Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Officers
Jon S. Corzine is the founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the JDC-JSC Opportunity Fund, a global macro/event driven hedge fund. Prior to founding JDC-JSC, he managed his family office, actively investing and overseeing his philanthropic activities. He served the State of New Jersey as a United States Senator from 2001-2006 and as its 54th Governor from 2006-2010. Prior to entering public service, he served as the Senior Partner of Goldman Sachs from 1994-1999, transforming it from a private partnership into a public company. He began his career at Goldman Sachs in 1976 as a bond trader and became co-manager of the Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities Division. In 1980, he was named partner. He joined the Management Committee in 1984 and served as the CFO from 1991-1994. Governor Corzine served as the Chairman and CEO of MF Global from March 2010 until October 2011.
Governor Corzine served on the University of Chicago’s Board of Trustees and as an ex-officio member of Princeton University’s Board of Trustees. He was the J.L. Weinberg Visiting Professor of Public Policy at Princeton in 2010 and 2011. He is currently working with Fairleigh Dickinson University to establish the graduate School of Public and Global Affairs as Chairman of its Advisory Board while also serving as a visiting lecturer on politics and public policy at the University’s UK Wroxton campus.
Governor Corzine has served on several civic boards, including the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the New York Philharmonic, the New York Child Study Center and the NYC Partnership. He has served as Co-Chair of the National Commission on Capital Budgeting under President Clinton, Chairman of the Treasury’s Government Borrowing Committee and Chairman of the Public Securities Association. He is currently a member of the International Board of Covenant House.
Governor Corzine received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1969, graduating Phi Beta Kapa, and earned his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1975. He served in the United States Marine Corps (R) from 1969-1975. He has served on the Board of The Fund for New Jersey since 2018.
The Hon. Jon S. Corzine, M.B.A.
Chair
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer, JDC-JSC Opportunity Fund, Former U.S. Senator, Former New Jersey Governor, Prior CEO, Goldman Sachs
As Global Medical Affairs Leader, HIV for Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Dr. Bryan Baugh is responsible for monitoring projects in sexually-transmitted Infections and therapeutics in respiratory infections; and leading the clinical-commercial optimization of product development and life cycle management strategies and plans in the field of infectious diseases and vaccines. Prior to this position, he was the US Medical Director for PREZISTA, an HIV Protease Inhibitor used to treat HIV, and SIRTURO, the first TB therapy in 40 years and first-approved medicine to treat multi-drug resistant TB, at Janssen Therapeutics, the Infectious Diseases franchise of Johnson & Johnson. As Medical Director, Bryan’s primary responsibility was to support the implementation of clinical affairs strategies for PREZITA and SITURO in the US and globally. In both positions at Janssen Therapeutics, he provides clinical affairs support across brands, coordinates and supervises research committee meetings and advisory boards, and is the key company contact for safety issues.
Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Baugh was employed by Roche Pharmaceuticals as a Virology HIV Medical Liaison. His territory included Washington, DC; and regions in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. In this role he helped to coordinate and support investigator-initiated studies and provided HIV background and training to Roche internal and external audiences. Prior to that, he was the Director of HIV Services and a staff physician at the Max Robinson Center of the Whitman Walker Clinic in Washington, DC. At Whitman Walker, he provided healthcare to a large number of HIV-infected patients and implemented new patient care initiatives including a walk-in men’s STD clinic.
Dr. Baugh earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo. He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemistry at Howard University in Washington, DC.
Dr. Baugh’s clinical interests include studying medical conditions and issues that adversely affect disenfranchised populations, bridging health disparity gaps, and developing strategies/technologies to combat illnesses in developing countries. He is an active member of the J&J affinity groups, the Gay & Lesbian Organization for Business & Leadership (GLOBAL), and the African American Leadership Council (AALC). He is an active member of the Board of Directors for the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation and Life Ties, Inc.
Bryan Baugh, M.D.
Vice-Chair
Global Medical Affairs Leader, HIV,
Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
As chief of staff at the AAMC, Jennifer M. Schlener supports and serves the president and CEO in his role of leading the AAMC to advance its mission. As a member of the Leadership Team, she champions and supports the implementation of the AAMC’s strategic plan and other initiatives.
Serving as an advisor on governance matters, she is responsible for the work of the Governance, Nominating, and Leadership Development Committee of the AAMC Board of Directors. She has spoken nationally on governance matters such as executive compensation, the imperative for board assessment, and continuous board improvement.
