About Whitney Perkins Witt
President and CEO; Health and Healthcare
Whitney Perkins Witt, PhD, MPH, is renowned globally for her exceptional contributions to population health, health equity, and health innovation. Over three decades, she has demonstrated outstanding leadership by heading multidisciplinary teams that devise strategic health initiatives, perform influential research, and launch pioneering community health and technical assistance programs. Her work has markedly improved healthcare delivery and financing, evidenced by enhanced cost-efficiency, quality of care, and patient outcomes. Her ability to secure significant federal and foundational funding, publish seminal research, and assume pivotal leadership roles supports this success.
Research Excellence and Federal Initiatives
Dr. Witt's dedication to research on equity and social determinants of health (SDOH) has positioned her as a leader in federally funded research projects. She has directed numerous high-stakes projects as Principal Investigator and Program Director, receiving backing from critical agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Her collaborative projects, supported by the Veterans Administration (VA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), have also received funding from prestigious foundations like the Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Foundation and the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Diverse Experience Across Sectors
Dr. Witt has enriched various sectors, including academia, the private industry, and nonprofit organizations, with her business development, strategy, and operations expertise. Her notable roles at IBM Watson Health, Truven Health Analytics, and other significant entities showcase her strategic acumen. As the inaugural Dean of the College of Health at Lehigh University, she launched the university's pioneering educational programs centered on population health and health innovation.
Strategic Partnerships and Organizational Development
Whitney Perkins Witt is adept at fostering strategic partnerships and enhancing organizational collaborative decision-making. She has successfully cultivated relationships with diverse stakeholders, including academic institutions, corporations, NGOs, foundations, and government entities, significantly advancing her initiatives and facilitating robust fundraising efforts.
Current Leadership and Advocacy
Currently, Dr. Witt serves as the President and CEO of the Health Equity Consulting (HEC) Group, where she leads a team focused on addressing health equity challenges through innovative solutions. She is also the Vice President of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) at Highmark Health, managing extensive community health initiatives and SDOH strategies to improve public health outcomes.
Educational Background and Professional Foundations
Before her current roles, Dr. Witt held significant positions at AmeriSpeak and was the Dean of the College of Health at Lehigh University. Her academic appointments have spanned esteemed institutions such as Harvard Medical School and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She earned her PhD and MPH in Health Policy and Management and Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, complemented by a bachelor's degree in Law and Women's Studies from Hampshire College.
Whitney Perkins Witt's career exemplifies her commitment to advancing public health through innovative strategies, rigorous research, and dynamic leadership, continually influencing health policies and practices globally.
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