She is the former pediatric medical director of Boston Healthcare for the Homeless program, and is a nationally recognized expert on housing and child health. She has served as a Principal Investigator for numerous NIH, HUD and foundation grants, working with the Boston Public Health Commission and Massachusetts Department of Public Health to improve the health of vulnerable children, particularly with asthma. She has served on numerous committees and advisory boards, such as the National Center for Healthy Housing, a national advocacy group, both the National American Academy of Pediatrics' and Massachusetts Chapter's Committee on Environmental Health, and CDC Advisory Committee for Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention.