Dr. Pooja Bhalla is a national leader in healthcare innovation and health equity, and Chief Executive Officer of Illumination Health + Home (IHH), where she has built one of the most integrated care models in the country for seniors, youth and families, and the medically frail experiencing homelessness.
Pooja led the development of the nation’s first recuperative care program dedicated to children and families — a model now shaping how health systems think about post-hospital care for the most vulnerable patients. She has expanded onsite medical and behavioral health services for IHH’s clients and built strategic partnerships with hospitals and health systems across the region to strengthen care coordination and outcomes for high-risk populations.
Under her leadership, Illumination Health + Home delivers a comprehensive system of care that integrates housing, medical services, behavioral health, and supportive services to improve outcomes for medically and socially vulnerable populations. The organization has expanded across Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire, increasing access to its critical and innovative services.
Pooja works closely with hospitals, health systems, and managed care organizations to design integrated, data-driven care models that improve care transitions, reduce avoidable hospitalizations, and address complex medical, behavioral health, and social needs. Prior to Illumination, she spent nearly two decades with Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, where she helped expand shelter-based medical care and improve access for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Pooja holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a Master of Science in Nursing from Northeastern University, with concentrations in Leadership, Health Policy, and Nursing Administration. She is also a graduate of UCLA’s Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive Program.
Pooja serves on the Board of Directors of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and contributes to regional and statewide efforts focused on health equity, systems transformation, and the integration of housing and healthcare.