When I joined Senator Mark’s office, the team was eager to advance healthcare-focused legislation grounded in the realities of Western Massachusetts. The challenge was translating large volumes of region-wide health data and community input into clear priorities that could guide legislative action. My role was to provide that analytic capacity.
I approached the work with a community-centered lens, grounding the analysis in the perspectives of people closest to the public health challenges facing Western Massachusetts. I spoke with public health leaders from hospitals, community health centers, and nonprofit organizations to understand which health needs felt most urgent locally. This engagement ensured the analysis reflected regional realities and elevated voices often underrepresented in statewide public health discussions.
Using my research training, I then synthesized public health data that is rarely examined together in a legislative setting. I integrated Community Health Needs Assessments from hospital systems across Western Massachusetts with reports from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to develop a structured rubric for prioritizing health needs. This evidence-based framework provided the office with a clear way to assess trade-offs and identify where policy action could be most impactful.
As the analysis came together, one surprising insight emerged consistently across data and community input: social determinants of health, particularly access to stable housing, were the most significant drivers of public health outcomes in Western Massachusetts. While I approached the project expecting chronic and age-associated diseases like diabetes and dementia to dominate the scene, the evidence pointed clearly to housing stability as a root factor shaping many downstream outcomes. Grounding this conclusion in both qualitative and quantitative analysis helped clarify where policy attention could have the greatest impact and connect public health priorities to broader policy domains.
On a personal level, the internship clarified my career goals and expanded my understanding of public service as a viable path for scientists. I entered with a general interest in science policy, but working inside a legislative office showed me how scientific training can directly support public institutions and the communities they serve. By the end of the internship, I realized my passion lies in policy implementation and community-centered work, where I can use my research skills to contribute in practical, people-centered ways.
– Rachel Petherbridge
PhD Candidate
Synthetic and Quantitative Biology at Harvard
“Rachel brought an exceptional researcher’s mindset into our office. She independently designed and conducted interviews with public health leaders, synthesized complex community health data, designed experiments and frameworks for evaluation and prioritization and translated it all into clear, evidence-based recommendations. Her structured and thoughtful analysis added a level of depth and rigor that far exceeded what we could typically achieve within our regular capacity. The frameworks and insights she developed will continue to inform our work long after her internship has ended.”
– Senator Paul Mark
Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire
