Q&A with Health Leads’ Jennifer Valenzuela on health systems’ focus on population health

Health Leads started as a project out of Boston Medical Center that sent college volunteers to connect patients with social resources such as food and assistance paying for utilities. Doctors prescribed the resources and volunteers helped fill the prescriptions through community groups. Founded in 1996, the program is now available in six cities and has landed the organization’s founder and CEO emeritus, Rebecca Onie, on Time magazine’s 100 most influential people list. A few months ago, Health Leads promoted Jennifer Valenzuela to the new position of managing principal of people and equity. Valenzuela will help counsel healthcare organizations enlisting Health Leads on issues directly related to racism.