In her executive role, she oversees the functioning of the Office of the President, which includes the AAMC’s strategy and innovation development function and internal audit function. Her team supports the president and CEO, the work of the AAMC Board, the effective functioning of the Leadership Team, the association’s presidential awards program, and internal executive searches. She drives and champions the alignment of culture, strategy, and leadership, and she facilitates and provides leadership to internal organizational development activities.
She is a highly rated speaker nationally, an expert facilitator of strategic and organizational development retreats, and a certified trainer of Crucial Conversations and Crucial Accountability.
Prior to joining the AAMC in 2007, Schlener worked at Penn State University for seven years, last serving as the director of development and alumni relations for health affairs at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine. She began her career as a development and alumni relations professional at her alma mater, Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Schlener is the vice chair of the board of directors of Physicians for Peace; a member of the board of directors of National Medical Fellowships; a member of Franklin & Marshall College’s Leadership Council; and a past board member of the American Heart Association – Lancaster Division, Ephrata Performing Arts Center, and Hershey Area Playhouse.
Jennifer Schlener
Secretary
Chief of Staff, Association of American Medical Colleges
Dr. Efrain Talamantes is an internal medicine physician who is dedicated to serving historically underinvested communities and advancing health equity. He leads initiatives throughout the country to enhance leadership and diversity in the healthcare workforce. As the Chief Operating Officer of Health Services at AltaMed Health Services, Dr. Talamantes shapes the AltaMed experience across the entire health care delivery system spanning more than 40 clinics throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. He oversees every aspect of day-to-day care and incorporates patient-centered solutions to address social determinants of health.
Prior to becoming the Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Talamantes served as Medical Director for the AltaMed Institute for Health Equity and Medical Education, leading health services and community-partnered research and training to advance health equity and medical education. Cultivating the next generation of physicians remains a cornerstone of Dr. Talamantes’ work. His vision led to the creation of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited Family Medicine Residency program and pipeline programs throughout AltaMed that focus on advancing health equity and recruiting a new generation of health professionals dedicated to improving access to care.
Prior to joining AltaMed, Dr. Talamantes co-founded MiMentor, a nationwide mentoring network connecting thousands of members with health professional mentors. The organization's mission is to develop and support innovative and inclusive mentorship opportunities that will inspire the next generation of diverse healthcare leaders for underserved communities. He also served as Associate Director for the University of California, Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities, Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and co-directed the Center for a Diverse Healthcare Workforce (CDHW).
Dr. Talamantes currently serves as the Chair of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, he is a board member of the National Medical Fellowships, University of California, Riverside School of Medicine and the Chicago School of Psychology.
Efrain Talamantes, M.D., M.B.A., MSc, FACP*
Treasurer
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Health Services, AltaMed Health Services Corporation
Michellene Davis assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of National Medical Fellowships, Inc., (NMF) in May of 2021.
Davis is named among Modern Healthcare magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Minority Leaders in Healthcare and Becker's Hospital Review's Top113 Great Leaders in Healthcare 2022 and 75 Black Healthcare Leaders to Know 2022. The National Association of Health Services Executives awarded her their 2021 Senior Health Care Executive Award.
Davis most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at RWJBarnabas Health, the largest academic medical center system in New Jersey and one of the largest in the nation. She founded Social Impact and Community Investment, an equity-centered, policy-led community health practice addressing the social and political determinants of health. She was the first African American in state history to serve as Chief Policy Counsel to former New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine, the first African American and only the second women to serve as New Jersey State Treasurer. She was the youngest person to serve as CEO of the New Jersey Lottery and also served as a senior policy advisor in the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
She co-authored Changing Missions, Changing Lives: How a Change Agent Can Turn the Ship and Create Impact, published by ForbesBooks in 2020, which provides a blueprint for those committed to leading systems change within organizations.
Ms. Davis began her legal career as a trial litigator, is an Honors graduate of Seton Hall University and holds a Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall School of Law. She holds Executive Education Certificates in Corporate Social Responsibility from the Harvard Business School and in Social Impact Strategy from the Wharton School of Business.
Michellene Davis, Esq.
President & CEO
Members
Kweku A. Awotwi is currently the Board Chairman of United Bank for Africa (Ghana) Ltd, the Multimedia Group Ltd in Ghana, and the non-profit sports for development organization, Playsoccer Ghana which he co-founded in 1999. He has been the past Board Chairman of Stanbic Bank (Ghana) Ltd (2012 – 2018), Ghana’s Volta River Authority (2017-2021), and a Board member of several energy and mining organizations across Africa.
