Commonwealth Fund Fellows

2026-2027

Commonwealth Fund Fellow

Falen Demsas, MD is a vascular surgery resident at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is involved in the Society for Vascular Surgery and the Society of Black Vascular Surgeons. At Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Demsas served as Vice President of the Office of Engagement and Enrichment (formerly the Center for Diversity and Inclusion) as well as the Resident Lead for Quality and Safety for the Department of Surgery. Her clinical experiences have deepened her conviction that sustainable change in healthcare requires engagement at the policy level. Dr. Demsas’ professional purpose is to bridge the worlds of clinical medicine and policy to create a healthcare system that is as equitable as it is excellent. She received her medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School.

2026-2027

Commonwealth Fund Fellow

Michael Harding, MD was most recently a pediatric chief resident at Indiana University School of Medicine, where he spent his clinical time in the pediatric weight management clinic. Dr. Harding envisions a career at the intersection of pediatrics, preventive medicine, and policy, designing and advocating for evidence-based initiatives that expand access to preventive care and reduce disparities among children. He chaired Indiana State Medical Association’s inaugural Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, creating its charter and leading partnerships with the Indiana Minority Health Coalition and medical schools statewide. He was also selected as the Section on Pediatric Trainees Liaison to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Federal Government Affairs. Dr. Harding received his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine.

2026-2027

Commonwealth Fund Fellow

Eméfah Loccoh, MD is a cardiology fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. She aspires to become a physician-leader working at the intersection of clinical care, health systems transformation, and health policy, with a commitment to advancing equitable cardiovascular care for vulnerable populations. Prior to medical school, she worked in the White House Office of Health Reform during implementation of the Affordable Care Act. She later completed a research fellowship through the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation, where her work focused on cardiovascular outcomes, health policy, and disparities in care delivery among underserved populations. Dr. Loccoh serves on the Board of Directors for the Heart of a Giant Foundation, where she supports community-centered education and empowerment initiatives aimed at improving cardiovascular health and advancing prevention in underserved communities. She received her medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

2026-2027

Commonwealth Fund Fellow

Jeslyn Rodriguez, MD is a surgical resident physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, MA. She approaches every challenge through a broader systemic lens, seeking not only immediate solutions but sustainable frameworks. Her goal is to integrate policy work into her clinical career by advocating for improved surgical access pathways, expanding patient navigation programs, and addressing health literacy as a core component of care delivery. She served as Professional Development Chair on the Diversity, Inclusion, and Advocacy graduate medical education council at BIDMC. Along with medical school classmates, she led the development of a DEI office at Albany Medical College. Dr. Rodriguez received her medical degree from Albany Medical College.

2026-2027

Commonwealth Fund Fellow

Tiana Walker, MD is a gastroenterology fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital. She strives to be a coalition builder, a leader who can design, operationalize, and scale equitable care delivery structures. She is committed to transforming liver health systems and crafting equitable national liver transplantation guidelines. Dr. Walker is a Public Policy Committee Member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. She served as Co-Chair of the Health Equity Committee at MGH. Dr. Walker earned her medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and she completed an internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital.