Orla Kennedy, MSPH, is a Senior Policy Analyst for the Substance Use Disorders team at Community Catalyst. In this role, Orla works to improve treatment access, build community support systems, increase access to substance use disorder services, and expand incarceration alternative programs.

Orla is experienced in policy research and analysis, stakeholder engagement, and technical assistance. Her experience in health advocacy includes maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, and gun violence prevention. Orla has worked at John Snow, Inc., the Harvard School of Public Health, and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.

Orla received a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s degree from Providence College. She is passionate about health equity and improving health outcomes for systemically-excluded communities.