An electrical engineer by training, Kweku started out his career designing integrated circuits for ITT and GE/RCA respectively between 1984-1988. He worked for Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation between 1990-1998, where he left as Business Manager of the Primary Aluminum Business Unit; served as Managing Director, Strategic Planning & New Business Development for Ashanti Goldfields Company from 1998-2004; Chief Executive of Ghana’s Volta River Authority (2009-2013); and most recently, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Tullow Oil plc (UK) and Tullow Ghana Ltd, respectively from 2018- 2020.
In between these corporate assignments, he has been involved in a number of entrepreneurial ventures in energy and mining across Africa. These include a US$1 billion 375 MW independent power project, Cenpower Generation, which he co-founded and developed, and which reached commercial operation in 2019; a start-up oil and gas exploration company, Midway Resources, where he was CEO and laid the foundation of several licence and asset acquisitions in East and West Africa; an electricity meter factory in Kaduna, Nigeria which became operational in 2021; and a South African gold mining company reverse listed into a Hong-Kong listed public company.
Mr. Awotwi has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford, California, and a B.S in Electrical Engineering, Economics and Political Science from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Kweku Awotwi, M.B.A., DSc
Chair, UBA Bank, Chair, Multimedia Group, Chair/Co-Founder, PlaySoccer
Scott Becker is the founder, publisher and chief content officer of Becker's Healthcare, a leading health care media company. Scott is also a long time partner at McGuireWoods a top Am Law firm with leading private equity and health care practices. He served for nearly 14 years as the chair of the health care department and also served on the Board of Directors.
Becker has interviewed Bill and Hilary Clinton, George and Laura Bush, Nikki Haley, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Venus Williams and several other public figures. Becker is a graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Illinois. At Harvard Law School he had the privilege to teach and advise future President Barack Obama as a moot court adviser.
He hosts the highly ranked Becker's Healthcare Podcast and Becker's Private Equity Podcast. He is also the author of several books, a regular speaker on business and health care trends, and a proponent of physical and mental health as a foundation to life. Becker is an active investor in private equity, venture capital funds and companies.
Becker is a regular golfer, tennis player and sports participant.
Scott Becker
Partner at McGuireWoods, Publisher of Becker's Healthcare,
Author
Dr. Gary Butts is currently Executive Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Mount Sinai Health System, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Mount Sinai Health System and Dean for Diversity Programs, Policy and Community Affairs for the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
In these roles, Dr. Butts is responsible for oversight, management and integration of all aspects of diversity programs and policies for the Mount Sinai Health System to ensure diversity and inclusion as an integral core institutional value and resource across the health system, including the medical and graduate schools, graduate medical education and the Mount Sinai Hospitals Group.
Dr. Butts holds joint appointments as professor with tenure in the Departments of Pediatrics, Medical Education, and Preventive Medicine and has been an integral member of the senior leadership team at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai since 1998. He has spent over 3 decades providing health care services to East and Central Harlem residents and the past 15 years developing and spearheading efforts to improve and sustain racial, ethnic and gender diversity across all levels of education, training, and faculty for the School of Medicine.
Since 2004, he has directed the Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs (CMCA), which has been recognized as a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Center of Excellence for Minority Health. Under his leadership, the medical school has become one of the most diverse student bodies among U.S. private medical schools and Mount Sinai has doubled the percent of Black and Latino faculty and housestaff. Dr. Butts has held regional and national leadership positions with the Association of American Medical Colleges and Associated Medical Schools of New York, among other professional organizations and as trustee for the Jewish Home Lifecare System, chairs their diversity committee.
He has been acknowledged for his leadership and service by the Network Journal Top Black Doctors in New York Metro Area recognition on several occasions; by the National Association of Minority Medical Educators with the Distinguished Service to Health Award; and by the National Hispanic Health Foundation for Leadership for Improving the Health of Hispanic Communities.
Gary Butts, M.D.*
Executive Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Mt. Sinai Health System, Dean of Diversity Programs, Policy, and Community Affairs, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai
Dr. Félix Manuel Chinea is a Puerto Rican military brat raised in the South and currently growing roots in Durham, North Carolina with his amazing wife, Raha, and lovable dog, Âbi (aw-bee), which means blue in Farsi.
He is a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine with experience in health disparities and health equity research. Through this work, he highlighted the need for disaggregated data within the Latine community to address disparities in prostate cancer outcomes. Similar to many BIPOC physicians, he felt that academic medicine was not aligned with him thriving and impacting health care in the way he wanted.
Seeing the tech industry as a potential solution, he made his way into digital health. Félix’s experience with Black and Latine medical student organizations and health equity work has allowed him to transfer his knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in private industry and digital health. He is currently the Head of Health Equity & Inclusion Strategy at Doximity where he applies an equity-centered, inclusion lens to impact people, practices, and products.
