Elizabeth McCarthy

Beth graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 2005 with a degree in Social Studies and a certificate in Health Policy.  Her senior thesis examined how personal responsibility affects obesity policy in the United States. While interning at the Institute of Medicine, Beth collaborated on a paper published in the Annual Review of Public Health.  In her coursework and internships, she has studied issues of social justice, civic engagement, and health policy.  Beth’s activities in college included teaching civics classes in Roxbury, Massachusetts, lobbying for increased funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, and directing a mentoring program for teenage boys in transitional homes.

Field placement: FoodChange

New York, New York

Beth and her field site partner Almas Sayeed formulated a comprehensive report on immigrant access to the Food Stamp Program, which included both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the eligible but nonparticipating immigrants living in New York. As part of their research, they convened city and national officials, community leaders, and advocates from the research and non-profit sectors to discuss the high rates of unmet need in NYC as well as the barriers that disproportionately impact immigrants and their access to food stamp benefits.

Policy placement: Families USA

Washington, D.C.

Beth was part of the Health Policy department and developed a report on Medicare Part D legislation and its impact on both the existence and structure of State Pharmacy Assistance programs.  She was also involved in the Campaign for Children’s Health Care, a national message campaign focused on universal child health care coverage.  Additionally, she analyzed data and information for a series of fact sheets and reports related to populations of uninsured children.

Publications