Dr. Kizzmekia S. Corbett is a research fellow and the scientific lead for the Coronavirus Vaccines & Immunopathogenesis Team at the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Vaccine Research Center.

She received a BS in Biological Sciences, with a secondary major in Sociology, in 2008 from the University of Maryland- Baltimore County, where she was Meyerhoff Scholar and a NIH undergraduate scholar. She then enrolled at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from where she obtained her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology in 2014. A viral immunologist by training, Dr. Corbett uses her expertise to propel novel vaccine development for pandemic preparedness. Appointed to the VRC in 2014, her work focuses on developing novel coronavirus vaccines, including mRNA-1273, a leading candidate vaccine against the virus that causes COVID-19. In response to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the vaccine concept incorporated in mRNA-1273 was designed by Dr. Corbett’s team from viral sequence and rapidly deployed to industry partner, Moderna, Inc., for FDA-approved Phase 1 clinical trial, which unprecedently began only 66 days from the viral sequence release. Following promising results in animal models and humans, mRNA-1273 is currently in Phase 3 clinical trial. Alongside mRNA-1273, Dr. Corbett’s team boasts a portfolio which also includes universal coronavirus vaccine concepts and novel therapeutic antibodies. Additionally, Dr. Corbett spent several years working on a universal influenza vaccine, which is slated for Phase 1 clinical trial. In all, she has fifteen years of expertise studying dengue virus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, and coronaviruses. Along with her research activities, Dr. Corbett is an active member of the NIH Fellows Committee and avid advocator of STEM education and vaccine awareness in the community.

Lauren W. Powell, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician and culinary medicine specialist on a mission to end generational health issues in the African-American community.

She makes healthy eating accessible and enjoyable for all through her social media quick tips, online cooking school, and debut book, “Food Essentials for the Busy Professional.”

Born and raised in Metro-Detroit, Dr. Lauren graduated cum laude from the University of Detroit Mercy with a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a minor in business administration. She obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Wayne State University School of Medicine and went on to complete her family medicine residency at Halifax Health in Daytona, FL, where she was bestowed the prestige of Chief Resident.

During the time of her residency, Dr. Lauren’s father endured a stroke that his doctors attributed to a poor diet, high cholesterol and diabetes. It was then that she understood her personal responsibility to help him and others take control of their health and improve their relationship with food. Subsequently, Dr. Lauren went on to receive specialized training in culinary medicine, nutrition, and culinary art.

Now, Dr. Lauren travels the U.S. speaking to diverse audiences about disease prevention and the healing properties in food. She earned the title, “The Culinary Doctor” by means of her insightful, high-energy presentations that offer just as much entertainment as practical health knowledge. Dr. Lauren is a mainstream and social media personality that has been featured on Fox 2 News Detroit as well as on The DoctorGoals Podcast and the Melan-In-White Coats Podcast.

Aside from her professional endeavors, Dr. Lauren has a heart for seeing minority females dominate in male-driven industries. She co-founded a not-for-profit organization, Young Lady Watching, to empower and encourage young minority females to pursue careers in healthcare. She is also working on her own line of products, including a homemade marinara sauce.

Dr. Lauren resides in Atlanta, GA with her husband.

After 22 years of service Dr. Angela Ford accepted an early retirement from the University of Pittsburgh,

Where she also received both her Masters’ and PhD in Social Work and served as the Executive Director for the Center for Health Equity in the Graduate School of Public Health. She relocated to the DC area and joined the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) in 2013. As the Chief Program Officer, she provides leadership for their programs, training and technical assistance portfolio, including their lifestyle change program, Change Your Lifestyle. Change Your Life. (CYL 2 ), which has been implemented in 13 cities/states with 18 program partners. BWHI’s program provider network has enrolled over 3400 participants since 2013, placing special emphasis on outreach to Black women and Latinas.

