event planning, and communications in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She holds a Master of Arts degree and is committed to making complex issues more accessible and fostering connections that lead to lasting impact.
Jeff Olivet is a nationally recognized leader in public health and homelessness policy, with a focus on integrating housing, healthcare, and racial equity. As Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (2022-2024), he led federal efforts to address homelessness as a public health crisis, advocating for policies that prioritize prevention and holistic support. He now serves as a Senior Advisor to the Initiative on Health and Homelessness at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and consults for various organizations.
With over three decades of experience as an outreach worker, advocate, researcher, and public speaker, Jeff has led national initiatives to improve access to mental health and substance use treatment, address social determinants of health, and advance racial equity. As former CEO of the Center for Social Innovation (C4 Innovations), he spearheaded programs that reshaped healthcare and homelessness systems.
A dedicated advocate for marginalized communities, Jeff has worked alongside policymakers, healthcare providers, and people with lived experience to design more inclusive support systems. His research and training efforts emphasize housing as a critical component of health, breaking cycles of homelessness and trauma. He holds a B.A. in English and French from the University of Alabama and an M.A. in English from Boston College.
Nick Pringle, MPH, is a research assistant with a focus on homelessness, substance use and behavioral health, public policy, and health outcomes. At the Initiative on Health and Homelessness (IHH), Nick has supported research into private sector partnerships, elder homelessness, communications strategies and the history of homelessness in the United States. Nick completed his MPH at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in May 2025. Prior to completing his MPH Nick worked in healthcare consulting in the UK and Australia.
Annmarie Sasdi is the Senior Advisor for Policy and Partnerships for the Initiative on Health and Homelessness. Previously, she was the Director of Policy and Partnerships for the Program in Global Public Policy and Social Change in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Before that, she served as the senior director for new program development at the Harvard Kennedy School Division of Executive Programs, where she worked with faculty across Harvard to design training programs for senior public officials and policymakers. Her portfolio included policy areas such as climate change, cybersecurity, global health security, and early childhood development.
She was also a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, researching immigration and low-wage labor. Prior to her academic roles, she spent 25 years in financial services, most recently as an executive director in investment banking at Goldman Sachs International in London.
Annmarie holds a master’s degree (MCRP) from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A., honors, from Princeton University’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning.
