Ryan Keen is a Harvard doctoral researcher specializing in the health impacts of childhood housing insecurity. His mixed-methods approach combines epidemiological analysis with community ethnography, particularly focused on Appalachian and Indigenous populations.
Leading a NIH-funded study measuring epigenetic changes in children experiencing chronic homelessness, with preliminary findings showing accelerated cellular aging markers.
We've followed Ryan Keen's groundbreaking work at the intersection of public health and social justice, where he illuminates the hidden consequences of housing instability through rigorous academic research and community-driven storytelling.
Keen's journey began with biochemistry training at the University of Virginia before pivoting to population health science at Harvard. His current doctoral research combines epidemiological methods with anthropological fieldwork, particularly studying housing-insecure families in Appalachia and Native American reservations.
This longitudinal study tracked 500 families over a decade, revealing how transient housing situations disrupt childhood development. Keen employed mixed methods including biomarker analysis (CRP levels) and ethnographic interviews, demonstrating that even short-term homelessness causes measurable biological stress responses in children.
Keen prioritizes stories examining how adult housing decisions affect pediatric health outcomes. His work with the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board showed how reservation housing policies influence childhood asthma rates through mold exposure and overcrowding.
Presidential Public Service Fellowship (2025): Awarded for developing a housing-first intervention model reducing pediatric ER visits by 42% in Rosebud Sioux communities. This competitive fellowship recognizes scholars bridging academic research and grassroots implementation.
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