Story #96: Anna Rowe Dennis, Former NPMF and Registered Nurse in Reproductive Healthcare

Anna Rowe Dennis ‘13, CNM, WHNP, has built a distinguished career at the intersection of healthcare and community service, an interest that began during her undergraduate years at Harvard College. Majoring in English with a focus on Global Health and Health Policy, Dennis’s commitment to service was clear from the start, earning her the Neil J. Houston Award for moral leadership and extraordinary volunteerism from PBHA. After graduation, she immersed herself in nonprofit work, particularly supporting homeless populations in both Boston and Ireland, focusing on housing, healthcare, and social services. Her volunteer work at PBHA, specifically with the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter (HSHS), was a transformative experience that shaped her career in healthcare. Dennis is now a Certified Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, providing comprehensive, evidence-based care with a focus on holistic, community-centered healthcare, particularly for underserved populations.

Dennis’s PBHA experience directly influenced her current role in healthcare, particularly when caring for patients who are homeless or struggling with substance use. As she shared in PBHA’s 2023 Alumni Survey:

“I can’t imagine my life without this experience—it opened my eyes to the challenge of housing access in the U.S.” - Anna Rowe Dennis

Her experience also taught her important traits about herself, reflecting on the emotional and logistical challenges of supporting a vulnerable population.

“Working at HSHS taught me that I can do hard things.” - Anna Rowe Dennis

The connections she made through PBHA continue to be a key part of her journey, from meeting her husband while volunteering at HSHS to forming lifelong friendships that have nourished her throughout her career. After graduating, Dennis continued her work in nonprofit leadership as a Nonprofit Management Fellow at PBHA (2013-15), where she received mentorship and professional development that set the foundation for her career in healthcare.

“Having a job that was explicitly framed as a learning opportunity was invaluable to me” - Anna Rowe Dennis

Her work with PBHA not only helped her develop a deep understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized populations, but also cemented her commitment to community-centered care, a principle she has carried forward in her role as a Certified Nurse Midwife. Today, Dennis continues to bring a whole-person approach to patient care, integrating the compassion and problem-solving skills she honed in her PBHA volunteer work into her holistic practice, and we are so proud of her.

Anna Rowe Dennis (left) and Sam Greenberg (right)

Photo from PBHA DC Trip 2015.