Chief of Surgery and the National director of Breast Oncology at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

She is board certified in general surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She completed an SSO accredited Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship from a world-renowned breast surgical oncologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Dr. Johnson completed her undergraduate studies at Spelman College and graduated with honors with a B.S. in Biology Pre-med. She received her medical doctorate at Morehouse School of Medicine and was the first woman to complete the general surgery residency program.

Dr. Johnson has over 20 years of experience and believes in compassionate state of the art care. She presents all options to patients in a personalized fashion with great understanding. She was one of the first published authors in the country on minimally invasive excisional breast biopsy as well as the first surgeon to perform a total skin sparing mastectomy in the surrounding metropolitan Atlanta area. She was formally trained in Germany on Intraoperative Radiation Therapy and was the first surgeon in Atlanta to perform Intraoperative Radiation Therapy. She also has presented her research at national surgical meetings.

Dr. Johnson provides on a daily basis a comprehensive approach to breast cancer. She is an oncoplastic breast surgical oncologist and is highly skilled at breast ultrasound as well as various minimally invasive breast biopsy techniques. She has published her research in peer reviewed journals.

She is the founder of the High-Risk Clinic at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. She also is a founding member of the Komen Atlanta Sisters of Promise Network. She is also the Breast Program Leader for the NAPBC. She also is a clinical assistant professor in the division of General Surgery at Morehouse School of Medicine. She has participated on two advisory boards including the Breast Advisory Board for Pacira and the Georgia Core Survivorship Committee. She also sits on the Genetics Committee for the American Society of Breast Surgeons as well as the bylaws committee for the Society of Surgical Oncology. She is a committee member for the taskforce for governance for the Medical Association of Georgia. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, American Society of Breast Surgeons and the Society of Surgical Oncology. She is a published author in peer reviewed journals such as the American Journal of Surgery and has presented at national scientific meetings. She is an advocate for in eliminating health disparities in oncology and has discussed this important issue on several multimedia outlets.

hematologist and founding director of the New England Sickle Cell Institute (NESCI) at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

NESCI was established in 2009 and now serves nearly 300 adults living with sickle cell disease. With a staff of twelve individuals, including nurses, social workers, patient navigators, and research assistants, NESCI provides comprehensive care, acute pain management, specialized blood transfusions, and a destination for children in Connecticut who have aged out of pediatric SCD care. Dr. Andemariam’s research focuses on developing new pathways of care that improve SCD care quality as well as translational research on deciphering the interplay between red blood cell adhesion to the walls of the circulatory system andthe development of pain. She holds an undergraduate degree in molecular biology from Princeton University and a medical degree from Tufts. She is also the Chief Medical Officer of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.

Board-certified gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Dr. Hoskins sees women for gynecological malignancies, which include the treatment of endometrial, ovarian, vulva, and cervical cancers; treating women with complex gynecological surgical issues; and minimally invasive surgical options for morbidly obese women.

Dr. Hoskins always considers the use of robotic surgery because of the benefits this technique offers patients—quicker recovery time, no to minimal hospital stay, and less postoperative pain, compared to traditional open surgical techniques. She has completed more than 600 complex benign and malignant gynecologic surgeries using the robotic surgery technique. She also utilizes sentinel lymph node dissection for women diagnosed with endometrial cancer, which can decrease surgical side effects associated with full lymph node dissection. Her research interests include health disparity in women of African descent diagnosed with endometrial cancer and improving overall survival in women with ovarian cancer.

Dr. Hoskins received her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in her home state of Michigan. She then gained excellent clinical skills during her obstetrics and gynecology residency at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, where her training prepared her for a clinical fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Magee Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Hoskins has practiced gynecologic oncology for 9 years, during which time she has carefully refined her medical and surgical skills.

She is a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologist, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Hoskins has been named a Washingtonian Top Doctor in 2016, 2017, and 2018 and has published various works including articles in peer-reviewed journals and abstracts.

When not in the hospital, Dr. Hoskins enjoys spending time with her family, photography, and traveling.

