A champion for health equity, she steps into leadership at a time of national urgency and opportunity for Black women’s health and visibility.  

Washington, D.C. — The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) is proud to announce Joy D. Calloway, MHSA, MBA, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 6, 2025. A seasoned nonprofit executive and values-based strategist, Calloway brings nearly three decades of leadership in advancing equity-focused organizations and driving meaningful change across health systems and communities.

Most recently, Calloway served as Executive Director of the National Medical Association (NMA), the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing Black physicians. Prior to that, she led Planned Parenthood of Greater New York through a critical period of transition, stabilizing operations and strengthening both internal culture and public trust. Earlier in her career, she served as CEO of New Center Community Mental Health Services in Detroit and founded the first Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Oakland County, Michigan.

“Joy Calloway is a rare kind of leader: visionary, grounded, and deeply connected to the communities we serve,” said Barbara J. Brown, PhD, Chair of BWHI’s Board of Directors. “Her presence signals more than a new chapter. It signals our continued rise as a force for systems accountability, policy change, and cultural transformation. She brings with her not just experience, but a calling. I have no doubt she will lead with the courage, compassion, and conviction that this moment and this movement demand.”

An Organization Rooted in Justice, Poised for Expansion

Founded in 1983 by legendary health activist Byllye Avery, BWHI began as a small but mighty voice for Black women during a time when their health outcomes were largely ignored by mainstream institutions. What started as a coalition of grassroots leaders has evolved into a nationally respected organization shaping health policy, advancing culturally representative research, and delivering impactful programs and content that support the health and wellness of Black women and girls across the country.

Over the past decade, under the leadership of Linda Goler Blount, BWHI sharpened its national presence and deepened its impact by championing breast cancer policy, mobilizing advocacy on HBCU campuses, expanding CDC-backed chronic disease prevention programs, and producing award-winning campaigns and digital content that elevated awareness around breast and cervical cancer, HIV prevention, and reproductive health.

Joy Calloway’s leadership signals a continuation of that trajectory, bringing new energy to a legacy built on trust, truth-telling, and transformational change.

“To lead BWHI is to step into sacred work,” said Calloway. “For decades, this organization has spoken out when others were silent. It has made room for the complexity of Black women’s health experiences and turned that lived reality into policy, into action, into power. I’m here to build on that legacy, to elevate what’s working, and to push even further into the future we all deserve. Because when we center those most impacted, we create solutions that uplift us all.”

Meet Joy: A Leader of the Moment, for the Movement

At a time when health protections are being stripped away and the voices of marginalized communities are being overlooked, Joy Calloway brings the experience, clarity, and conviction needed to meet the moment. Her career has been shaped by a deep commitment to sexual and reproductive justice, mental health, and racial equity in healthcare. She is a coalition builder who leads with both vision and empathy, creating space for community voices while driving systemic change. For Calloway, progress is not just about programs or policies. It’s about centering lived experience, building lasting partnerships, and holding fast to the belief that communities should not have to earn their right to be well.

Looking Ahead

Calloway joins BWHI at a time of unprecedented visibility and opportunity for Black women’s health. As the organization continues to lead bold campaigns and programs around menopause equity, reproductive rights, and chronic disease prevention, Calloway will guide strategy, deepen partnerships, and expand BWHI’s reach.

She succeeds longtime President Linda Goler Blount and interim Co-Presidents Lisa Cunningham and Michelle Minus Swittenberg, whose leadership ensured a strong foundation for this transition.

Joy D. Calloway will be available for media interviews beginning October 6.

About Black Women’s Health Imperative
The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) is a national non-profit organization with more than 40 years of impact, dedicated to solving the most critical health issues facing the nation’s 21 million Black women and girls through innovative programs, transformative research, and life-saving policies.

Contact

Charmaine Leary, Director, Actum
cleary@actumllc.com