The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) has announced the appointment of Joy D. Calloway, MHSA, MBA, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. She will officially start her role on October 6, 2025. Calloway is an experienced leader in the nonprofit sector with nearly 30 years of experience working with organizations that focus on health equity and community change. Before joining BWHI, Calloway was the Executive Director at the National Medical Association, the oldest group representing Black doctors in the country. Her work there helped increase the association’s impact during a key time for healthcare equality. Before that, she led Planned Parenthood of Greater New York through a tough time by restoring stability and rebuilding public trust. Earlier in her career, she was the CEO of New Center Community Mental Health Services in Detroit and played an important role in starting the first Federally Qualified Health Center in Oakland County, Michigan, providing essential care to a community that lacked access.
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Barbara J. Brown, PhD, Chair of the Board of Directors at BWHI, shared her strong support for Calloway’s appointment. She described her as a leader with a clear vision and strong connections to the communities BWHI serves. Brown said Calloway brings not just experience, but also a deep sense of purpose. According to her, this change is not just a new beginning, but also a sign that BWHI is ready to become an even stronger force for change, holding institutions accountable, and influencing public health discussions meaningfully. Founded in 1983 by Byllye Avery, a pioneering figure in health advocacy, the Black Women’s Health Imperative began as a grassroots effort aimed at addressing health issues unique to Black women. At a time when their health concerns were often overlooked, Avery’s vision created a space for real research, truth-telling, and advocacy focused on improving outcomes for Black women and girls. Over the years, that vision grew into a national platform for health justice and change.
In the last ten years, under the leadership of Linda Goler Blount, the organization increased its visibility and influence. BWHI led national efforts to push for better breast cancer policies and worked closely with students and faculty at HBCU campuses to raise health awareness. They also expanded their programs to prevent chronic diseases through partnerships with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and launched well-known campaigns around breast and cervical cancer, HIV prevention, and reproductive health. The organization is known not only for its research and programs but also for sharing real stories that often go unheard in mainstream health discussions.
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As Joy Calloway starts this new role, she brings her own unique energy to the ongoing legacy of BWHI. She sees this work as deeply personal and powerful. According to her, BWHI has always been a voice where others chose to stay quiet. The organization has never avoided addressing the full complexity of Black women’s health. She sees her role as one of both leadership and vision. Her goal is to protect what has already been built while also finding new ways to grow and adapt to today’s needs. She views this work not just as a professional responsibility, but as a mission that reflects her values and lived experiences. Calloway enters this position during a time when healthcare access is facing major challenges, and many communities continue to fight for the right to receive care without bias or inequality. Her background highlights her focus on reproductive rights, mental health services, and overcoming systemic racism in healthcare.
Those who have worked with her describe her as someone who balances strategic thinking with deep compassion. She builds partnerships, values transparency, and believes lasting change starts with listening to those most affected. To her, progress is more than launching new programs. It means recognizing real-life experiences, starting honest conversations, and creating structures that view wellness as a basic human right, not a privilege. Looking ahead, Calloway will take the lead at a time when BWHI is already shaping important national conversations around reproductive freedom, menopause support, and chronic disease awareness. With her leadership, the organization is expected to grow even more, build stronger partnerships, and explore new ways to reach and serve Black women across generations and regions. She will follow in the footsteps of outgoing President Linda Goler Blount, who has built a strong foundation over the past decade. The transition has also been supported by interim Co-Presidents Lisa Cunningham and Michelle Minus Swittenberg, whose leadership ensured the organization stayed on track and mission-focused during the change. With Joy Calloway at the helm, BWHI is set for continued growth and deeper impact in the ongoing struggle for health equity and justice. Her arrival marks the start of a new era—one rooted in legacy, shaped by purpose, and guided by the belief that every Black woman deserves to thrive.
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