Dr. Flenaugh completed his pulmonary training at UTHSC- Houston & MD Anderson Cancer Center

which included a formal training curriculum in Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Pulmonology Medicine. He was recruited by Morehouse School of Medicine and joined the Grady Health System to established a dedicated Advance Diagnostic & Interventional Pulmonary Service for the Georgia Cancer Center of Excellence. As part of the GHS Faculty he has perform grant funded and award winning research, published in peer reviewed journals, authored book chapters, served on multiple hospital committees, established clinical service lines with development of practice guideline for the screening and diagnosis of lung cancer and performs skill assessment and didactic teaching for physicians and health centers nationally and internationally. Over the years Dr. Flenaugh has been recognized for his accomplishments and as a result has received the 2010 Georgia Research Alliance’s Distinguished Clinician and Scholar Award. This year, admits the COVID Pandemic, he was awarded the honor of a Top Doctor and Physician Hero by the Atlanta Magazine.

Dr. Bennett is a Georgia native whose enthusiasm for medicine began at Clark College in 1976 where he graduated summa cum laude.

After receiving his medical degree from Duke University in 1979, Dr. Bennett attended Emory University, where he completed an internship in surgery and a residency in urology. His enthusiasm continues today through the establishment of a urology practice providing quality health care.

Honored as the National Medical Association Practitioner of the Year in 1999 and recipient of the Nash-Carter award in 2014, Dr. Bennett is an activist in the treatment and education of prostate cancer. He was the first Georgia urologist to perform cryosurgical ablation of the prostate. He also created an educational film featuring Dr. Louis Sullivan entitled "Prostate Cancer in Black Men," which has been used nationwide by the American Cancer Society. Dr. Bennett's video credits include "The Next River to Cross", narrated by Les Brown, as well as, "Prostate Cancer" which was narrated by Sydney Poitier.

In 2013, Dr. Bennett was nominated as the recipient of the Pathways of Excellence Award by the Clark Atlanta University Alumni Association. In 2012, he was nominated as Atlanta magazine's Top Doctor and Super doctor in the area of urology. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Black Health Magazine during their national awards banquet and received the Pinnacle Leadership Award from the Fortitude Educational and Cultural Development Center, Inc.. Dr. Bennett also gained recognition for his innovative research in an April 2002 article in the Atlanta Tribune entitled "Battling Killer with Cutting EdgeResearch." Black Enterprise named Dr. Bennett as one of America's leading African-American doctors in 2001 and again in 2008. In addition, he received the Buddy Childers Award from the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition in September 2001 for his outstanding efforts in the battle against prostate cancer. In March 2011, he received the Native Citizen Award from the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce.

He is the author of over 40 scientific medical articles on urologic topics and often conducts symposia in the medical field. Dr. Bennett's research endeavors include clinical trials generated by the National Institutes of Health and pharmaceutical companies as well as "in-house" studies designed and managed by Midtown Urology's Division of Medical Research. He is also founder of two non-profits, the Community Health and Men's Promotion Summit(CHAMPS) and the Midtown Urology Health and Education Foundation (MUHEF), that aims to raise awareness of the importance of early detection and prevention concerning health issues for the community, especially in the area of urology. Diplomat of the American Board of Urology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgery, Dr. Bennett holds several additional academic honors and ranks: he is clinically affiliated with Emory University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse School of Medicine, and was Assistant Medical Director at Emory UniversityHospital Midtown. As of 2014, he is the Chief of Urology at Emory University Hospital Midtown. Dr. Bennett formerly served on the Board of Trustees at Clark Atlanta University and for over 2 years served as Commissioner for the State of Georgia's Commission on Men's Health, which was appointed by former Governor Roy E. Barnes. He was named an alumni "game changer" in the field of medicine in the summer 2011 publication of the Clark Atlanta University Magazine. Dr. Bennett a world-renowned urologist who is on the front lines of the crusade to eradicate prostate cancer and is the CEO of his own practice, Midtown Urology in Atlanta, GA. He is an adjunct professor at Clark Atlanta University Clinical Assistant Professor, department of Biology, and at Morehouse and Emory University School Medicine, Department of Surgery and Family Medicine.

