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 nearly 23,000 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
Dr. Dwayne Proctor
Chair, NAACP Foundation Board and National Health Committee
Dr. Dwayne Proctor is a visionary leader dedicated to improving the health and well-being of communities nationwide. With nearly two decades in philanthropy, he currently serves as President and CEO of the Missouri Foundation for Health and Chair of the NAACP Foundation Board and National Health Committee. His career reflects a deep commitment to health equity and public policy innovation.
Before joining the Missouri Foundation for Health in 2021, Dr. Proctor spent nearly 20 years at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), where he led national initiatives addressing childhood obesity and community health. His work focused on shifting public policies and industry practices, supporting school- and community-based strategies, and fostering both grassroots and institutional advocacy for systemic change.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Proctor taught health communication and multicultural marketing at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Senegal, West Africa, studying HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns. His leadership extends across the philanthropic sector, including service as past chair of the Association of Black Foundation Executives.
April Ryan
White House Correspondent, MSNBC Political Analyst, D.C. Bureau Chief for Black Press USA
April Ryan is an award-winning journalist and author who has covered the White House for nearly three decades, making her the longest-serving Black woman in the role's history. As White House Correspondent and D.C. Bureau Chief for Black Press USA, she offers a unique perspective on race, politics, and public policy. Her reporting has chronicled the racial sensitivities and challenges faced by U.S. presidents from the Clinton administration to today.
Ryan is one of only three African Americans in the White House Correspondents' Association's century-long history to serve on its board and is a proud member of the National Press Club. In 2015, she received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her debut book and has since authored several acclaimed works.
Her accolades include the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Trailblazer Award from the National Council of Negro Women, the Freedom of the Press Award from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and recognition as an honoree in EBONY Magazine's Power 100 "Media Mavens" category.
Tanisha M. Sullivan, J.D., M.B.A.
Head of External Engagement and Health Equity Strategy, Sanofi
Ms. Sullivan is an award-winning civic, legal, and business leader with extensive experience in the life sciences industry. As Head of External Engagement and Health Equity Strategy for Sanofi, she oversees U.S. health equity strategy, executive engagement, and government relations. Her work focuses on advancing equitable access to healthcare and strengthening collaboration between industry and public policy.
From 2013 to 2015, Ms. Sullivan served in a cabinet-level position with Boston Public Schools as the district's inaugural Chief Equity Officer, driving systemic change and inclusion. Deeply committed to civic leadership, she currently serves as President of the NAACP New England Area Conference and chairs Governor Maura Healey's Advisory Council on Black Empowerment.
In addition, Ms. Sullivan contributes to the Boston College Law School Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy Advisory Board. She has been widely recognized for her leadership, including honors such as the Boston Business Journal 40 Under 40, Power 50, 100 Most Influential Leaders in Boston, and BC Law Alumna of the Year
Dr. Chris Pernell
Director, NAACP Center for Health Equity
Dr. Chris T. Pernell is a physician leader and social change advocate dedicated to advancing health justice and equity. As Director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity, she leads initiatives that drive equitable health outcomes and transform healthcare systems while centering the whole person. Her work focuses on community-based advocacy, population health promotion, and disease prevention.
Before joining the NAACP, Dr. Pernell founded The Esther Group, a consulting and health equity strategy firm, partnering with organizations and communities to innovate for better health outcomes. She also 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, designing programs to improve employee and community health.
Dr. Pernell is a fellow and Regent-at-Large for the American College of Preventive Medicine and is recognized for her visionary approach to public health, emphasizing systemic change and equity in every aspect of care.
Dr. Roger Mitchell
President, National Medical Association
Dr. Roger A. Mitchell Jr. is a board-certified forensic pathologist and the 126th President of the National Medical Association, the nation's oldest and largest organization representing Black physicians. He recently served as President of Howard University Hospital and previously held positions as Professor of Pathology and Chief Medical Officer for the Faculty Practice at Howard University, focusing on quality, safety, and organizational leadership.
