Christen

Smith

Christen Smith leads Abt’s U.S. domestic business, comprising its work with government and philanthropic partners throughout the nation to improve people’s well-being. She has more than 15 years of experience addressing issues in health, economic development, gender equity, and human capital. A certified Project Management Professional and Human-Centered Design Practitioner, she has worked with clients ranging from community groups to international organizations and federal agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and State and the Military Health System.

Smith leads a cross-disciplinary team of more than 500 Abt professionals working in health, housing, education, workforce and economic development, children and families, nutrition, justice, climate and environment, and other social determinants of health. She oversees client engagements that bring together research, technology, and implementation science to produce evidence-based solutions for improved, equitable well-being. Her team’s work generates new health-promoting insights and impact, from conducting rigorous epidemiological studies and delivering equity-centered technical assistance to nationwide healthcare providers to assessing the health impacts of climate change and environmental contamination on communities.

Before joining Abt, Smith was an executive leader at LMI, a mission-driven consulting group focused on the federal government. She was the inaugural leader of LMI’s management consulting line of business, including more than 600 professionals in organizational management, policy and operations, science and technology, and national security. Most recently, she led LMI’s federal health and civilian market and delivered solutions to clients like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health.

Previously, Smith addressed public health challenges in various roles, including implementing community-based HIV/AIDS interventions as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia and coordinating an inter-office working group on gender-based violence at the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Expertise:

• Social determinants of health
• Policy analysis
• Data analysis and visualization
• Human-centered design
• Organizational management