Dr. Sterling, a nationally recognized leader in community-based medicine, healthcare and public health, is also president and CEO of his own Sterling Initiatives LLC, a healthcare consulting and implementation firm assisting entities across the country and beyond U.S. borders with incorporating best practices, among them health systems, health plans, state governments and medical practices.

With SIMPCO, Dr. Sterling has created a unique, visionary organization that combines a rare suite of services including health best practices, community engagement, education and empowerment, with designs on ultimately transforming the nation’s healthcare system. Being the impassioned healer that he is, the underlying goal of his organization, says Dr. Sterling, is to elevate healthcare delivery in Illinois by streamlining the apportionment of resources with a focus on prevention, while also broadening access to appropriate care options for the state’s Medicaid population.

ABOUT SIMPCO, LLC Sterling Initiatives Managed Preventive Care Organization (SIMPCO) operates from a core mission to improve healthcare in Illinois and streamline apportionment of resources by focusing on illness prevention and widening access to appropriate care options for the state’s Medicaid population. For more information on SIMPCO, visit us at https://blkndgraphics.wixsite.com/simpco.

John Fowler is Kezar Life Sciences’ Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the board of directors, bringing over 20 years of executive leadership experience to the company.

Mr. Fowler has been a successful operator in organizations ranging from high tech start-ups to the U.S. Government. He served as CEO of Aero Logistics from 2003 until 2008 and as CEO of HealthCPA from 2009 until 2014, a provider of patient advocacy and insurance navigation services. He previously worked with Idealab Silicon Valley and also as a management consultant with William Kent International, advising clients on international acquisition opportunities and market entry strategies. He began his career in Washington, D.C., as a Congressional Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Trade Representative. John received both his A.B. in International Relations and his M.B.A. from Stanford University.

Kevin Pruitt, MD, PhD is a medical scientist who completed his PhD in Biomedical Science

The Einstein Institute of Medicine and his medical degree from the University of Science and Technology School of Medicine in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Dr. Pruitt’s research interests include minority Health Affairs, Sickle Cell Anemia and HIV in minority populations. He holds a certification in Good Clinical Practice and Trials from the Clinical Trials Network (CTN) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Dr. Pruitt is currently the medical research director for Kemetew Medical Consultants.

Junior on the Steve Harvey Morning Show is a native of Houston Texas, and is one of the funniest comics you will ever encounter.

On his path to stardom he has traveled the globe performing comedy, stage plays, television and movies. Kier is also a rising star as a writer and producer, earning credits for several shows such as the daytime television hit STEVE, Miss Universe, Showtime at the Apollo on FOX, and Little Big Shots.

Where It All Started
As a stand-up comedian Kier has lit up the stage in comedy venues around the country. He has also been blessed with the opportunity to provide laughter on the USO tour for the military in Japan and Bahrain, The Rickey Smiley and Friends Tour, and was the opening act for Steve Harvey’s Grand Finale Tour. With comedy being the base of his success, he is still performing and can be seen on stages in a city near you.

It’s Junior Time!As a co-star on the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, Junior provides rapid fire comedy and the uncut, hilarious truth in his very own segment entitled, “Truth Be Told.” Junior, alongside a star-studded cast can be heard Monday through Friday on the radio or online via the iHeartRadio broadcast application.

With 18 years of stand-up comedy experience, and under the tutelage of some of the best comedians in the business, Kier has become a force to be reckoned with and the best is yet to come!

Kier’s motivating factor to his work is simple: Laughter doeth the heart good like medicine. Everyone was born with a talent that deserves to be shared with the world.

Live in your purpose!

Founder/CEO of Sisters Network Inc,

A 26-year, 4-time breast cancer survivor, is recognized nationally as a leader in the African American breast cancer movement.

