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Jenna T. Sirkin

Pronouns: She/Her

Principal Research Scientist

Jenna is a health services researcher with 20 years of experience designing and leading mixed-methods research and evaluations.

Jenna is a principal research scientist who uses qualitative, implementation science, survey, econometric, and community-based participatory research methods. Her scholarship focuses on Medicaid/Medicare financing and delivery, state health policy, behavioral health access and integration, care delivery transformation in primary care and safety-net systems, and community health and well-being.

Her portfolio for the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) includes mixed-methods evaluations of state payment and delivery models, such as the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization Model, the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, and Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program. Her work with agencies, foundations, and local organizations examines the effectiveness of evidence-based models for care delivery, access, and coordination across community-based settings. She also has a portfolio of work focused on professional well-being and factors associated with access to care.

She was formerly at Abt Associates, adjunct faculty at Northeastern University and associate director of the Brandeis University Council on Health Care Economics and Policy. She engages with community members, policymakers, and implementation partners throughout the design, research, and dissemination process. She brings international development experience and is co-author of Breaking the Poverty Cycle: The Human Basis for Sustainable Development as a Rotary Fellow in Mexico City.

Education

PhD

Brandeis University

MA

Brandeis University

BA

Tufts University

Honors & Awards

Daniel B. McGilis Professional Development and Dissemination Grant | 2016

Abt Associates

Public Health Systems Research Student Scholarship Award | 2014

AcademyHealth

Provost’s Dissertation Award | 2014

Brandeis University

Dissertation Award, Heller School Alumni Annual Fund | 2013

Brandeis University

Dissertation Fellowship, Elliot M. Stone Memorial Fund | 2011

Massachusetts Health Data Consortium

Conference Scholarship, From Disparities Research to Disparities Interventions | 2011

Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute

Project Contributions

Managing Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Primary Care

Implementation and evaluation of screening, intervention, and treatment for unhealthy alcohol use

Funder:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Massachusetts Lawyer Well-Being Study

Understand lawyer well-being and how it varies by demographics, employment type, and workplace environment

Client:

Board of Bar Overseers Massachusetts

Massachusetts Lawyers Demographic and Law Practice Data

Develop an interactive data tool to examine demographic and professional characteristics of Massachusetts lawyers

Client:

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being

Evaluation of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model

Assessing efforts to improve the financial health of rural hospitals and maintain access to care

Client:

Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Evaluation of the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization Model

Evaluating Vermont’s efforts to improve health outcomes and reduce health care spending

Client:

Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Vermont Global Commitment to Health Demonstration Evaluation

Understanding the impact of Vermont’s Global Commitment to Health Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver

Client:

Agency of Human Services, State of Vermont

Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act Evaluation

Evaluating behavioral health-related programs funded by Illinois cannabis tax revenue

Client:

Division of Mental Health Services (DMH) within the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)

Environments Promoting Wellness & Resilience (EmPWR) Evaluation

Exploring the influence of the built environment on mental health and well-being within domestic violence shelters

Funder:

New York City Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity)