Leading Health and
Wellness destination for
Black people in America

As Chief Executive Officer, Aki Garrett oversees enterprise strategy, revenue growth, operations, and organizational transformation, guiding the company through its next phase of scale and impact. Aki initially joined BlackDoctor in 2025, as the President and Chief Operating Officer.

Before moving to BlackDoctor, Aki was Vice President and Head of Business Development and M&A at REVOLT, where he also founded and served as General Manager of the REVOLT Podcast Network. In these roles, he led company-wide strategy, new business development, and mergers and acquisitions, helping drive growth for the largest Black-owned media company in the United States. Aki also spent three years as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Publisher Partnerships at SHE Media (formerly SheKnows Media), where he was a member of the senior leadership team that successfully exited the business through its acquisition by Penske Media in March 2018. Earlier roles include business development leadership positions at CBS Local and ABC News, where he helped launch and scale innovative products such as ABC News’ video distribution platform and CBS Local’s podcast network, Radio.com (formerly Play.it), which helped incubate landmark podcasts including Rap Radar and Drink Champs. Aki began his career as a technology, media, and telecommunications investment banker at Barclays Investment Bank.

Aki holds an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a BSBA in Finance and Accounting from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis. He is a proud member of the Robert Toigo Foundation and was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 honoree in 2015.

He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of The Shipley School and is a founding General Partner of Sankofa Family Ventures, a family office focused on investing in Black- and Brown-led venture funds. In addition, he is a minority owner and board member of Fort Lauderdale United, a professional soccer franchise competing in the United Soccer League, and serves on the Investment Committee of Resilient Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Durham, North Carolina.

Aryeh Lebeau is a seasoned digital media executive with more than 25 years of experience driving revenue growth and building high-performing teams within health publishing. As Chief Commercial Officer, he oversees all revenue-generating and client-facing functions, including sales, client engagement, ad operations and marketing.

Prior to joining BlackDoctor, Aryeh served as Executive Vice President of Client Operations at HealthCentral, where he led client services, ad operations and performance marketing. During more than 15 years of executive leadership, he managed a large portfolio of direct and programmatic advertisers and led cross-functional teams responsible for pre-sale through post-sale execution. He brings deep expertise across the health landscape, spanning consumer and healthcare provider initiatives.

The early part of Aryeh’s career was spent working on TheBody.com, an HIV-focused site, where he became passionate about providing educational resources for underserved patient populations.

Aryeh holds a B.A. from Columbia University. He is known for his collaborative leadership style, operational rigor, and ability to translate market insight into sustainable growth.

Derrick Lane is a transformational marketing executive and brand architect with nearly two decades of experience turning community engagement into measurable business growth.

As Chief Marketing Officer of BlackDoctor.org, Derrick leads enterprise-wide marketing strategy across digital, experiential, and brand partnerships. He partners with Fortune 50 pharmaceutical brands and leading healthcare companies to authentically connect with diverse audiences, delivering measurable business results while driving meaningful health engagement and positive health outcomes at scale.

Throughout his career, Derrick has led award-winning brand and community strategies for global organizations. As a builder of online communities, he has created engaging brand communities online and offline--many from scratch--for Albertsons, SuperValu, Nielsen, Coca-Cola, Turtle Wax, and others. His work sits at the intersection of culture, commerce, and community—where brand trust, behavioral influence, and performance marketing converge.

A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Derrick also serves as on multiple boards of faith-based and community institutions in Chicago and Dallas, equipping leaders with modern marketing frameworks to expand their reach, community impact, and economic advancement.

Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, is professor and chair of dermatology at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. He has published more than 330 papers/chapters and 3 textbooks on both his research and a variety of clinical areas in dermatology, and is committed to medical education, serving as senior editor of Dermatology In-Review, co-chair of the ODAC Dermatology Conference and the MedscapeLIVE! Las Vegas Dermatology Seminar, founding director of Krazy Kodachromes and Core Crushers. He also serves as President of HS Connect and the Derma Care Access Network. Dr. Friedman has received multiple awards, including two AAD Presidential citations and the MLB Nationals Home Run hero award.

Affiliations

Professor and Chair of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Residency Program Director
Director of Translational Research
Director of Supportive Oncodermatology

Societies

American Academy of Dermatology; Chair, Poster Task Force, Chair, Candidate Recruitment Workgroup
American Dermatologic Association
Derma Care Access Network, President
HS Connect, President
Skin of Color Society
American Medical Association

Dr. Ashanti Carter serves as Chief Medical Liaison for BlackDoctor.org, where she leads strategic academic and clinical partnerships that advance the organization’s commitment to health equity. In this role, she works to strengthen BlackDoctor’s presence in the clinical trials space by fostering trusted relationships between physicians, research sponsors, and community stakeholders. Her efforts focus on increasing community participation in clinical trials and addressing long standing medical mistrust through transparent, culturally informed engagement.

Dr. Carter brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education, healthcare workforce development, and community-based health initiatives. Prior to joining BlackDoctor, she served as Director of Community College Partnerships at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, where she built pathway programs that expanded access to healthcare careers for students from under-resourced communities. She previously held the position of Program Director at The Rodham Institute at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, leading efforts to reduce health disparities through education, research, and community engagement.

Dr. Carter also served two terms as Chair of the Industry Advisory Board for Health Sciences for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) in Washington, D.C., where she helped shape regional strategies for health workforce development and educational alignment.

She is the founder of HEROES, LLC, a college and career readiness consultancy that supports underrepresented students pursuing higher education and healthcare careers. This work complements BlackDoctor’s long-term vision for community engagement and talent development.

Dr. Carter earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from the University of California, San Diego; a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science; and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development, where her dissertation focused on pathway programs into healthcare professions for historically excluded populations.

Dr. Beatrice Williams is a board-certified orthodontist, researcher, and community leader whose work sits at the intersection of healthcare, mentorship, and equity. She is deeply committed to expanding access to opportunity and advancing representation within healthcare.

A proud “Triple Tar Heel,” Dr. Williams completed all of her higher education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill over an 11-year span. At the UNC Adams School of Dentistry, she graduated at the top of her class with a perfect 4.0 GPA — becoming the first Black woman in the school’s history to achieve this distinction.

Dr. Williams currently practices orthodontics in North Carolina’s Triangle region and serves as adjunct faculty, an admissions committee member, and a global advisory board member at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. Her academic contributions include award-winning research and publications, including a co-authored manuscript evaluating tooth autotransplantation in children as well as extensive research exploring the impact of oral health on HIV outcomes.

Beyond her clinical and scholarly work, Dr. Williams is deeply engaged in mentorship, advocacy, and service. She contributes to professional panels, leads community initiatives, and participates in international outreach efforts in her birthplace, Ghana. This commitment to expanding opportunity inspired her to found BeA Bridge, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to advancing health, education, mentorship, financial empowerment, service, and spirituality.

Affiliations & Societies

North Carolina Association of Orthodontists (NCAO)
Southern Society of Orthodontists (SSO)
American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)
AAO Political Action Committee National Advocacy Network (AAOPAC NAN)
Old North State Dental SocietyNational Dental Association
Carolina Alumni Association
Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society

Dr. Oragwu, MD, MSc, is a physician-scientist and strategic leader who operates at the vital intersection of clinical excellence and community advocacy. With a career rooted in global medicine and advanced clinical investigation, he brings a unique “multi-world” perspective to the challenge of healthcare disparities. As a forward-thinking change leader, Dr. Oragwu focuses on dismantling systemic barriers to ensure that medical innovations are not only accessible but culturally resonant — transforming high-level science into life-saving resources for the communities that need them most.

Currently serving as a Director of Medical Affairs within the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Oragwu leverages deep expertise in infectious diseases, sickle cell, and other areas to champion inclusive research. He operates on the firm belief that representation is a clinical necessity, not an elective goal. By actively normalizing the participation of underrepresented communities in clinical trials, he ensures the future of medicine is as diverse as the population it serves, translating complex data into actionable insights that empower individuals to take full ownership of their health journeys.

Beyond the clinic and the boardroom, Dr. Oragwu’s dedication to holistic wellness is reflected in his leadership on the board of Odyssey Family Counseling Center in Atlanta and his ongoing work with regional charities. These roles allow him to address the critical nexus of mental health, education, and community engagement.

He is honored to join the BlackDoctor.com Medical Advisory Board, where he applies his evidence-based guidance to further the mission of “connecting wellness and culture” — honoring heritage while securing a healthier, more equitable future.

Keisha L. Gibson, MD MPH, is Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Pediatric Nephrology in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She served for 5 years as the inaugural Vice Chair of Health Equity and Community Engagement for the UNC Department of Medicine and is now Senior Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs for the UNC Department of Pediatrics.

Dr. Gibson received her medical degree and Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology from UNC Chapel Hill. She completed a residency in general pediatrics at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and a clinical fellowship in pediatric nephrology from UNC Chapel Hill. She is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric nephrology.

Her research and clinical interests focus on children, adolescents, and young adults with glomerular diseases. Through an epidemiology lens, she is interested in ethnic and socioeconomic disparities and their effect on patient outcomes. She has been involved as a co-investigator with large consortium studies such as the Nephrotic Syndrome Network Study (NEPTUNE Study) and the Cure Glomerulonephropathy Network (CureGN Study) and serves as a principal investigator for several interventional trials. Through this work, she is recognized as an international expert in pediatric glomerular diseases, contributing to the writing of several international clinical practice guidelines for glomerular disease.