Karen Eubanks Jackson founded Sisters Network in 1994 to connect with other African American breast cancer survivors. At least that was the initial reason for its founding. As she learned more about the impact of the disease in the African American community, she found a staggering breast cancer mortality rate, limited culturally sensitive materials, and a general lack of support and sisterhood for those diagnosed. In founding Sisters Network, she endeavored to make a difference on a national level. She wanted to break through the silence and shame of breast cancer that immobilizes many African American women and ultimately impede early detection and affect survival rates.

Under her leadership, Sisters Network has developed numerous national breast health outreach initiatives, including the first national African American Breast Cancer Conference, the annual Stop the Silence African American Breast Cancer 5K Walk/Run, and the Breast Cancer Assistance Program.

To this day, Sisters Network is the only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization with more than 40 chapters throughout the country.

Ms. Jackson believes strongly in the creed of Sisters Network: In unity there is strength, in strength there is power, in power there is change.

Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and Vice Chair of the Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health Institute at the Cleveland Clinic.

She is also Director of Hysteroscopic Education for the Residency Program at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and was recently appointed Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion for the Cleveland Clinic Women’s Health Institute. Dr. Bradley is an internationally recognized gynecologic surgeon, known for her expertise and innovation, in the areas of: diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy, saline infusion sonography, endometrial ablation, alternatives to hysterectomy, long-term contraception (intrauterine devices and hormonal contraception) hysteroscopic sterilization, women’s wellness and the evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding. Her additional academic interests include: peri-menopausal and menopausal issues, mentoring students, residents, and fellows, while her clinical work includes Director of the Center for Menstrual Disorders, Fibroids and Hysteroscopic Services. She has served on the Board of Trustees for the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopy, and currently serves as an Advisor for Medscape and WebMD. Most notably, she has served on the Cleveland Clinic Board of Governors, has been Chair of the OB/GYN section of the National Medical Association, and President of the Cleveland Ob/Gyn Society. Dr. Bradley is a past President of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL), an 8,000-member national and international organization which advances minimally invasive gynecologic surgical procedures. Currently, she is on the Grievance Committee of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and member of the Anti-Harassment, Diversity and Incident Reporting taskforce of the AAGL. In addition to her many national and international leadership positions, Dr. Bradley is a servant leader and mentor at the Cleveland Clinic and in the community. She has served on a myriad of local panels, community forums and Cleveland Clinic committees, including searches for Critical Care, Emergency Room, Cardiovascular Institute, Psychiatry, annual professional reviews, and multiple five-year review of Institute Chairs. She serves as a “physician champion” for the ambitious Cleveland Clinic campaign, The Power of Every One. Dr. Bradley has been a board member of the Cleveland Clinic Women’s Professional Staff Association since its inception and remains active with its committees and activities. She has recently joined her departmental committee on burnout. Her team is engaged in discovering novel methods to create a culture of well-being, efficiency of practice, and personal resilience. Implementing these methods will combat physician burnout and enable physicians to reclaim humanism in medicine. Dr. Bradley has published numerous journal articles, book chapters, continuing medical education films and has performed several live telesurgical procedures for national and international