My work focuses on the systems and conditions that shape wellbeing.

For years, my life was shaped by burnout.

I was skipping meals, pulling back from exercise, and measuring my day by how close it was to being done.

I used to think it was inevitable. That constantly pushing myself (and being pushed) beyond my physical and emotional limits was just part of the job. I also assumed that the responsibility was mine and mine alone. If I could just manage my time better, set stronger boundaries, or take better care of myself, then things would be different.

But as a public health professional, I began to recognize a more complex reality. While some of my personal habits absolutely contributed to my experience, so much of my burnout was shaped by larger, more structural forces that made sustained wellbeing difficult.

While personal choices do matter, we can’t “self-care” our way out of toxic workplaces or relationships, emotionally unsafe spaces, or systems that exclude our voices from the decisions that affect us most. 

I now define wellness as a dynamic balance between the individual, social, and structural conditions that shape our lives. 

Think social determinants of health as experienced through the nervous system. 

This definition has guided my work and, in practice, it anchors what gets examined and what gets addressed. That means paying attention to who is included in decision-making, whose voices are missing, and how context frames lived experience.

I have worked across public health, human services, higher education, nonprofit, and corporate settings, with experience ranging from direct service and program leadership to consulting and systems-level work. My experience includes roles with organizations such as Roxbury Community College, athenahealth, the Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, Inc., Mattapan Community Health Center, Northeastern University,  Commonwealth Sports Club, and Boston University.

I hold a Master of Public Health and a Master of Arts in Sociology from Northeastern University, where my academic work examined the public health and sociological dimensions of gender-based violence. I also have a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism from Quinnipiac University.

Today, I partner with organizations and communities to develop evidence-based strategies, strengthen service delivery, and expand access to wellbeing.

Areas of Expertise

  • Community health, wellbeing, and health equity
  • Behavioral health programming and access to care
  • Gender-based violence prevention and response
  • Basic needs and human services
  • Service access, referral pathways, and resource navigation
  • Cross-sector partnerships and systems coordination
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Master of Public Health (MPH)
Northeastern University

Master of Arts - Sociology
Northeastern University

Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Quinnipiac University

Psychological First Aid
Suicide Intervention and Prevention
Threat Assessment
Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy + Safety Planning
Sexual Assault Bystander Intervention
Certified Yoga Instructor
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified Pilates Instructor

© Copyright 2026 Gemma C McFarland