He is a 2022 Aspen Ideas Health Fellow, was recognized by Fierce Healthcare as a Fierce 50 Health Equity honoree, he was named as the Top 50 in Digital Health by Rock Health, and has been highlighted by both Business Insider and Forbes.
Félix Manuel Chinea, M.D.
Director, Health Equity & Inclusion Strategy,
Doximity
Dr. Imelda Dacones is the Optum Pacific Northwest Market President, overseeing both the Washington and Oregon markets. She is an internist/hospitalist and is widely recognized for her leadership in driving value-based care models, innovation, and transformation.
Before joining Optum in 2021, she spent over 22 years at Kaiser Permanente (KP) Northwest, where she held various roles including primary care physician, hospitalist, Chief of Staff/Chief Medical Officer, and regional medical director of hospital operations.
In her last six years at KP, she served as the President and CEO of Northwest Permanente P.C., co-chair of the national KP Program Group, and chair of The Permanente Federation representing the eight medical groups of KP with its more than 22,000 physicians. In these roles, Dr. Dacones played a significant role in shaping enterprise and market strategy, modernizing business functions, and expanding the KPNW footprint while improving margins. She also drove innovations such as hospital care at home and promoted clinician and team member engagement.
Dr. Dacones is a founding director of the KP School of Medicine Board and has been recognized for her exceptional work as a physician and leader. In 2020, she was named one of Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Minority Leaders, and in 2019, she received the Portland Business Journal’s Health Care Leadership Award. Her colleagues have also recognized her with the PBJ Top Docs recognition for multiple years.
Dr. Dacones received her B.S. in biochemistry and M.D. degrees from the University of Chicago, where she also completed her internship and residency training in internal medicine.
Imelda Dacones, M.D.
Pacific Northwest Market President, Optum
Lloyd H. Dean is Chief Executive Emeritus of CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States with more than 142 hospitals, 1,000+ care sites, 25,000 physicians and 150,000 employees across 21 states.
Previously, Dean was president/CEO of California-based Catholic Healthcare West (2000-2012), which became Dignity Health (2012-2019) and served as president/CEO where he oversaw innovative partnerships that helped create more positive patient experiences, more efficient care, and healthier communities. This approach helped lead to the creation of CommonSpirit Health, where he served as CEO from 2019-2022.
After his retirement as CEO of CommonSpirit Health in August 2022 and in honor of Dean’s lifelong dedication to the improvement of the quality of life for the most vulnerable, CommonSpirit Health established the Lloyd H. Dean Institute for Humankindness and Health Justice. The Institute celebrates Dean’s legacy and focuses on health justice in action and in delivering quality equitable care to the people served by CommonSpirit’s 21-state national footprint.
A transformational leader in health care, Dean has been steadfast in his commitment to eliminate health challenges across the country and has helped forged educational partnerships with Morehouse School of Medicine, Creighton University, Charles Drew University and Baylor School of Medicine to shape the future workforce by recruiting, training and graduating a more diverse health care workforce.
In his storied career, Dean has led insightful and groundbreaking social programs and partnerships to address antiviolence, housing, human trafficking, and climate action that disproportionately affects systematically excluded communities.
Dean has provided counsel to the last four Presidential Administrations and was instrumental in helping implement the Affordable Care Act. He collaborated with nationwide health systems to partner with various presidential administrations to implement COVID-19 programs.
He has been appointed to several federal and state committees charged with the economic development of California and was co-chair of the California Future Health Workforce Commission, which examined California’s future demand for health care workers. Dean also co-chaired America Is All In, the most expansive coalition of leaders in support of climate action in the U.S.
As a nationally recognized business leader and sought after speaker, Dean has spoken at the World Economic Forum, Davos; CleanMed Conference; The Aspen Institute; UN Climate Change Conference, Glasgow and Bloomberg television.
Currently, Dean serves on the Board of McDonald’s Corporation, is a member of its Board Governance Committee, and is Chair of its Board Human Resources & Compensation Committee.
He also serves on the boards of Golden Arrow Merger Corp.; Guidehouse, a worldwide consulting firm; Nox Health, a global sleep health leader and Progyny, a leading fertility benefits management company that combines science, technology and data along with clinical and emotional guidance. He is a strategic advisor to Bain Capital, a worldwide leading private equity firm.
He has been appointed to New York’s Commission on the Future of Health Care, an advisory body formed by Governor Kathy Holchul, which is composed of 13 select individuals. Dean is Chair of its Commission’s Hospital Sub-Committee. Dean also has been appointed to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council.