meetings. In 2018 she was invited by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology to perform the first operative hysteroscopic procedure in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and to lecture and lead a simulation seminar on office and operative hysteroscopy. Most recently, Dr. Bradley served as associate editor of Operative Techniques in Gynecologic Surgery: Gynecology, Wolters Kluwer (2017), an authoritative textbook that chronicles in-depth surgical procedures for gynecologists; she co-authored the pioneering textbook, Hysteroscopy: Office Evaluation and Management of the Uterine Cavity, Bradley Biography – page 2 Elsevier (2008); and was co-author of Us! Our Life. Our Health. Our Legacy, Literary Front (2016), offering sage emotional, fitness, and nutritional advice for women. She is a contributor to UpToDate, an on-line educational portal for physicians, lectures extensively at national meetings, and has been a commencement speaker for resident graduations as well as graduation ceremonies at local high schools. Dr. Bradley has been named as the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Bruce Hubbard Stewart Fellow, which honors physicians with compassion and clinical care; received the APGO award, which honors physicians for resident and fellow teaching and has frequently been nominated as “Faculty of the Year.” She has become a trusted expert and advisor and is admired and respected for her clinical teaching, patient experience scores, surgical expertise, and compassionate bedside manner. She has received “Top Doctors of America” award annually since 2002. She was selected by Ladies Home Journal as one of the top 6 female physicians in the USA. She was a recipient of the “Volunteer of the Year Award” by the Cleveland Clinic in 2015. In 2016, Dr. Bradley was honored by the Cleveland YWCA as a “Woman of Vision; she received the Health Care Heroes Award from Crain’s Cleveland Business News; and received the Girl Scouts’ Woman of Distinction Award. She is a tireless board member of Hathaway Brown’s School Aspire Program that raises funds for underprivileged young women to experience an enriched educational summer experience for four consecutive summers. Her community board memberships include: former Cleveland Browns Coach Sam Rutigliano’s Inner Circle Foundation, which provides educational support to at risk children through a combination of literacy, personal development and health and fitness programs. For the past fifteen years, Dr. Bradley has been a dedicated servant leader in Cleveland’s multicultural community health and wellness programs. She is founder of Celebrate Sisterhood®, a Cleveland Clinic program dedicated to educating, energizing and empowering women of color to embrace self-care. She is passionate about fitness, health and wellness, and inspiring people to be “the best version of themselves.” Annually, she hosts Cleveland Clinic Celebrate Sisterhood Multicultural Health & Wellness Summit. She has educated more than 10,000 multicultural women since its inception. In 2014, Dr. Bradley was honored by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, receiving the Pete and Weesie Hollis Community Service award for her role in improving health in her community. She believes in changing how we think about health, one plate, one fork and pot at a time. Every day we can choose health. Her recent article, “Are You Digging Your Grave with Your Fork?” provides sobering health statistics and reminds us that each meal is a chance to heal. Dr. Bradley earned a bachelor’s degree in Biopsychology from Vassar College before attending the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine for her M.D. In her senior year of residency, she was named Executive Chief Resident and completed her residency training at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. She has completed an executive program in practice management from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and has completed the Leadership in Healthcare Academy at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Bradley believes in teamwork, innovation, collaboration, mentoring and sponsoring others. She is content with not being content. Her belief is that all teams can do great things, and her personal work ethic and commitment to medicine are palpable.

