Dr Ruth Abaya works at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health as a Pediatric Medicine Physician and Injury Prevention Program Manager and she is a Stone Lee Fellow, studying gun violence where she is creating a database for firearms injuries in Philadelphia. Her colleagues express that she holds a high level of commitment to her job and her goal to reduce gun violence among children. As the injury prevention program manager, Doctor Abaya has been working in concert with the city in a number of ways. She works closely with the police department and other departments within public health and outside organizations in Philadelphia. She does work around coalition building, policy, and advocacy. Dr. Abaya builds bridges. She can say hard things but bring people together around the work. Her greatest impact so far is that she’s been able to bring people together in a way that’s really important.
