Dr. Howard Koh is a distinguished physician, public health leader, and advocate for health equity. He currently serves as the Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Harvard Kennedy School. Dr. Koh’s career has been dedicated to addressing health disparities and promoting health equity through research, policy, and advocacy.
Dr. Koh earned his medical degree from Yale University and completed his residency and fellowship at Boston City Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, respectively. He has held several influential positions, including serving as the 14th Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 2009 to 2014. In this role, he led efforts to implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which significantly expanded healthcare access and aimed to reduce health disparities.
Throughout his career, Dr. Koh has focused on the social determinants of health, emphasizing the importance of preventive care and health promotion. He has been a vocal advocate for integrating health equity into all aspects of public health policy and practice. His work has been instrumental in shaping national health policies and improving health outcomes for underserved populations.
Dr. Koh’s contributions to public health have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including election to the National Academy of Medicine. He continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of public health leaders, emphasizing the importance of social justice in health.
Here are three online articles and videos that best describe how Howard Koh has addressed health disparities in his career:
“Howard Koh on Health Care.” This video features Dr. Koh discussing the Affordable Care Act and its impact on reducing health disparities. (C-SPAN)
“Eliminating Health Disparities through the Affordable Care Act and Beyond.” This presentation outlines actions taken by HHS to address health disparities. (NIH)
“Howard Koh | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.” This profile highlights Dr. Koh’s career and efforts in public health, including his work on health disparities. (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)