Founder/CEO of the Tigerlily Foundation (Tigerlily) and a twelve-year survivor of breast cancer. On February 28, 2006, at 4:45 p.m.

Maimah was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. She had no family history and was 32-years old. While undergoing her second round of chemotherapy, she made a promise to God that if she survived, she would create an organization to educate, empower, advocate for and support young women affected by breast cancer. After her second treatment, Tigerlily Foundation was born. Tigerlily provides breast health, educational, empowerment wellness and transformational programs to young women. After working with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to develop the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act, in October 2011, Maimah was appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women, a committee established by the Affordable Care Act, on which she works to develop initiatives to increase knowledge of breast health and breast cancer, for women under the age of 45 and those at heightened risk for developing the disease. She is a speaker and media personality, regularly called upon to speak on Capitol Hill and other venues, as a health, advocacy and empowerment expert. In 2015, Maimah advocated with Members of Congress to ensure that young women had access to breast screening. Tigerlily Foundation flew young women to Washington, D.C. to meet with 74 members of Congress. The visit resulted in doubling the House and Senate support for the Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screening (PALS) legislation. The bill was signed into law within a month, protecting the lives and rights of millions of women. Maimah has worked with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to launch national campaigns and has served as an Ambassador for National Women’s Health Week, an initiative of the Office of Women’s Health. She is a leader in the women’s health field, creating and implementing national health initiatives for women and girls, with a goal of eliminating disparities of age, stage and color. Under Maimah’s leadership, Tigerlily Foundation has launched national and global health initiatives focused on ending disparities, through the #InclusionPledge, partnering with global stakeholders, with a call to action to recognize health disparities as a social justice issue; and working to end disparities for black women in our lifetime. Maimah has appeared in USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, Black Enterprise, Oprah Magazine, Essence Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Redbook, Women and Cancer, Cure Magazine, Traditional Home Magazine and more. She has also been featured on Fox 5, ABC 7, CBS, the Oprah Winfrey Show, OWN, Good Morning America, the Today Show and more. She is a sought-after speaker by the media and for policy events; and she is a philanthropist. Most dear to her heart is her 17-year old daughter, Noelle, now an advocate in her own right, having launched Pajama Glam, engaging girls to be advocates and have healthy lifestyles and now, working on a platform to connect with teens living with “unseen” health issues, such as chronic and mental health. Noelle and Maimah dote on their Morkies, Honey and Sugar. In 2010, Maimah published Fearless: Awakening to my Life's Purpose Through Breast Cancer. In 2018, she published the “Badass Girl’s Book of Prayers”. She recently published Divine Downloads: Transforming through Trauma, followed by Unicorn Boss, in June 2020. In 2013, she founded Bliss Magazine, a digital publication that inspires others to live their purpose. Maimah is a transformational coach, hosts The Pure Bliss podcast and “Manifest” Conference. Visit www.maimah.com to learn about her podcast, products, workshops, masterclasses, card decks, jewelry line and more. Visit www.tigerlilyfoundation to learn about how you can support young women – before, during and after breast cancer! You can find Maimah on Twitter @maimah, on Instagram @maimah and on Facebook @maimahkarmoofficial.

An advocate of quality health care for all, especially the underserved and underrepresented, was installed as the 119th President of the National Medical Association (NMA) last year. Dr. Lubin-Johnson has been an active member of the NMA for over 30 years.

Since the founding of the National Medical Association in 1895, Dr. Lubin-Johnson is only the third person, and the first female, to serve as President, Speaker, and Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Dr. Lubin-Johnson received her B.S. Degree in Pharmacy from Creighton University and her medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, where she was distinguished as a member of the last class to finish within a three-year time frame. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chicago, and has been in private practice for 28 years in the South Side neighborhood where she grew up and currently resides. She is currently a senior attending physician at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, associate attending at Advocate Trinity Hospital, and a clinical instructor at the University of Illinois.

Dr. Lubin-Johnson is a member of American Medical Association (AMA) and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. In 2010, she was elected to serve on the AMA Minority Affairs Section Governing Council as an at-large member and was re-elected in April 2013. In June 2013, she was elected vice chair and served as chair from June 2014-16. As Chair, she was an Alternate Delegate to the AMA House of Delegates and a member of the AMA/NMA Commission to End Health Care Disparities and its’ Diabetes/Hypertension Committee. In 2009, she was appointed to serve on the Nominating Committee for the Cook County Health System Board, and in 2012 was elected to serve as Secretary and Vice-Chair.

Dr. Lubin-Johnson is the recipient of numerous awards including the Illinois Committee of Concerned Blacks in Higher Education Trustee Award; Midwest Community Council—Nancy B. Jefferson Community Service Award; Dollars and Sense Magazine’s Best and Brightest Women in Medicine; the Kizzy Award—Black Women’s Hall of Fame Foundation; the Student National Medical Association Award for Leadership and Service; and the Top Ladies of Distinction Orchid Award for Outstanding Women in Medicine.

Dr. Lubin-Johnson is a proud member of Trinity United Church of Christ, and a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Cartman is a father, son, brother, uncle, thinker, writer, therapist, photographer, drummer, and grassroots mental health advocate.