Dr. Gibson has been recognized with numerous honors. In 2018, she received the Hyman Battle Distinguished Excellence in Teaching Award, and in 2019, the Foundation Phase Excellence in Teaching Award. On the national stage, she has served in several leadership roles within the American Society of Nephrology and served as Nephrology Councilor for the Society of Pediatric Research. She actively volunteers for several community organizations focused on eliminating disparities in kidney health. A proud graduate of Winston-Salem State University, she is passionate about supporting a diverse pipeline of junior learners into STEM-oriented careers, serving as a co-investigator, mentor, and steering committee volunteer for several pipeline programs.

Affiliations & Societies
American Society of Nephrology

American Society of Pediatric Nephrology
International Society of Glomerular Disease
GlomCon (Embark Program Steering Committee)
NephCure Inc.
International Society of Pediatric Nephrology
Society of Pediatric Research
NC Pediatric Society

Kristen Nwanyanwu, MD, is an ophthalmologist who specializes in vitreoretinal surgery, which treats the vitreous, the gel-like substance that helps the eye maintain its round shape. She often treats patients with eye problems related to trauma, diabetes and age-related macular degeneration.

“Eye surgery is very delicate surgery,” Dr. Nwanyanwu says. “I often describe the surgeries I do as separating tissue paper underwater with tweezers, so people can get an idea of how fine my movements need to be. We take instruments that are the size of needles — and lasers, and other things — and use them to manipulate the tissue.”

Dr. Nwanyanwu knew she wanted to be a doctor as a child. In medical school, she saw the many ways eye problems can impact a patient’s life, from a macular hole that takes a small piece out of central vision to a retinal detachment that can mean the difference between seeing and not seeing within days. Dr. Nwanyanwu now performs surgery for both of these conditions.

An assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual science at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Nwanyanwu enjoys working at the Yale Eye Center because she has quick access to colleagues who often provide valuable input for her cases. “And there is a warmth here,” she says. “We all work together very well… We also meet regularly to talk about our complex cases. I think that is the best way to do things, and it leads to high quality care.”

Affiliations & Societies

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA)
National Medical Association (NMA)
Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

Dr. Nicole Christian-Brathwaite, MD is a nationally recognized Board-Certified Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She completed Adult and Child Psychiatry training at Massachusetts General/McLean Hospitals. She is National Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Monte Nido and Medical Director of Child Psychiatry at Walden in Massachusetts. She is also the CEO and Founder of Well Minds Psychiatry and Consulting Company, PLLC. Dr. Christian-Brathwaite has expertise in Perinatal and Post-Partum Mental Health, trauma informed care, telepsychiatry, mental health and Eating Disorders in communities of color, school psychiatry, implicit bias and racism in mental health. She has extensive clinical experience with adults, children, adolescents, transitional and college aged youth.

Dr. Christian-Brathwaite’s clinical focus is on delivery of mental health care to seriously ill children, adolescents, adults and families both locally and globally. Dr. Christian-Brathwaite continues to endeavor to provide excellent clinical care and teaching, while also committing a significant amount of time to serving the community at large. Dr. Christian-Brathwaite has been frequently featured in the NY Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, and numerous podcasts and news broadcasts.

Affiliations & Societies

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals

Yele Aluko, MD, MBA, FACC, FSCAI, is a cardiologist, health industry strategist, and a visible, vocal advocate for population health, health equity, and generational health. He has spent his career working to close the gaps that determine who gets well and who gets left behind — most recently as founding Director of the EY Center for Health Equity, where he helped organizations confront the structural drivers of unequal health outcomes. He is also founder and principal at Aluko Advisors, through which he counsels health systems and leaders on population health and transformation. He is a Professor of Practice at Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies.

A transformative strategist who has advised health systems and corporate leaders nationally, Dr. Aluko understands that lasting change depends not only on policy and care delivery, but on meeting people where they are — and on equipping families to carry better health forward across generations. He is a believer in the power of media and direct outreach to raise health literacy in the communities that need it most, and shares accessible, trustworthy health guidance with a growing audience on TikTok at @dr.yelealuko.

He is honored to serve on the BlackDoctor Medical Advisory Board, lending his clinical, strategic and equity lens, to a platform committed to the health and well-being of Black communities.

Affiliations & Societies
Principal, Aluko Advisors, LLC

Partner, Fusion Search Partners
Board Member, Ciba Health
Co-Chair, Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air
Advisory Council Member, Harvard Business Review
Adjunct Faculty, Professor of Practice, Wake Forest University School of Professional Services
Medical Advisor, MyNextSeason

As Chief Content Officer, Kristin Vaughan helps drive the strategy creation, development, and execution of content across all digital platforms. She oversees a team of editors, content creators, medical contributors, and multimedia producers, working cross-departmentally to expand BlackDoctor's reach, refine its voice, and amplify its impact.

A seasoned editor, writer, and content strategist with more than 20 years in media, print, and digital publishing, Kristin began her career as a newspaper reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer and The Palm Beach Post before transitioning to digital media. She went on to focus on women’s lifestyle content, books, and entertainment news at major Black media and health digital media outlets, including ESSENCE, Black Entertainment Television (BET) and Everyday Health (EH), where she held senior editorial positions at each. At EH, Kristin oversaw daily editorial website content, newsletters, social media accounts, mobile apps, video, SEO, and third-party sponsorships for several popular subscription websites of health and fitness experts, including Jillian Michaels, Denise Austin, and NBC‘s TODAY nutrition expert Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, to name a few. Throughout her career, Kristin has stayed committed to maintaining the highest level of editorial standards and journalistic integrity while delivering content that speaks to diverse audiences and aims to motivate and inspire them.

Before joining BlackDoctor, Kristin founded Kriss Cross Media, a boutique content and brand strategy firm. There, she developed strategic communications plans, (re)launched websites, created thought-leadership pieces, and ghostwrote for executives and celebrities. Her writing has been published in The Boston Globe, Black Enterprise, Ms., The Kansas City Star, and other national publications and websites. She has also contributed to two book anthology series, co-authored a children’s picture book, and is working on a novel. She is a Columbia, Maryland native and a proud graduate of Howard University with a master’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Contact Kristin at [email protected]

Lindsey Guenther is the Chief Finance & Growth Officer at BlackDoctor. She brings more than 20 years of experience in digital media, the majority of which has been spent in digital health. Over the course of her career, she has worked at the intersection of growth, operations, and strategic finance, helping organizations scale, diversify revenue, and prepare for successful transactions.

Most recently, Lindsey served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, Operations & Strategy at HealthCentral (formerly Remedy Health Media). Over her 15-year tenure, she advanced from leading revenue, advertising, and client operations, along with performance marketing, to overseeing M&A, corporate strategy, operations, investor relations, and finance. In these roles, she was pivotal in driving high-growth initiatives — leading two sell-side and three buy-side transactions, shaping integration strategies, and positioning the company for a successful exit and transition.

Following HealthCentral, Lindsey has advised a range of e-commerce and private-equity backed consumer brands on growth strategy, digital operations, and financial planning. Her work has focused on accelerating top-line growth, strengthening operational discipline, and preparing companies for scale and investment. She currently holds advisory roles with Everviolet, a women’s wellness intimates brand, and GREATERVita, a premium supplement platform.

A graduate of Wake Forest University, Lindsey began her career at The Washington Post, where she worked in digital media account management and advertising product and operations.

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, she spent time in the Washington, D.C. area and Charlottesville, Virginia before relocating to the Bay Area in late 2018. She lives there with her husband, Drake, and their two daughters. Lindsey is passionate about advancing mission-driven brands in health and wellness, and outside of work, she spends much of her time on a pool deck or in a gymnastics gym supporting her girls.

Most of Reggie Ware‘s career has been spent fighting health disparities for Black Americans by educating, informing and inspiring them to make better decisions about their health and understanding that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to healthcare. Black people’s health needs are different and require a different game plan, one that leverages culture, content, and technology to improve health outcomes.

As the Founder of BlackDoctor, Reggie and his team produce more culturally relevant health content for Black consumers than anyone else in the country. Reggie's previous media experience includes being the founder and publisher of Heart & Soul, which was the nation’s first national health magazine for Black women. Under Reggie's guidance, Heart & Soul reached over 1 million people per month and was among the largest magazines targeted to Black women.

Reggie also oversaw the launch of two television properties for Black Enterprise. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in marketing from the University of Arizona, which he attended on a football scholarship. He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and now resides in Chicago.

Stephen O’Brien is an accomplished product executive in the healthcare technology and education space, currently serving as Chief Product Officer at BlackDoctor. He leads strategy, product development, and growth initiatives for the BlackDoctor ecosystem.

Previously, he held leadership positions at Doximity, where he delivered high-growth products such as DocNetwork, and at WebMD/Medscape, building multimedia content, live event operations, and product pipelines. Over his 20+ year career, Stephen is known for scaling new business units, forming strategic partnerships, driving revenue growth, and innovating at the intersection of healthcare, education, and digital media.

Contact Steve at [email protected]