Research should not only inform programs and policies but also reflect the lived realities and aspirations of communities. By grounding evidence in experience, and centering equity and justice, we can help build systems that truly support human dignity, resilience, and thriving.
Laudy Aron is a senior fellow in the Health Policy Division at the Urban Institute, where she has led influential research on population health, social policy, and structural determinants of well-being for more than 30 years. Her work bridges disciplines and sectors to better understand how social and economic systems—such as housing, education, employment, and the safety net—shape health and opportunity across the life course and across generations.
Widely recognized for her ability to frame complex social problems and produce research that informs real-world change, Aron directed and coedited the landmark 2013 National Research Council and Institute of Medicine report U.S. Health in International Perspective: Shorter Lives, Poorer Health. Her scholarship consistently highlights the importance of policy, place, and power in advancing health equity and systems change.
A key thread throughout her career has been the pursuit of research that is rigorous, relevant, and rooted in the lived experiences of communities. She champions practice-based evidence and mutual accountability approaches that help ensure research serves those most affected by systemic inequities. Her work spans diverse issues including disability, mental health, education, homelessness, and family violence, and she has authored numerous books, chapters, journal articles, and op-eds.
From 2007 to 2012, Aron served as a senior program officer and study director at the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and as director of policy research at the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She earned a BSc in mathematics from McGill University and an MA in demography from the University of Pennsylvania.
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