From Coast-to-Coast: Data Driven Solutions for Health Equity
Ready to discuss the future of health?
Join us in Philadelphia, PA, for the culminating event of the national "ACE Your Health" series, From Coast-to-Coast: Data Driven Solutions for Health Equity. This final forum will move from national trends to local realities, diving into the results of the groundbreaking ACE Your Health Community Wellness Survey specific to Philadelphia, which also collected over 22,000 responses nationally.
This is more than a data review – this is a strategic session for community shareholders and stakeholders, leaders, policymakers, and innovators. This discussion will focus on the survey's core findings regarding neighborhood resources and assets, health and health care, neighborhood quality and affordability, and the people taking the survey – translating raw data into clear priorities for local action.
Join the Discussion
Following successful events in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Washington D.C., and Houston, this Philadelphia Activation will focus on creating a local roadmap to operationalize the survey's findings. Participants in this forum will leave with a clear understanding of Philly's health landscape, driven by the voices of its own residents, and a shared commitment to developing targeted, high-impact community solutions.
Meet Our Speakers
April Ryan
White House Correspondent, MSNBC Political Analyst, D.C. Bureau Chief for Black Press USA
White House Correspondent April Ryan has a unique vantage point as the only Black female reporter covering urban issues from the White House – a position she has held for 28 years, since the Clinton era. She is now the longest-serving Black tenured White House Correspondent in the History of the United States. Her position as a White House Correspondent has afforded her unusual insight into the racial sensitivities, issues, and attendant political struggles of our nation's past presidents.
She is one of only three African Americans in the Association's over 100-year history to serve on its board. She is also an esteemed member of the National Press Club. In 2015, Ms. Ryan was nominated for an NAACP Image Award (Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author) for her first book.
In 2016, she was presented with the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Trailblazer Award from the National Council of Negro Women. In 2019, April Ryan became an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and was recognized as the 2019 Freedom of the Press Award Winner by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. April was nominated in 2021 with the NAACP Image Award for Social Justice Impact. In 2024, she was selected as an honoree for the category of "Media Maves" as part of EBONY Magazine's Power 100.
Tanisha M. Sullivan, J.D., M.B.A.
Head of External Engagement & Health Equity Strategy, Sanofi
Ms. Sullivan is an award-winning civic, legal and business leader with decades of experience working in and with the life sciences companies. As Head of External Engagement and Health Equity Strategy for Sanofi Ms. Sullivan's portfolio includes US health equity strategy, executive engagement and government relations.
Committed to public service, from 2013- 2015, Ms. Sullivan served in a cabinet level position with the Boston Public Schools as its inaugural Chief Equity Officer. Ms. Sullivan is the President of NAACP New England Area conference.
In addition, she serves as chair of Governor Maura Healey's Advisory Council on Black Empowerment and as a member of the Boston College Law School Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy Advisory Board. She received several business and civic recognitions, including the BBJ 40 Under 40, Power 50, 100 Most Influential Leaders in Boston and BC Law Alumna of the Year.
Dr. Chris Pernell
Director, Center for Health Equity, NAACP
Dr. Chris T. Pernell is a dynamic physician leader and social change agent. In her practice, she focuses on health justice, community-based advocacy, and population-wide health promotion and disease prevention. A celebrated visionary and apostle of public health, Dr. Chris serves as the Director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity. The Center is charged with driving equitable health outcomes and transforming healthcare systems while valuing the whole person.
Prior to joining the nation's oldest and most venerable civil rights organization, she launched The Esther Group, a public health consulting and health equity strategy firm. As founder of The Esther Group, she lives the mandate to dare a future where organizations, communities and systems can innovate for a better world and humanity.
Previously, she served as the first Chief Strategic Integration and Health Equity Officer at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, and led the 1199SEIU Labor Management Project Workplace and Community Health Program.
Dr. Pernell is a fellow and Regent-at-Large for the American College of Preventive Medicine.
Dr. Roger Mitchell
President, National Medical Association
Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr. is a board-certified forensic pathologist and is proud to serve as the 126th President for the National Medical Association, the oldest and largest group representing Black physicians in the country. He recently served as the President of Howard University Hospital one of the most historic hospitals in the nation. Prior to his time as President, Dr. Mitchell was a tenured Professor of Pathology and Chief Medical Officer for the Faculty Practice at Howard University where he worked on issues related to quality, safety, and the physician enterprise.
Dr. Mitchell served as Chief Medical Examiner for Washington, DC performing and managing thousands of autopsies and death scenes. At one point, he was the youngest chief medical examiner in the country. At the end of his tenure as chief in DC, he was appointed as Interim Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice where he developed programs and policy for violence prevention.
He is the co-author of the book entitled Death in Custody: How America Ignores the Truth and What We Can Do About It, published by John Hopkins Press. He recently served on the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Advancing the Field of Forensic Pathology: Lesson Learned from Death in Custody Investigations. He is the co-host of the recent NAACP Image Awards nominated podcast entitled Official Ignorance – The Death in Custody Podcast.
Mitchell attended undergraduate studies at the Howard University, medical school at Rutgers – New Jersey Medical School, pathology residency at the George Washington University Hospital, and forensic pathology fellowship at Office of the Chief Medical Examiner – New York City.