Dean holds a B.S. in sociology and a master’s in educational leadership from Western Michigan University. He has received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of San Francisco; honorary doctor of science degree from Morehouse School of Medicine, and honorary doctor of science degree each from the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Lloyd H. Dean
Chief Executive Emeritus
CommonSpirit Health
John Gorman is the Founder and Chairman of Nightingale Partners, the first venture fund to invest in early-stage companies within the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) ecosystem. Through strategic collaborations with health insurers, local governments, and provider organizations, Nightingale Partners structured tailored interventions to improve health outcomes.
With a strong focus on Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, Gorman is recognized for his expertise in health equity, policy, and governance. In 2019, he founded Nightingale Partners, serving as Chairman until its sale in 2022. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Henry Ford Health System’s Health Alliance Plan in Detroit and the Board of RoundTrip, a company revolutionizing Non-Emergent Medical Transport. Additionally, he provides strategic advisory services to Epicured, a leader in food-as-medicine solutions, and Upside, a senior housing firm.
Previously, Gorman was the Founder and Chairman of Gorman Health Group (GHG), where, for over two decades, he led the development of the industry’s leading consulting practice and entrepreneurial ventures in government health programs. A sought-after speaker, he presents at numerous industry conferences annually and is frequently quoted in trade publications and national media. He also serves on the editorial advisory boards of several industry publications.
Before founding GHG, Gorman was appointed by President Clinton as the first Assistant to the Director of the Health Care Financing Administration’s (HCFA, now CMS) Office of Managed Care, providing day-to-day management and serving as an external liaison for Medicare and Medicaid managed care programs. During the 1993 national health care reform debate, he was the chief lobbyist on health care financing issues for the National Association of Community Health Centers, advocating for Federally-funded primary care clinics serving medically underserved populations.
Gorman began his career in Washington as Press Secretary and Staff Director for U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), then-Chairman of the Government Operations Committee.
John Gorman
Government Health
Programs Expert
SDOH Investor
Dr. Kimberly Henderson is a Managing Director and recently joined Family Office Resources as the Head of Wealth Management Health and Wellness Education. In this role, she highlights opportunities for clients to consider healthy choices, spearheads thought leadership on health care issues facing ultra high net worth clients, shares best wellness practices and discusses the impact of health and medical developments with clients and their families.
Dr. Henderson joined Morgan Stanley two years ago during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as the Associate Medical Director and provided direct oversight and coordination of global medical, health and wellness services. In addition to helping keep her colleagues safe and informed during the pandemic, Dr. Henderson became Morgan Stanley’s subject matter expert on multiple health and wellness related topi cs including Covid, women’s health, health equity, resiliency, sleep, wellbeing, and adolescent and family mental health.
In the spirit of Morgan Stanley’s commitment to giving back, Dr. Henderson is an active supporter of communities of color. She received the honor of being appointed an executive sponsor for the inaugural Morgan Stanley HBCU Scholars Program, which awards a four year college scholarship and ongoing academic support to underprivileged youth. Recognizing the negative impact the pandemic had on children ’s mental health, Dr. Henderson has dedicated her time for two years to judge the Morgan Stanley Innovation Awards program, which provi des a $100,000 grant and business training to start ups focused on child and adolescent mental health.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Dr. Henderson was the Senior Medical Director at CVS Health, where she spent 14 years supporting enterprise side initiatives, pharmacy benefit management sales strategies and retail health programs including oversight of Minute Clinic nurse practitioners.
Dr. Henderson enjoyed an 18-year career practicing medicine and is an attending emergency medicine physician at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center. She earned her medical doctorate and juris doctorate from Georgetown University in Washington DC.
Kim Henderson, M.D. *
Managing Director, Head of Wealth Management Health and Wellness Education,
Morgan Stanley
John A. Johnson, MD, MBA, FACP, is an energetic strategist and agile thought leader with more than two decades of diverse experience in the medical field. In his role as Chief Medical Officer at GEHA, Johnson oversees all clinical programs, including dental and behavioral health services, focusing on quality improvement, and enhancing culturally relevant services and solutions inherent in GEHA’s continual efforts to evolve the member experience. To accomplish these goals, Dr. Johnson focuses on connecting members with their ultimate health care goals through an evidence-based approach to care. While in this role, Profiles in Diversity Journal® announced Dr. Johnson as one of the magazine’s first-ever Veteran Leadership™ Award winners, and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Board of Directors appointed him as an Active Diplomate on the Stakeholder Council. Notably, in 2023, Johnson was also a panelist and speaker at national and local conferences such as the HLTH Conference, Heartland Conference on Health Equity and Patient-Centered Care and National Black Nurses Association Conference.
