Kerry Watson graduated with a Master of Public Health from the School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College in 2017, with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. She earned her undergraduate degree at New York University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts as a Sociology major, Music minor and completed pre-medical requirements. She was on the Dean’s List from Spring 2004 to Summer 2005. Currently, Ms. Watson is receiving training at the Westchester Institute for Human Development for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities. Funded by the Maternal Health Bureau, this training focuses upon developing leaders on behalf of children with special healthcare needs and their families, across advocacy, policy, administration, and research competencies which are anchored upon a foundation of family-centered practice, cultural competency, life-course perspective, interdisciplinary approach, and evidence-based practice.Ms. Watson was also a pioneer of two community philanthropy and empowerment leadership roles through the Starbucks Coffee Company, from 2011-2012. As the Philanthropic Liaison, she was entrusted with seeking, establishing, and building community outreach initiatives between her local Starbucks and the community it served. Through this role, Kerry made the store a designated food donation drop for low-income children in the city by collaborating with the Center for Food Action, and created a designated volunteer team of employees who contributed time and effort to servicing the local hospital. As the director of Creative Arts Night, Kerry established a monthly showcase using the Starbucks store for music, spoken-word, live painting, and other artistic performances by community members. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ms. Watson’s professional aspiration is the application of the public health perspective to administration and research for the optimal transformation of pediatric healthcare services into family-centered pediatric medical homes, with special interest in application to pediatric gastroenterology. She gained preliminary experience in this field through her Master’s practicum at NYU Winthrop Hospital, where she constructed an operations improvement template for NCQA Patient-Centered Specialty Practice Recognition to improve operations effects on patient care.

Undergraduate School

New York University

Undergraduate Major

Sociology

Undergraduate Minor

Music

Graduate School(s)

School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College

Focus Area/Interests

• Pediatric Healthcare Services
• Public Health Policy
• Health Administration
• Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
• Family-Centered Practice
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Community Outreach
• Health Care Quality Improvement

Current Position

• Trainee at the Westchester Institute for Human Development for Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities

Career Experience

• Developed community outreach initiatives and led philanthropic efforts at Starbucks
• Conducted operations improvement projects at NYU Winthrop Hospital for specialty practice recognition
• Member of the American College of Healthcare Executives