Dr. Nina Ahmad
Chair of Public Health & Human Services for Philadelphia City Council
Nina Ahmad, Ph.D., believes in the power of people to make positive change and advocates for equity for all. Dr. Ahmad was honored to win one of the seven At-Large seats on City Council on November 7, 2023, after securing the Democratic nomination in a 27-candidate race on May 16, 2023. She is the first ever South Asian American, the first Muslim woman and first immigrant in recent history to serve on Council.
As a child of war, having lived through the War of Liberation for Bangladesh, she never forgets she stands in that sacrifice of the 3 million who were killed and the 250,000 women and girls who were sexually brutalized. She also stands in solidarity with, and underscores the sacrifices of the Black community, which has been fighting for over 400 years for equity in all spaces.
She served as a Deputy Mayor in Mayor Jim Kenney's first term, where she was the first Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Cabinet member ever in a Philadelphia mayoral administration, and established the Department of Public Engagement; a first such department for the City.
Having had the honor to be appointed by President Obama to his AAPI Commission, Dr. Ahmad learned the importance of representation as government shapes public policy. She is an elected member of the PA State Democratic Committee and established the first-ever Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Caucus.
Dr. Ahmad received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a Molecular Genetics Postdoctoral Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University. She is a patent holder of "Methods of detecting a Genetic Predisposition for Osteoarthritis", held a joint Assistant Professorship at Wills Eye Hospital and the Ophthalmology Department of Jefferson Medical College, and subsequently Directorship of Molecular Biology of the Research Department at Wills Eye Hospital.
President Catherine Hicks
NAACP Philadelphia Branch President
Catherine Hicks was raised in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia and received her education through the public school system. During her high school years, Catherine often worked in the office where she was introduced to the communications field, often making the school announcements on their broadcast system. Catherine's first position after high school was working for a marketing and promotion company specializing in movie and concert promotions. There she was introduced to radio broadcast creating commercials for movie theaters and concerts in and around the Philadelphia area. Catherine furthered her education attending LaSalle University where she majored in communications.
Catherine later became employed by some of the region's largest Healthcare providers (HMA and Keystone Mercy) where she was able to fine tune her communications skills. In 2000 Catherine took the position as Director of Project Management and Communications in the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office. There she was responsible for overseeing all internal and external press-related material, establishing relationships with television media, radio and news publications. Catherine would also monitor all website content and updates. She was instrumental in the development and implementation of outreach programs on Foreclosure Prevention, Sheriff Sale Seminars and community assistance programs.
On July 17, 2021, Catherine was elected President of the Philadelphia Branch NAACP, the second female to hold the position. The NAACP isthe nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. As president, Catherine vows to increase the branch membership, uphold the constitution and bylaws of the office and to insure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and eliminate race-based discrimination.
Dr. Deshawnda Williams
Philadelphia NAACP Health Committee Chair
Dr. Deshawnda Williams is a passionate scholar-practitioner in the field of Clinical Social Work and Special Education. She is a practicing Social Worker who facilitates as an independent Behavior Specialist Consultant contractor. She has worked in the mental health field for sixteen years where she has delivered Family Focused Therapy (FFT), Attachment-Based Therapy with Children, Adolescents and Families (ABT).
In addition, she has worked evidence-based treatments with adolescent clients having a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and adjustment issues; such as anxiety, stress, depression, and social peer relationship problems. She is certified with the state of Pennsylvania in Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA).
Dr. Williams served as a High School Science Teacher at Community Education Partners for students with special needs. Additionally, while at Community Education Partners, Ms. Williams provided leadership, accountability, and direction in providing comprehensive services to promote academic success for her students as a Behavior Specialist. Throughout her tenure, she received multiple accolades, including being voted Employee of the Year.
Dr. Williams earned her undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, managing a double major in Sociology and Religion, with a minor in Philosophy. She pursued two Master's degrees: one in Clinical Social Work from Tulane University, in New Orleans, LA, and the other in Education, specializing in Special Education, from Arcadia University, in Glenside, PA. In 2015, Dr. Williams completed her Doctoral degree in Ministry from Palmer Theological Seminary at Eastern University. Presently, Dr. Williams is attending Walden University pursuing a PhD in Social Work degree with a concentration in Families and Interventions.
Dr. Tony Price
Senior Fellow, Center for Health Equity
Tony serves as the Senior Fellow within the Center for Health Equity at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, where he leads national initiatives aimed at eliminating health disparities and advancing health equity. In this role, Tony provides strategic leadership on key projects and leverages his expertise in chronic disease prevention, exercise, and physical activity to support healthier outcomes in
historically underserved communities.
Prior to joining the NAACP, Tony was a Senior Research Associate at the Georgia Health Policy Center, where he served as the Technical Assistance Lead for projects supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. There, he provided guidance to rural communities across the U.S. to enhance capacity and improve health outcomes through innovative, community-centered approaches.
Tony is passionate about collaboration and connection, often acting as a bridge between partners and resources to maximize impact. He currently serves as a member of the Georgia State University Alumni Association Board of Directors and as the Strategic Advisor - Mission Delivery and member on the national Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Arthritis Foundation. He is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), committed to advancing accessible and inclusive health education.
Dr. Tony Price is a recent recipient of the de Beaumont Foundation's 2025 40 Under 40 award.