Previously, Dr. Johnson served as Chief Medical Officer at other nationally recognized health plans to include Virginia Premier Health Plan, Molina Healthcare of Ohio, and Cardinal Innovations Healthcare in North Carolina. He also oversaw utilization review and care management for the State Health Benefit Plan while serving as Medical Director at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. As a physician specializing in Internal Medicine, Dr. Johnson owned and operated a practice in Atlanta where he treated patients with acute and chronic conditions, ultimately growing it to 10,000 patients and developing a celebrated program to treat those with diabetes. Possessing insights gained in his efforts to improve community health, he later sold his practice to pursue a career in managed care.
Over the years, Dr. Johnson's work earned him The Joseph P. Bailey Jr. MD Physician Distinguished Service Award. This honor is presented annually by the Medical Association of Georgia to a physician for their distinguished and meritorious service that reflects credit and honor on the association. As an active member of the association, he currently serves on the Board of Directors and graduated from the Georgia Physicians Leadership Academy.
Dr. Johnson serves as a Colonel in the United States Army Reserves Medical Corps with 27 years of service. After joining as a Captain in 1997, he was promoted to Major in 2005, Lieutenant Colonel in 2010, and to the rank of Colonel in 2014, ahead of his peers. Colonel Johnson was selected to serve as Battalion Commander for the 7455th Medical Operations Readiness Unit in Topeka, Kansas. Throughout his military service, he has received many honorable designations.
Johnson graduated from Seton Hall University and received his medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Board-certified in Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, he completed his residency at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. Dr. Johnson later earned a Master of Business Administration with a focus on health care management from Emory’s School of Business. In addition, he is the president of the Emory University Medical Alumni Board, currently serves as the Board Chair of the Medical Association of Atlanta following his presidency (2024) and vice president of the board of directors for Leadership Empowerment Project, a nonprofit that helps African American men excel in their first years in college
John A. Johnson, M.D., M.B.A., FACP
Chief Medical Officer,
Government Employees Health Association
Dr. Dallas Lea is the principal partner of Lea Medical Partners, LLC and the medical director of Lea Medical Therapies in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is a highly respected leader in the field of spinal cord injury and spasticity management. He is also regarded as an expert in the use of Botox® and Xeomin® for the treatment and management of spasticity caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. In addition, Dr. Lea is a pioneer in the use of advanced imaging technology in the performance of Botox® and Xeomin®injections for spasticity, cervical dystonia, sialorrhea and bruxism.
Dr. Lea has started spasticity programs at major institutions in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Texas. He is also a specialist in the use of the intrathecal baclofen pump for spasticity management. His center, Lea Medical Therapies, has been selected to participate in the Adult Spasticity International Registry on Botox® Treatment Study (ASPIRE) and he acts as principal investigator.
A sought-after speaker and educator, Dr. Lea has trained more than 200 physicians in the U.S. and abroad in the use of ultrasound guided Botox® injections for spasticity management. He has also been involved in numerous research studies at major institutions including The National Institutes of Health and The University of Pittsburgh’s Falk Center. Research studies of which he was a partner in have been published in various journals including Biochemistry and The Journal of Biochemistry.
Dr. Lea received his medical degree at the Medical College of Ohio and interned at the Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, a partner institution of the University of Texas Medical Center. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine’s Institute for Research and Rehabilitation (TIRR). He also completed his postdoctoral fellowship in spinal cord injury medicine while at Baylor and is one of few physicians certified in spinal cord injury medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation. He currently resides in Maryland.
Dallas Lea, M.D.
Principal Partner
Lea Medical Partners, LLC
Anthony Mulrain is a leading corporate and intellectual property (IP) attorney at Holland & Knight, serving as co-chair of the firm's Sports Law and Entertainment Law teams. Based in the Atlanta and New York offices, Mulrain brings more than 20 years of experience, blending transactional acumen with litigation prowess, making him a trusted legal strategist in the sports and entertainment industries.
Mulrain is nationally recognized for his comprehensive representation across the sports industry, from players and agencies to teams, leagues and esports enterprises. His deep industry insight makes him a trusted adviser to top athletes, sports franchises and investment firms navigating the complex intersection of sports, private equity and venture capital. With a client roster boasting 8 No. 1 overall draft picks, champions with 23 NBA titles, 3 Super Bowl victories, 17 Olympic medals and 101 NBA All-Star Game appearances, Mulrain's counsel is indispensable in highly sensitive matters.
