Effective Population Health Efforts During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Shari Nethersole, MD, executive director for community health at Boston Children’s

In the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, health care organizations around the U.S. are focused on safeguarding the health of people living in their communities.

At Boston Children’s in Massachusetts, the pediatric teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School, caring for the health of families in the greater Boston area has long been a priority. In fact, Boston Children’s was one of the first children’s hospitals to include community in its mission statement, according to Shari Nethersole, MD, executive director for community health at Boston Children’s.

“At Boston Children’s, we have cared for the community — and for the health and well-being of children and families who live here — for more than four decades,” she explains, adding that this commitment is demonstrated in a very tangible way through programs, services, and partnerships that promote health and health equity for children and families in the surrounding neighborhoods.

“We leverage our resources with community partners such as health centers, community groups, and youth serving organizations with the ultimate goal of improving child health outcomes,” Nethersole says.

As a physician, Nethersole points out that her personal commitment to community health has grown out of her experiences in the exam room. Throughout the course of her career, she has seen firsthand how underserved populations are disproportionately impacted by serious diseases and environmental conditions. She has been instrumental in bringing awareness to the forefront about the need for the hospital to implement community-based strategies to address obesity, as well as other health priorities, and about the importance of looking at the social determinants of health.

Read the full story now: Learn Why — and How — Boston Children’s Hospital Cares for the Health of the Community

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