It is fitting that Dara Richardson-Heron, MD, is one of our plenary speakers on Wednesday during MLA ’18, as her work and career reflect the meeting’s theme: “Adapting, Transforming, Leading.” As the chief engagement officer for the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH’s) All of Us Research Program, Richardson-Heron is leading an extensive effort to improve health by collecting data from more than a million persons living in the United States.
The All of Us program is a key part of NIH’s Precision Medicine Initiative to transform practice for the prevention and treatment of diseases by taking into account individual differences in lifestyle, environment, and biology. Richardson-Heron heads the NIH team that will build essential relationships between the program, community partners, and participants.
Her distinguished record of leadership in key charitable organizations includes serving as the chief executive officer (CEO) for the YWCA USA, CEO of the greater New York City affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and national chief medical officer for United Cerebral Palsy. She also served as the executive medical director and special assistant to the CEO of the Consolidated Edison Company of New York.
Richardson-Heron received a doctorate in medicine from New York University School of Medicine and a bachelor of arts in biology from Barnard College of Columbia University. A longtime proponent of ending gender and racial inequality, Richardson-Heron has been featured in many media outlets, including the New York Times, CNN, Forbes, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Times, and Black Enterprise.
Register online for MLA ’18, May 18–23, 2018.