Who I Am
I am an experienced community health professional who is passionate about social, economic and racial justice and health equity. My aim as a consultant is to help government and non-profit, mission-driven organizations achieve their goals.
I do that by advising, strategizing, managing, researching and writing at a senior level around a wide range of important community health and health equity issues. I have the ability and experience to handle complex projects with multiple stakeholders and deliver results.
I am a strategic thinker who is as comfortable talking with your board members and public policy makers, as I am meeting with community leaders. I help you identify and prioritize what’s most important to achieving your organization’s goals.
My values and approach to the work include integrity, equity, inclusion, collaboration, rigor and building upon your assets. While I bring experience to the table, I have no templates but rather listen to your unique needs and, together, we design an approach.
Testimonials
Michael Curry Esq.
President and CEO, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
“The COVID epidemic helped the Mass League realize that we needed to lead research on health equity, but also to do so with an emancipatory approach. That means prioritizing community-based research with patient and community engagement that is informed by health center data and aimed at eliminating health inequities. We realized the critical importance of securing the services of a consultant with depth in community health and the complexities of Massachusetts’ health care system, particularly one with a passion to address health equity and a passion for the possible. We wisely chose Joan Quinlan to help us research, design and structure what has become our groundbreaking Institute of Health Equity Research, Evaluation and Policy (IHE).
She embraced the challenges of creating such an entity, quickly identified the issues, worked effectively with multiple stakeholders, learned best practices from research institutes around the country and provided leadership to the search for the inaugural director. I highly recommend Joan for any organization undertaking a complex project, seeking quality work, relying on timely analysis and in need of someone with a vision for the way forward!”
Ann Hwang MD
President, Atrius Health Equity Foundation
“It’s hard to find consultants who bring senior level expertise, who are also willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work, from the strategic components to the detailed tactical tasks. Joan brings a rich skillset, executive-level relationships and an ability to plug in seamlessly to a wide variety of projects.”
Carlene Pavlos
Executive Director, Massachusetts Public Health Association
“Joan helped us plan for a "major donor" campaign. This was new to us, and we needed to start from the beginning and develop a long-term plan. One of the things I found so helpful about her was how she balanced bringing in her extensive expertise while still listening well to the needs of the “client." She interviewed many of our donors. Her ability to build rapport and trust with those she interviewed was extremely valuable. I would recommend Joan for complex projects that require knowledge, skill, and sensitivity.”
Selected Clients
Career Highlights and Background
As Vice President for Community Health at Mass General, we developed mutually accountable partnerships built on trust with local, under-resourced communities and communities of color to make measurable progress on social determinants of health and health equity. They were so effective that we became the first academic medical center ever to win the two national hospital awards for community engagement, the Spencer Forman Award from the American Association of Medical Colleges and the Foster McGaw Prize from the American Hospital Association.
As the Administrative Director of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program I led the successful launch of the Barbara McInnis House - a 125-bed medical “respite” unit for homeless persons. This was a first-in-the-country, unique model that required working with public officials around licensing and reimbursement, leading a complex community siting process, and overseeing extensive renovations.
As Governor Michael S. Dukakis’s Advisor on Women’s Issues, I drove a process that successfully gained legislative support for the first comprehensive $35M initiative to extend quality child care across Massachusetts, with a focus on low-income women and families.
Education
Boston College, Bachelor of Arts, English Literature
Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, Master of Public Administration