Kevin M. Simon, MD, MPH

2022-2023

Commonwealth Fund Fellow
(2021-2023)

Assistant in Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital; Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School; Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston, MA

Kevin M. Simon, MD is the inaugural Chief Behavioral Health Officer for the City of Boston, Boston Public Health Commission. In addition, he is an Attending Psychiatrist at Boston Children's Hospital, an Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and a current Commonwealth Fund Fellow at Harvard University. Dr. Simon practices as a Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist & Addiction Medicine specialist caring for youth through the Adolescent Substance use & Addiction Program "ASAP" clinic at Boston Children's Hospital. As a researcher, Dr. Simon has received federal funding for work focused on the intersections of mental health, substance use, and justice involvement in youth and young adults. He completed clinical fellowships in child & adolescent psychiatry and addiction medicine at Boston Children's Hospital / Harvard Medical School and a residency in adult psychiatry at Grady Hospital affiliated with Morehouse School of Medicine, in Atlanta, GA. He received his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. His writings on health equity, mental health, and substance use are in notable journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Public Health, and Health Affairs.

Navigating Behavioral Health Equity in the City of Boston as the First Chief Behavioral Health Officer

Background: In the City of Boston, behavioral health disparities are most acute among residents, communities, and neighborhoods most impacted by racism and structural violence. In 2022, the City of Boston Council members approved allocating one-time federal stimulus funding to address the behavioral health needs of Boston. The City received $23.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds to respond to the behavioral health needs of Boston residents. In June 2022, Mayor Michelle Wu appointed Boston’s inaugural Chief Behavioral Health Officer.

Objectives:

  1. Advise and lead the development of a comprehensive and equitable public health plan to address Boston’s growing mental health needs.
  2. Develop and maintain ongoing community engagement processes to prioritize voice, perspectives, and needs of Black, Latino, and other residents of color, residents with adverse childhood experiences, and marginalized communities.
  3. Provide liaison oversight and ensure integration and internal coordination of behavioral health services across City departments, including Boston Police Department, Boston Public Schools, and Boston Public Libraries.

Results:

  1. Established the Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness (The Center) within the BPHC and identify youth behavioral health as The Centers first priority.
  2. Developed and issued two Request for Proposal (RFP) in order to expand, develop and implement new and existing efforts to recruit a diverse behavioral health workforce (Behavioral Health Workforce Pathway) and education communities about behavioral health (i.e., prevalence, risk factors, treatment, local options) (Behavioral Health Communications/Public Awareness Campaign).
  3. Developed and implemented enhanced RFP review process. Actively collaborating on multiple Citywide projects related to improving behavioral health outcomes for Boston residents.

Future Directions:

  1. Award and announce first recipients from initial RFPs.
  2. Launch behavioral health public communications campaign.
  3. Host Citywide Youth Behavioral Health Conference

Preceptor: Bisola Ojikutu, MD, MPH, Executive Director, Boston Public Health Commission