AHEAD of the Curve: Dr. Okeke Talks Value-Based Care and Women’s Health
During National Women’s Health Week, we take time to uplift the leaders who are not only advocating for change—but building the systems that make change possible. Dr. Nkem Okeke is one of those leaders. A physician, entrepreneur, and BWHI board member, she stands at the forefront of healthcare innovation, working to ensure that equity isn’t just an aspiration, but a standard. In this conversation, Dr. Okeke breaks down the promise of value-based care, the significance of Maryland’s new AHEAD model, and why Black women must be at the center of healthcare transformation.
Q1: Maryland is the first state to implement the AHEAD model. What makes this so important right now?
Dr. Okeke: We’re at an inflection point in healthcare. The AHEAD model represents a continual shift from treating illness to building systems that truly support health, especially at the community level. What excites me most is the focus on aligning payment with outcomes, not just volume. This means providers are rewarded for helping people stay healthy, not for the number of visits or procedures they bill. Furthermore, because it’s built on Maryland’s Total Cost of Care model, we already have a foundation that shows it can work. Now, the challenge—and the opportunity—is to center equity and sustainability in everything we do.
Q2: For folks who may not be familiar, can you break down the concept of value-based care and why it matters?
Dr. Okeke: Sure. Value-based care is exactly what it sounds like—healthcare that prioritizes value over volume. Instead of being paid for every test or visit, providers are incentivized to deliver high-quality, coordinated care that improves patient outcomes. So, if a patient’s chronic condition is better managed and avoids unnecessary ER visits, that’s “value” … that’s success.
From a health equity lens, this matters deeply. For far too long, Black women have been navigating a system that often overlooks our needs. Value-based care could change that—but only if it’s implemented with culturally responsive practices and accountability baked in. The potential is there to finally tie funding to outcomes that reflect our health realities.
Q3: You’ve worked in government, with private health systems, and now lead your own firm, Medicalincs. Where do you see the biggest opportunity to close health equity gaps?
Dr. Okeke: It’s in the connections. Between sectors, between people and systems, and between data and lived experience. At Medicalincs, we help health organizations bridge those gaps. We look at how to bring operational strategy, care delivery, and population health into alignment, especially for underserved communities. But none of this works without listening to the community and building trust. That’s the missing piece in a lot of policy conversations. And it’s one reason I’m proud to serve on the BWHI board—we keep the voices of Black women front and center where they belong. Black women make up 13% of the healthcare workforce (doctors, nurses, therapists, psychologists, community health workers, and more), which is double their representation in the overall workforce. So black women and their health are crucial to healthcare in America as we seek to close health equity gaps to make America healthier.
Q4: As we reflect on National Women’s Health Week, what message would you share with Black women navigating today’s healthcare system?
Dr. Okeke: You deserve care that sees you, hears you, and meets your full humanity. Not just as a patient, but as a mother, wife, daughter, leader, and caregiver. I know firsthand how exhausting it can be to advocate for yourself in a system that wasn’t built with us in mind. But I also know how powerful we are—especially when we move from the margins to the center. My message is: keep showing up and have consistency of purpose. As my Dad will say – “Know your value and bring value. Ask the questions”. And as my Mom will say – “Use your voice”. And as I say to my daughters, “Taking care of your health starts when you are young. Be intentional about staying healthy”. There are many like me—and like BWHI—work every day to ensure that black women don’t have to do it alone. You don’t have to do it alone.
Closing Thoughts
From transforming care models to mentoring the next generation, Dr. Okeke is a living example of what happens when Black women lead: healthcare evolves. This Women’s Health Week, we celebrate her leadership—and recommit to a future where health equity isn’t a hope, but a standard.