In the entertainment sector, Mulrain is a sought-after adviser for A-list actors, producers, studios and networks. His commitment to his clients' success, combined with his extensive industry experience, drives his ability to navigate and resolve the most sensitive and high-profile legal challenges. His representation of multibillion-dollar studios and creative talents in critical transactional and litigation matters has solidified his reputation as a leading figure in entertainment law.
Mulrain's business acumen and strategic insight position him at the nexus of sports, entertainment and investment. CEOs, investors and companies across these industries rely on his counsel to guide them through sophisticated ventures, mergers and structural decisions that require a blend of legal acumen and business strategy.
When brands are threatened, whether by pre-draft extortion or international fraud, Mulrain is the trusted adviser to whom high-profile clients turn. His ability to protect and restore his clients' reputations is a testament to his deep understanding of brand value and his proactive approach to crisis management.
Mulrain's passion for sports extends beyond his legal practice. As a former head coach of an AAU Basketball team, he led his team to both a state championship and national championship over five years, further underscoring his commitment to excellence.
Before joining Holland & Knight, Mulrain co-chaired the sports and entertainment practice at a major U.S. law firm in New York and founded and managed the Atlanta office of a national law firm.
C. Anthony Mulrain, Esq.
Partner and Co-chair of Sports and Entertainment Teams Holland & Knight
From his early childhood in Washington Heights in New York City, Miguel Alexander Pozo,Esq., the son of immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic, was taught about the importance of having big dreams. More significantly, he learned the importance of speaking up and helping others to achieve their dreams— open windows if you cannot open doors.
Over his nearly 25 years in the legal profession, he has devoted himself to addressing healthcare equity, educational disparities, and social justice issues by serving as a board member of various organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark, the New Jersey Law and Education Empowerment Project (NJ LEEP), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the Sanneh Foundation, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, to name a few.
In June 2021, Miguel became the SVP, General Counsel, and Compliance Officer for Minnesota Community Care (MCC), with oversight for all legal and compliance matters. MCC’s mission – to strengthen the well-being of the community through healthcare for all – resonates deeply with Miguel’s personal ethos. Indeed, as a 50-year-old non-profit, MCC serves the medical, dental, and holistic needs of the greater St. Paul, Minnesota community from 17 area locations. With an annual budget of over $40 million, it is at the forefront of addressing healthcare disparities, and is the largest Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC) in the State of Minnesota.
Prior to joining MCC, Miguel was a partner in the Newark and Minneapolis offices of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor. Before that he served as Deputy General Counsel and Head of U.S. Litigation (then Acting General Counsel) for Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUA) in Atlanta. Miguel represented MBUSA while he was a partner in the Roseland and Washington, DC offices of Lowenstein Sandler LLP. Miguel began his legal career at Lowenstein as a summer associate in 1996 until leaving 17 years later to join MBUSA in June 2015.
A Life Member of both organizations, Miguel has the distinction of being the first New Jersey lawyer to lead the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (HBANJ) (30th President; 2009-10) and the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) (36th President; 2013-14). He has also served on the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Joint Task Force on Reversing the School-to-Prison Pipeline and on the ABA’s Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice (COREJ). He is also a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). Miguel’s work in the legal profession has received numerous awards and accolades, including “Professional Lawyer of the Year,” a “Lifetime Achievement,” from the New Jersey law Journal, “Top Latino Lawyer” in the U.S., two “Top Lawyer Under 40” Awards, and two honorary degrees, among others. He is a graduate of Rutgers Law School – Newark and is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Georgia, Minnesota, and New Jersey. He resides in Minneapolis with his wife, Julia, and sons, Alexander, and Nico. Miguel enjoys traveling (pre-pandemic), playing chess with Alexander, and reading books to Nico. An avid music lover, he enjoys dancing salsa with Julia.
Miguel Alexander Pozo, Esq.
Member, Cozen O’Connor
One of the most sought-after minds in strategic communications, Rakia Reynolds is a thought leader, taste maker and branding expert who advises name brands on creative strategy. Her guiding principles as an intriguing storyteller focus on distilling equity in messaging, and her ability to navigate the ever-increasing complex cultural and social media landscapes are only some of the reasons Rakia has successfully created her own distinct brand of authenticity and expertise for over 15 years. Rakia has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the 27 Business Leaders Aiming to Change the World, was listed as one of the 25 Most Socially Influential Tastemakers on Dell’s “Inspire 100” list, and recently was also profiled by Forbes on their “Next 1000” list.