Dr. Mitchell also served as Chief Medical Examiner for Washington, D.C., managing thousands of autopsies and death scenes, becoming the youngest chief medical examiner in the country. Following that role, he was appointed Interim Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, developing programs and policies for violence prevention and community safety.
He is co-author of Death in Custody: How America Ignores the Truth and What We Can Do About It and co-host of the NAACP Image Award-nominated podcast Official Ignorance – The Death in Custody Podcast. Dr. Mitchell trained at Howard University, Rutgers – New Jersey Medical School, George Washington University Hospital (residency), and the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (forensic pathology fellowship).
Patrice Willoughby, J.D., M.A.
Chief of Policy and Legislative Affairs, NAACP
Patrice Willoughby is Chief of Policy and Legislative Affairs at the NAACP, advancing the organization's racial equity mission after two decades in government and the private sector.
She served as Chief of Staff and Counsel to the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH-11), guiding legislation to enhance retirement security and expand SBA lending programs. Following Congresswoman Tubbs Jones' passing, Patrice served as Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus under Congresswoman Barbara Lee, supporting passage of the Recovery Act, Dodd-Frank Financial Reform, and the Affordable Care Act.
Patrice later served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Associate Administrator of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the General Services Administration. She subsequently led government relations at Signal Group, advising clients in financial services and technology.
She holds a B.A. in Music from Case Western Reserve University, an M.A. from the University of Cincinnati, and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Patrice serves on multiple boards, including WISER, N Street Village, and Fort Dupont Ice Arena, and has been recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the 500 Most Influential in Policy (2025), by The Hill as a Top Lobbyist, and received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Washington Government Relations Group of Black professionals.
Dr. Andrew Sanderson II
Associate Dean for Health Equity and Associate Professor of Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Andrew K. Sanderson II, MD, MPH, FASGE is a board-certified Gastroenterologist with 18 years of clinical experience. Dr. Sanderson was named Associate Dean for Health Equity at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in April 2025.
Prior to this role, he served as Chief Medical Officer for the Water Environment Federation (WEF) where he led efforts to develop and deploy health operational and safety protocols on behalf of more than 35,000 skilled North American water treatment professionals.
Dr. Sanderson also served as the senior medical officer with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health; and as Division Chief of Gastroenterology, associate program director and associate professor at Howard University Hospital and College of Medicine. He continues to serve as an adjunct professor for Howard University's Master of Public Health (MPH) program.
He is a founding board member for ElevateMeD, a non-profit organization focused on training diverse medical students to be physician leaders, and served as elected vice president for the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Association.
Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson
Health Commissioner for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Health Commissioner for the Department of Public Health. Dr. Raval-Nelson has worked for the department since 1996, when she began her career as a public health sanitarian. Before she was appointed Health Commissioner in 2024, she served as Deputy Health Commissioner. This followed her tenure as a supervisor, manager, administrator, and director of Environmental Health Services.
Dr. Raval-Nelson also serves as adjunct faculty at Drexel University's School of Public Health and Temple University. She teaches environmental and occupational health, as well as vulnerable populations and the environment. She has presented many papers at NEHA, PPHA, and APHA, and has had several publications in the National Journal of Environmental Health. In 2008, she published her first book, Breast Cancer Politics: An Evaluation of the Current Funding Policies. She has graduated from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute.
Dr. Raval-Nelson has her B.S. in Biology from Temple University, her M.P.H. from MCP Hahnemann University (graduating with the distinguished Hiega Society Award), and her Ph.D. in environmental health and policy from Drexel University. She is a member of the Delta Omega National Public Health Honor Society. She was recognized in 2006 by the Society of Women Environmental Professionals as an outstanding woman environmental professional for the Delaware Valley.
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.
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
NAACP Philadelphia Branch 1st Vice President and 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, NAACP 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.
