Michelle Keenan joined the Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership as director of community engagement and education in November 2022. MyHMS caught up with Keenan to talk about her work at HMS, her hobbies, and her time Down Under.
MyHMS: What brought you to HMS?
Keenan: I particularly was drawn to the mission and work of the Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership, which aligns closely with my values and draws upon my professional experience in health care, equity, and community engagement. I knew DICP would provide a strong foundation, and I could see a lot of potential to deepen existing community relationships to address issues that mean the most to people.
I also worked in health care for many years, so I have had a lot of contact with HMS faculty. They are stellar clinicians and researchers and are inspiring to work with. I also appreciate the social advocacy efforts of many medical residents. I knew HMS would be a stimulating environment where many people are committed to working together with community members and organizations to advance health equity.
MyHMS: What did you do before you started working at HMS?
Keenan: Immediately prior to working at HMS, I was senior director of health equity and social innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. I was responsible for the youth programming (pre-K to early career) for communities underrepresented in medicine, as well as the hospital’s community benefits and community health investment efforts and the community health assets and needs assessment and implementation plan.
Over my career I have worked in management roles in city government, nonprofit community organizations, and health care. The juncture of health and community engagement and organizing is really interesting to me. I love working collaboratively with others to create opportunities for power and opportunity to be shared more equitably.
My work has been across many health and community service issues, including HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, public housing, alcohol and drug services, and youth employment. Working collaboratively with internal stakeholders and community members and organizations to co-design and implement health equity initiatives is a real joy for me.
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MyHMS: What’s the most interesting or unusual job you’ve had?
Keenan: Some years ago, I worked in city government in Melbourne, Australia, as director of community programs. We did a lot of interesting public health and community planning work with many different stakeholders in the community: Indigenous communities, local rooming house residents, LGBTQ+ community members, young people, and local artists.
I worked with some very creative people, including engineers and city planners who had skill sets very different from mine, but we were committed to a common outcome. I learned a lot, and the collaborations were really dynamic and fun. It also strengthened my facilitation skills, and I learned additional strategies to mediate conflict and reach group consensus.
MyHMS: How would you describe your role to someone unfamiliar with what you do?
Keenan: My role has a few different dimensions: I manage the youth programming that is run through DICP. COVID-19 drastically impacted these programs, so this year we are focused on reestablishing our in-person learning and youth employment programs. I am also identifying areas where we can potentially expand efforts and forge new partnerships to create more equitable opportunities for young people in Boston and Cambridge.
The community engagement aspect of my position begins with creating opportunities for the HMS community to better understand the assets and aspirations of residents in our local communities. From there we can create bridges where HMS faculty and staff can contribute their expertise and enthusiasm. I would describe it as an ‘inside-outside’ role, and there is tremendous potential to contribute to long-term change. Working collaboratively with departments across the HMS and Harvard community is key in this role.
MyHMS: What do you like best about your job and working at HMS?
Keenan: My position at HMS engages three things I’m passionate about: education and career development opportunities for young people underrepresented in the STEM fields; engaging community members and organizations in shaping strategies to create the conditions for more equitable health outcomes; and ongoing learning and innovation.
On a personal note, I have found people who work at HMS and our hospital affiliates to be extremely welcoming and very enthusiastic about engaging with issues that are very important to our local communities — issues such as economic mobility and inclusion, housing instability, and mental and behavioral health. I welcome hearing from others at HMS and the wider Harvard community about what we can do together.
MyHMS: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at HMS?
Keenan: I love being outdoors. Walking in the woods and biking are really fun activities for me. I also love visual art, so I enjoy going to museums. Spending time with my family and friends is my greatest satisfaction. If I can get them to join me for a walk in the woods or attend an exhibition, I am twice as happy, although my daughter might beg to differ.
MyHMS: What are three things most people don’t know about you?
Keenan: I am not fond of driving and am a dedicated public transport rider. I stick with the T through all its ups and downs. I generally enjoy the thinking space and human interaction I get on buses, trains, and trolleys, but some days, not so much!
I lived in Australia for several years and remain very connected with friends and happenings there.
My husband was my boyfriend when I was 15, when we both worked as camp counselors. For many years we lost touch, but then re-met at my father’s funeral. It is kind of a rom-com story, but true.
MyHMS: If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be and why?
Keenan: This is tricky for me, as I have become more of a nonfiction reader. Mimi Ma in Richard Powers’ The Overstory, and Hiram Walker in The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates, are two powerful characters who experience deep pain in their life and manifest it into power and compassion and a forge a new way of being in the world. They also both tap into a deep well of spiritual power and their ancestral wisdom. Both are great books — check them out!
MyHMS: What’s your favorite meal to prepare at home? Why?
Keenan: I like cooking vegetable curry. You can do a lot of interesting variation in curry dishes depending on the seasonal produce available and how spicy you want it to be. I will never achieve the deliciousness of curries that I enjoyed when traveling in India, but many people enjoy what I prepare. It is also an excuse to have a side dish of yogurt, one of my favorite foods.
