Whitney Perkins Witt
President and CEO; Health and Healthcare
Whitney Perkins Witt, PhD, MPH, is celebrated internationally as a senior leader and scholar with profound contributions to population health, health equity, and health innovation. Throughout her 30-year career, she has led multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement substantial health initiatives, conduct groundbreaking research, and introduce innovative community health and technical assistance programs. Her efforts in improving healthcare delivery and financing have been recognized through substantial federal and foundational support, leadership in influential publications, and significant roles in policy-making circles.
Research Excellence and Federal Engagement
Dr. Witt has a rich history of leading sponsored research focusing on equity and the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). She has served as Principal Investigator and Program Director on numerous federally funded multimillion-dollar research studies and technical assistance projects, collaborating with major agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Additionally, her research has gained support from the Veterans Administration (VA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), along with notable foundations like the Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Foundation and the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Diverse Sector Involvement and Strategic Leadership
Dr. Witt's professional journey spans various fields, including academia, private industry, and nonprofit sectors. Her significant expertise in business development, strategic planning, and operations is evident from her impactful tenure at IBM Watson Health and Truven Health Analytics. As the inaugural Dean of the College of Health at Lehigh University, she was pivotal in establishing the institution's first educational programs focused on population health and health innovation.
Partnerships and Collaborative Success
Known for her exceptional ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships, Whitney Perkins Witt has effectively engaged in collaborative decision-making, fostering a culture of teamwork and transparency. She has built and maintained relationships with key external partners, including academic institutions, corporations, NGOs, foundations, and governmental organizations, significantly enhancing her initiatives through these networks.
Current Leadership and Organizational Influence
Dr. Witt is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Health Equity Consulting (HEC) Group, steering the organization towards innovative solutions that tackle health equity challenges. She is also the Vice President of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) at Highmark Health, where she oversees the organization's health initiatives and strategies to address SDOH to improve community health outcomes.
Foundational Academic and Professional Background
Before her current engagements, Dr. Witt's roles included vice president at AmeriSpeak and as the Dean at Lehigh University's College of Health. Her academic tenure has been marked by positions at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Medical School and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She earned her doctoral and master's degrees in Health Policy and Management and Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, following her undergraduate studies in Law and Women's Studies at Hampshire College.
Through her transformative leadership, innovative research, and educational endeavors, Whitney Perkins Witt continues to shape the landscape of public health, pushing forward the boundaries of health policy and equity on a global scale.
To learn more, Watch Now:
Short Video
Lehigh College of Health COVID-19 Zoom webinar with dean and faculty panel
Population Health Weekly
Maine 2014
Lehigh Health, Science & Technology Building Groundbreaking
Lehigh's New College of Health: Q&A with Dean Witt
Population Health Colloquium Series: The Impact of COVID-19 on Women, Children and Families
Population Health Colloquium Series: Letters from the COVID Trenches
Population Health Weekly: College of Health Faculty Talk Research & Experiential Learning
Live Q&A with Lehigh's President and College Deans
Lehigh Population Health Weekly: Research and Experiential Learning
Learn More:
Path to Prioritizing SDoH in Whole Person Chronic Care: Q&A series featuring Whitney Perkins Witt, PhD, MPH
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-024-03969-5
Research Excellence and Federal Engagement
Dr. Witt has a rich history of leading sponsored research focusing on equity and the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). She has served as Principal Investigator and Program Director on numerous federally funded multimillion-dollar research studies and technical assistance projects, collaborating with major agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Additionally, her research has gained support from the Veterans Administration (VA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), along with notable foundations like the Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Foundation and the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Diverse Sector Involvement and Strategic Leadership
Dr. Witt's professional journey spans various fields, including academia, private industry, and nonprofit sectors. Her significant expertise in business development, strategic planning, and operations is evident from her impactful tenure at IBM Watson Health and Truven Health Analytics. As the inaugural Dean of the College of Health at Lehigh University, she was pivotal in establishing the institution's first educational programs focused on population health and health innovation.
Partnerships and Collaborative Success
Known for her exceptional ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships, Whitney Perkins Witt has effectively engaged in collaborative decision-making, fostering a culture of teamwork and transparency. She has built and maintained relationships with key external partners, including academic institutions, corporations, NGOs, foundations, and governmental organizations, significantly enhancing her initiatives through these networks.
Current Leadership and Organizational Influence
Dr. Witt is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Health Equity Consulting (HEC) Group, steering the organization towards innovative solutions that tackle health equity challenges. She is also the Vice President of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) at Highmark Health, where she oversees the organization's health initiatives and strategies to address SDOH to improve community health outcomes.
Foundational Academic and Professional Background
Before her current engagements, Dr. Witt's roles included vice president at AmeriSpeak and as the Dean at Lehigh University's College of Health. Her academic tenure has been marked by positions at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Medical School and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She earned her doctoral and master's degrees in Health Policy and Management and Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, following her undergraduate studies in Law and Women's Studies at Hampshire College.
Through her transformative leadership, innovative research, and educational endeavors, Whitney Perkins Witt continues to shape the landscape of public health, pushing forward the boundaries of health policy and equity on a global scale.
To learn more, Watch Now:
Short Video
Lehigh College of Health COVID-19 Zoom webinar with dean and faculty panel
Population Health Weekly
Maine 2014
Lehigh Health, Science & Technology Building Groundbreaking
Lehigh's New College of Health: Q&A with Dean Witt
Population Health Colloquium Series: The Impact of COVID-19 on Women, Children and Families
Population Health Colloquium Series: Letters from the COVID Trenches
Population Health Weekly: College of Health Faculty Talk Research & Experiential Learning
Live Q&A with Lehigh's President and College Deans
Lehigh Population Health Weekly: Research and Experiential Learning
Learn More:
Path to Prioritizing SDoH in Whole Person Chronic Care: Q&A series featuring Whitney Perkins Witt, PhD, MPH
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10995-024-03969-5
