The Black Women’s Health Imperative recently announced the departure of their president, Linda Goler Blount.
Announced in a press release, Blount will reportedly step down from her position. In her place, the EVP of Enterprise Operations, Michelle Minus Swittenberg, and the EVP of Marketing and Communications, Lisa Cunningham, will serve as co-presidents.
Blount first became the President of the Black Women’s Health Imperative in 2014. Throughout her career, she has had roles as the Vice President of Programmatic Impact for the United Way of Greater Atlanta and the first National Vice President of Health Disparities at the American Cancer Society where she worked to address inequalities in healthcare.
“The last eleven years have been some of the most rewarding in my life thanks to the team at the Black Women’s Health Imperative,” said outgoing President Linda Goler Blount per a statement. “More importantly I have been able to connect with millions of Black women and girls in this country who remind me every day why the work BWHI was created to do is not only important but lifesaving.”
The Black Women’s Health Imperative has played a significant role in addressing disparities in health access for Black women in the U.S.
Researchers have continued to highlight the lack of positive experiences with health care for Black women. Per a KFF study, about 21% of Black women said they have been discriminated against by a health care official, resulting in unfair treatment for illness. Overall, they are more likely to report discrimination than any other demographic with 22% of Black mothers reporting that they have previously been denied pain medication.
To address the lack of proper treatment, the Black Women’s Health Imperative has a variety of programs aimed at providing aid for reproductive issues, HIV awareness, maternal health, menstrual equity and rare diseases amongst Black women.
The nonprofit also has a variety of campaigns ranging from their “Me Period’ documentary which focuses on puberty, menstruation and health discovery to “The Men’s Room” which helps Black men with preventing type 2 diabetes.
Other topics addressed through the nonprofit’s efforts include fibroids amongst Black women, ensuring safety for HIV positive patients and menopause amongst Black women.
“We have nothing but love and profound respect for her years of service and the impressive legacy she leaves behind at the Black Women’s Health Imperative,” said the Chair of the BWHI Board, Dr. Barbara J. Brown. “The organization has always been a labor of love, rooted in the wisdom and perseverance of Black women, and we are excited to continue this work with Ms. Swittenberg and Ms. Cunningham at the helm as the board undergoes an executive search process.”
