A Think Tank to Address Healthcare Disparities
On episode 484 of The Nurse Keith Show nursing and healthcare career podcast, Keith interviews Sonya Kulkarni and Stephanie Wang of The Health Disparities Think Tank (HDTT), an organization born of their mutual dedication to advocacy for policies that contribute to addressing and eradicating the health disparities that plague American society, the healthcare system, and the citizens we are all committed to serving.
Stephanie Wang is a student at Harvard College studying Molecular & Cellular Biology and Global Health & Health Policy. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Health Disparities Think Tank, a multidisciplinary research and policy advocacy group combating health disparities, engaging 40+ students and 20+ mentors in projects addressing maternal mortality, climate change, cancer disparities, etc.
Stephanie’s research spans applications of stem cell biology in oncology at Boston Children’s Hospital and disparities in drug pricing and pharmaceutical innovation at Harvard Medical School, with 10 papers published or under review in scholarly journals. She previously served on the board of Harvard Consulting for Business and the Environment — the largest student-led nonprofit by revenue in the country — where she spearheaded life science initiatives for 200+ members and consulted for three pharmaceutical companies with $200B+ total market cap. On the weekends, she works as a nursing assistant at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and directs Harvard’s Alzheimer’s Buddies program.
Sonya Kulkarni is a student at Harvard College studying Molecular & Cellular Biology and Economics. She is an associate for Harvard Undergraduate Consulting on Business and the Environment and a writer for the Harvard Undergraduate Health Policy Review, and has conducted research in neurodevelopment in pediatric HIV and translational molecular diagnostics at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Sonya is also a National Ambassador for the American Cancer Society and leads policy initiatives for pediatric cancer patients in Congress. Her academic and extracurricular pursuits are fueled by a fervent interest in the intersection between health, policy, and business, particularly in effecting meaningful change in drug pricing and cancer care.
Connect with Stephanie Wang, Sonya Kulkarni, and the Health Disparities Think Tank: