Dr. Aletha Maybank, MD ’00, MPH
PAGE M. AND HENRY P. LAUGHLIN ALUMNA OF THE YEAR
Dr. Aletha Maybank, MD ’00, MPH, is an award-winning physician and nationally recognized leader in public health, health equity, and preventive medicine. She recently served as the Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President for the American Medical Association (AMA).
Throughout her career, Dr. Maybank has distinguished herself by uniting often siloed sectors and organizations within public health to foster inclusive, equitable dialogue and planning for meaningful change. Her frameworks for advancing health equity have been adopted globally and are recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Maybank is a pioneer in launching ‘start-up’ centers and offices for health equity within various health institutions, including the Suffolk County and NYC Health Department, ensuring that equity is integrated into organizational policies and practices. Her success in this area led to her being invited to advise the CDC during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic on strengthening its internal equity infrastructure.
Her expertise extends across several critical areas, including maternal and infant health, gun violence, mental health, chronic disease, and neighborhood planning for health improvement. She is also a dedicated educator, having taught medical and public health students on topics such as health inequities, public health leadership, and community organizing.
Dr. Maybank is a prominent public figure, appearing on platforms like Oprah, MSNBC, and PBS. She co-founded the "We Are Doc McStuffins" movement in 2012, inspired by the Disney Junior character, and has received numerous accolades, including a Telly Award for her work on "Racism & Health in US Medicine."
She serves on several nonprofit boards, including Race Forward and the Journal of Medical Regulation, and was appointed to the U.S. Defense Health Board by the Biden Administration. In addition to being recognized as the Lewis Katz School of Medicine’s 2025 Alumna of the year, Maybank’s outstanding contributions have also earned her awards from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the American College of Preventive Medicine.