Youth Health and Housing Lab Team
Current Team Members
Our interdisciplinary University team is housed within the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine.
Janna R. Gewirtz O'Brien, MD, MPH, FAAP
Janna R. Gewirtz O'Brien, MD, MPH, FAAP, (she/her) is the Principal Investigator of the Youth Health and Housing Lab. She is a board-certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine physician, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. In her clinical work, she directs the Adolescent and Young Adult Health Program in the Department of Pediatrics at Hennepin Healthcare, and is the Medical Director at The Bridge for Youth, where she provides care for youth experiencing homelessness. She is also the President Elect of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She leads community-engaged youth participatory action research (YPAR) at the intersection of housing, healthcare and public health to optimize health and bolster resilience among youth experiencing homelessness. Her clinical work, research and advocacy are deeply interconnected and grounded in frameworks of positive youth development and trauma-informed practice, with the primary goal of advancing health equity for adolescents and young adults. In addition to her research and clinical work, she leads the Adolescent Medicine rotation for Pediatrics residents at the University of Minnesota and co-directs the adolescent medicine rotation for residents from the University of South Dakota-Sanford Childrens and the University of North Dakota.
Barb McMorris, PhD
Co-Investigator, RWJF Systems for Action
Camille Brown, PhD, RN, PHN
Co-Investigator, RWJF Systems for Action
Lynn Bretl, MPP
Project Manager, RWJF Systems for Action
Meghan Ford, MPH
Youth Health and Housing Lab Program Manager
Luciana Di Biagio
Project Manager, Data Systems Alignment
Ace Green
Substance Use Prevention Research Assistant
Samantha LeBouef, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow and YouthHealthConnect Project Manager
Evie Mattson
YouthHealthConnect Research Assistant
Ikram Mohamed
Research Assistant
Zeinab Mohamud
Research Coordinator and Youth Organizer
Substance Use Prevention Project Manager
Youth Action Board
Our Youth Action Board is a diverse group of youth, ages 13-24, who have lived experience with homelessness. Time commitment is up to 8 hours/month. Email [email protected] if interested in joining our Board.
Past Team Members
- Jayne Adole, YouthHealthConnect Project Manager
- Brandon Balma, Research Assistant; NRS Project Assistant; Project Manager, EMPOWER
- Ly Baumgardt, Project Assistant, RWJF Systems for Action Project
- Gabby Bell, NRS Project Assistant
- Alexis Chan, Medical Student Research Assistant
- Michelle Crandall, Public Health Student Research Assistant
- Carson Crane, NRS Project Manager
- Asha Elgonda, Graduate Student Intern
- Daisy Forester, Research Assistant
- Julia Hermes, Research Assistant
- Casey Hokanson, Medical Student Research Assistant
- Emily John, Research Assistant, YouthHealthConnect
- Wren Krahl, Medical Student Research Assistant
- Varshethaa Krishnan, Public Health Research Assistant
- Claudia LaRose, Medical Student Research Assistant
- Annie Lemieux, Project Manager, RWJF Systems for Action Project
- Emma McGrew, Project Manager, RWJF Systems for Action Project
- Chris Mehus, Project Co-Investigator
- Ingie Osman, Project Director, Youth COVID-19 Vaccine Project
- Katie Pierson, Communications Manager
- Greta Prokosch, Medical Student Research Assistant
- André Robinson, Public Health Research Assistant
- Renee Sieving, Principal Investigator, Prevention Research Center
- Ian Skoglund, Research Assistant, YouthHealthConnect
- Hadija Steen Mills, Graduate Research Assistant
- Wendy Sun, UMN Pediatric Resident
- Anita Van, Research Assistant, YouthHealthConnect
- Lauren Vasilakos, Medical Student Research Assistant
- Carrie Warmka, Research Assistant
Interested in Joining Our Efforts?
Students are welcome and encouraged to reach out with interest. If you are interested in engaging in the Youth Health and Housing Lab you can email Janna Gewirtz O'Brien at [email protected] with a statement of interest and resume or CV.
Get Involved
- Join the team. Please tell us why you are interested, and include a resume/CV/LinkedIn profile.
- Join the Multi-sector Consortium, 1-2 hours/month.
- Join our Youth Action Board, for youth with lived experiences of homelessness (ages 16-24), a time commitment of up to 8 hours/month.
- Join our email list to receive focus group and interview invitations.