Dr. Thornton served as Health Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 2011-2013 where she applied research to inform policy locally, regionally, and nationally. Her research examines the impact of social context and non-health sector policies on child health, intergenerational cardiovascular disease risk, and health equity. As a nationally-recognized innovator in health equity research and practice, she served as a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study committee on Shaping Summertime Experiences: Opportunities to Promote Healthy Development and Well-Being for Children and Youth and as a member of the Strategy Group on COVID and Rental Evictions.