He is a Chicago native, where his cultural and educational foundations were cultivated by several African-centered institutions. He received his undergraduate degree from Hampton University and a Ph.D in clinical & community psychology from Georgia State University. His recent work includes being a trauma focused clinician and restorative justice coach with H.E.LP., LLC (Healing Empowering and Learning Professions) in Chicago Public Schools. Dr. Cartman has served as a professor of psychology at Georgia State University and the Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern University. Dr. Cartman recently created a male rites of passage curriculum called MANifest that is being implemented in juvenile detention centers, schools and in private community settings. Currently Dr. Cartman is the program director for Real Men Charities, Inc. where he facilitates weekly men's wellness and African drumming circles. Dr. Cartman is the immediate past President of the Chicago Association of Black Psychologists where he developed a directory of Black mental health providers. As a consultant Dr. Cartman facilitates trainings for adults and workshops with youth about maintaining good mental health, critical analysis of hip-hop and media, racial and cultural identity, developing authentic manhood, and healthy relationships.

A Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, Duke University, Durham, NC, an Investigator at the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute (DMPI).

He is the Co-Director of the Duke CTSA KL2 program and the Program Director of the Duke Pediatric Research Scholar (DPRS/PSTP) program. The overarching objective of his research program is to understand the genetic basis, the pathogenesis, and the determinants of variable therapy response in hereditary and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. In the last ten years, Dr Gbadegesin and his collaborators have identified at least five novel genetic causes of steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome/Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and other kidney diseases. More recently, using the strategy of extreme phenotyping, his group identified the first exome-wide locus for childhood onset steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS). He has established a large biorepository of phenotype data and biosamples from children with nephrotic syndrome and he is currently collaborating with other Investigators around the World to determine the biologic basis for ethnic disparities in the incidence and severity of nephrotic syndrome with the ultimate goal of developing strategies for personalized treatment of nephrotic syndrome. He has presented his research at both international and national meetings and published many peer reviewed journal articles with multiple first and senior author papers related to the molecular pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome. Dr Gbadegesin is the Principal Investigator on multiple NIH, foundation, and industry grants. He was elected into the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) in 2016.

Associate Professor of Nephrology at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

Dr. Samir Parekh, MD is an Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) and Oncological Sciences and Director of Translational Research in Myeloma at the Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Parekh's research focuses on the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies and development of individualized, precision-medicine therapies for these malignancies. His lab uses an integrated systems biology approach to study genome-wide methylation, gene expression and DNA sequence variation to understand pathogenesis, develop biomarkers and guide personalized therapy in B cell malignancies, particularly Multiple Myeloma and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Dr. Parekh has served on numerous review and advisory committees. He has successfully secured several federal and foundation grants and has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications.

A Psychiatry Specialist in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Dr. Broughton has more experience with Psychotic Disorders and Addiction and Substance Abuse than other specialists in his area.

He is affiliated with Jefferson Regional Medical Center and he accepts telehealth appointments. Dr. Broughton completed residencies at the University of Alabama – Birmingham and the Medical College of Georgia. He currently practices at Southeast Arkansas Behavioral Healthcare System Inc. and is affiliated with Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Dr. Broughton earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and completed his medical education at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

DaShaun Johnson, known as THE GURU OF ABS in the fitness industry is a native of Decatur, Ga who passion for fitness began 11 years ago when he landed a job at LA fitness in Atlanta, GA.

t was then that he realized he was destined be a group fitness instructor and personal trainer who would change people’s lives for the better through fitness and nutrition. After much hard work and dedication, he was presented with his first big opportunity to be a sponsored Nike Training Club (NTC) instructor.

Today, DaShaun focuses on his new all-natural dietary supplement line and tours the country offering innovative Body Sculpting programs that has helped transform the physiques of people all over the world. His body sculpting programs include a seated exercise program designed specifically for senior citizens titled Senior Body Sculpting which has been featured on local and national news stations such as Fox 5 Atlanta News and CNN Headline News (HLN). DaShaun also offers a Total Body Sculpting for anyone desiring to focus on strength training and weight loss and his latest innovative creation, The Sculpting Abs & Core Online Training Program that will feature instructional, LIVE classes & workouts.

Recognized as one of the BEST abdominal specialists in the fitness industry, DaShaun continues to be a pillar of positive change in the fitness community, motivating his clients to be the very BEST versions of themselves while following his lead.