Global public health practitioner brings decades of expertise in health, well-being, and equity

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Simona Combi
Media Relations Manager
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simona.combi@ncoa.org

Arlington, VA, October 25, 2023 — The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person’s right to age well, is pleased to announce that Somava Saha, MD, MS, has been named Chair-Elect of its Board of Directors. Saha is President and CEO of Well-being and Equity in the World (WE in the World) and has dedicated her career to improving health and well-being across generations.

“NCOA is excited that Soma will chair our board starting in July 2024,” said Kathy Greenlee, current NCOA Board Chair. “Her equity focus and intergenerational perspective are critical as we ensure that every American has access to the resources they deserve to age with health and financial security.”

“I’m grateful for this opportunity to work with the NCOA board and staff, as well as Ramsey Alwin, NCOA President and CEO, to make aging well a right for all,” Saha said.

NCOA’s focus on improving the lives of women, people of color, low-income, rural, and LGBTQ+ older adults is vital as the nation’s older population continues to grow and diversify—and as we live into the realization that our ability to live and age well is connected throughout our lifespan.” 

Saha has worked as a primary care internist and pediatrician—taking care of generations in a family in the safety net—and as global public health practitioner for over 20 years. In addition to leading WE in the World, she serves as executive lead of the Well-being in the Nation (WIN) Network. The two organizations work together to advance intergenerational well-being and equity.

As vice president at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Saha founded and led the 100 Million Healthier Lives initiative, which brought together 1,850+ partners in 30+ countries reaching more than 500 million people to improve health, well-being, and equity. Previously, she served as vice president of Patient Centered Medical Home Development at Cambridge Health Alliance, where she co-led a transformation that improved health outcomes for a safety net population above the national 90th percentile and reduced medical expense by 10%.

In 2012, Saha was recognized as one of 10 inaugural Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Young Leaders for her contributions to improving the health of the nation. She has consulted with leaders from across the world, has appeared on a panel with the Dalai Lama, and has had her work featured on Sanjay Gupta, the Katie Couric Show, PBS, and CNN.

About NCOA  
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more at www.ncoa.org and @NCOAging.