Dr. Jennifer Avegno is a New Orleans native who received her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Arts in Sociology from Tulane University and her MD from LSU School of Medicine – New Orleans. She completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Charity Hospital and joined the faculty at both LSU and Tulane shortly after graduation, serving as Associate Residency Director and Director of Undergraduate Emergency Medicine Education for both medical schools. In 2017, she established the Division of Community Health Relations & Engagement in the LSU Section of Emergency Medicine, and as its director works with institutional, governmental, and other community organizations to facilitate innovative programming, interdisciplinary partnerships, and improved population health outcomes. Her clinical, program, and research interests include the role of social determinants of health, particularly access and barriers to care; health equity; violence intervention/prevention; sexual assault and human trafficking; and homelessness. In 2018, she was appointed as the Director of the Health Department for the City of New Orleans, where she leads a dedicated team of public health professionals to address critical health needs for the community. Honors include being named to Gambit Magazine’s “40 Under 40,” a CityBusiness Healthcare Hero, and several leadership and teaching awards.