OUR Story

As a Black woman, I belong to a neglected group in healthcare. As a physician, I have been overlooked because I “did not look like a doctor.” Black women make up 2% of physicians and 2% of faculty. Studies have shown that increasing physician diversity improves patient outcomes. Addressing the dearth of Black women physicians in leadership positions will improve health outcomes and prevent further morbidity and mortality of Black women in the United States.

Our Team

OUR Story

Our Team

The Team

Onyeka Otugo MD, MPH

Founder

Founder and CEO of Lift and Elevate. She is an MPA candidate at the Kennedy School and is also an emergency medicine physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She is passionate about intersectionality in medicine and addressing healthcare disparities.

Ijeoma OKWANDU MD,MPH

COO

COO of Lift and Elevate. She is an obstetrician and gynecologist at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. She is passionate about empowering women to be advocates for their health and their communities.

Edwina Clarke, MD

Edwina Clarke, MD is co-content creator for the Lift and Elevate’s negotiation modules. She is originally from the beautiful island of Jamaica. She currently works as a Pediatric Hospitalist at Warren General Hospital. Dr. Clarke has a particular interest in global health, advocacy against child abuse, working with and providing care to medically underserved populations.

OUR Support System

Joan Moon M.S.Ed., MPP

Joan Moon M.S.Ed., MPP is the content creator for the Lift and Elevate’s negotiation modules. She is also founder of Moon Negotiation LLC and focuses on negotiation coaching for women, particularly women of color. She is currently a Harvard Kennedy School Negotiation Project Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership where she founded and continues to lead the Negotiation Coaching Clinic.