Rishika Desai, M.P.H., is a Senior Manager with Academy Health, where she is responsible for supporting Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) grantmaking programs. Her work focuses on integrating evidence to make health-care systems in the United States more equitable and focused on people's goals and needs. Rishika manages and supports day-to-day activities of RWJF’s “Health Data for Action” and “Community Research for Health Equity” projects as well as other RWJF initiatives. Prior to joining Academy Health, Rishika worked as a Senior Associate at Milken Institute. In these roles, Desai engaged stakeholders in actionable, evidence-based policy solutions to improve health outcomes and reduce disease burden through health equity and quality improvement approaches. Rishika also has experience providing technical assistance to state and territorial health departments on the topics of overdose prevention, public health infrastructure, and performance improvement. She has a Master of Public Health degree from George Washington University, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Arizona State University, and is a certified ASQ - Quality Improvement Associate.

Authored by Rishika Desai, M.P.H.

Program

Health Systems Research for Equity

With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AcademyHealth manages several research portfolios that seek to generate evidence to make the U.S. health care system more equitable and responsive to people’s goals and needs.