Rakia serves as Founder and Executive Officer of Skai Blue Media (SBM), a non-traditional communications agency that proudly hosts an eclectic group of storytellers, brand experts, and strategists. Rakia continues to be a key influencer in the creative business industry as she works with her team to launch, brand, re-brand, and revitalize lifestyle, technology, non-profit and entrepreneurial clients. This list includes Airbnb, Comcast, Dell, Serena Williams, Morgan Stanley, Jill Scott, and more. Rakia’s portfolio includes #FanofYourBrand(tactical business tools), clothing brand EVRYDAY Jane, and an ethical intelligence platform set to launch in 2021.
As a thought leader and proven authority in marketing, creative strategy and business development Rakia regularly contributes her expertise to the pages of Forbes, Inc.com, HuffPost, Fast Company, and more. Onstage, she captivates audiences across many industries as her talks span branding, media, multicultural business, economic development, and the entrepreneurial journey, all of which are more than relevant to the recent challenging and changing times. Rakia is recognized for her innovative approach and commitment to authenticity and has spoken at TEDx, SXSW, Inbound, and others. More than a keynote speaker, Rakia is often called upon to moderate panel discussions due her in-depth knowledge of a wide range of topics affecting the business community.
Rakia Reynolds
Founder and Executive Officer, Skai Blue Media
Carmen Sachiko Villar is the Vice President of ESG and Corporate Citizenship at Gilead Sciences.
Prior to joining Gilead, Carmen was Vice President of Social Business Innovation at Merck & Co. She also has served as Chief of Staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Carmen led the agency through both the West African Ebola and the Zika emergency responses. Her leadership was critical in providing coordination across the agency and with other US government counterparts and earned her the honor of the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award. She worked in both Nigeria and Zambia, providing leadership and oversight to CDC’s programs as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). As a key health advisor to the US Ambassadors in Nigeria and Zambia, she also provided expert advice in critical public health areas such as Polio and Tuberculosis.
Carmen started in government as a Presidential Management Fellow focusing on policy and program planning for HIV, STD, and TB prevention. Carmen has also overseen multi-site domestic and international HIV research projects in the areas of drug use, prevention of mother to child treatment, and vaccines. Prior to joining the CDC, she was the Policy Affairs Coordinator at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and had also served as a Legislative Aide in the California Assembly.
Carmen holds a Master’s in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor’s in Anthropology from UC Berkley.
Carmen Sachiko Villar, MSW
Vice President, ESG and Corporate Citizenship, Gilead Sciences
Dr. Calvin Wheeler is the Kaiser Permanente Northern California medical director of undergraduate & graduate medical education. He also serves on the Regional Community Health Governance and Contributions Committees, as well as the National Equity, Inclusion & Diversity council at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. He leads and supports programs to improve this nation’s and local communities’ health and the diversity of the physician and healthcare professions pipeline.
Dr. Wheeler served as the physician-in-chief for Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Fremont and the Greater Southern Alameda Area for eighteen years. During that time, he served as a member of the board of directors and the Operations Management Group of The Permanente Medical Group. Dr. Wheeler joined Kaiser Permanente in 1984 as a staff pediatrician and neurologist in Hayward and Walnut Creek.
Dr. Wheeler graduated from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy and the University of California-Irvine College of Medicine. Following medical school, he completed a six-month American Hepatic Foundation Fellowship at King’s College Hospital in London, England. He then did residency training in pediatrics at Boston City Hospital and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. His residency was followed by a fellowship in pediatric neurology at Boston City Hospital and the Boston University Combined Neurology Program, where he also served as a clinical instructor. Dr. Wheeler then completed a fellowship in Epilepsy/ EEG and the Houston Merritt Fellowship in Cerebral Palsy at the Children’s Hospital in Boston and Harvard Medical School, where he also served as a clinical instructor.
After moving to the Bay Area, Dr. Wheeler became a clinical instructor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Division of Neurology at University of California-San Francisco. His research interests are in the areas of anti-epileptic medications and alternative epilepsy treatments.
A founding member of the Kaiser Permanente African American Professionals Association (KPAAPA) in Northern California, Dr. Wheeler twice served as president. He completed the KP Advanced Leadership Program at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School in 1997. He completed the California Health Care Foundation Leadership Fellowship between 2003-2005.
Dr. Wheeler has served on the board of trustees of the California College of the Arts for eighteen years, where he sits on the committee on trustees and chairs the Academic Committee. Dr. Wheeler has been a member of the NMF Board of Directors since 2017 and is chair of the Bay Area Council. He and his wife, Sarajane, co-own an art gallery and design business.
Calvin Wheeler, M.D*
Assistant Professor of Clinical Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
*NMF Alumni