Deputy Medical Director and Chief, Division of Diversity and Health Equity American Psychiatric Association

The Chief leads APA’s Division of Diversity and Health Equity (DDHE) and supports the CEO/Medical Director as Deputy Medical Director. Dr. James serves as a member of the c-suite team charged with ensuring that diversity and mental health equity objectives are valued and operationalized as vital components of the organization’s mission. Through membership engagement, the division will develop sustainable diversity-centered initiatives, construct culturally engaging programs and build effectual relationships that encourage a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization. Regina James, M.D. joined the APA as the new Chief of DDHE and Deputy Medical Director on September 14, 2020. Dr. James is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with over 25 years of experience, providing leadership and direction in the planning, policy development and implementation of national and international health disparity programs and initiatives for children and families.

Prior to joining APA, Dr. James served in numerous leadership positions including Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President at 2M Clinical, a clinical research organization and consultancy, where she was responsible for strategic medical leadership and content expertise for commercial and federal clients; Director of Clinical and Health Services Research at the National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities, where she received the National Institutes of Health Directors Award for exceptional leadership in the promotion and development of scientific programs that address gaps in minority health and healthcare disparities; and the Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute on Child Health & Human Development, where she led domestic and international programs addressing maternal and child health disparities.

She also served as a Special Expert at the NIMH providing child psychiatric and clinical research consultation. Dr. James received both her Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Biology and her MD from the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed a residency in general psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and completed leadership training at the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education

Hon. Karen Aileen. Howze (Ret.) Judge, D.C. Superior Court, presided over abuse and neglect, domestic violence and criminal cases. From 2017 to 2021, she was also Judge in Residence at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, providing support to judges and other court professionals specializing in child custody and support, dependency, domestic violence, equity, inclusion issue, sex trafficking and judicial ethics and judicial leadership. Before becoming a judge, Howze represented children in dependency and custody cases as well as elders in probate court. Before launching her law practice, she was a journalist, which included serving as a founding editor of USA Today. As an adoptive parent, she raised three daughters diagnosed with mental illnesses. She is author of "Making Differences Work: Cultural Context in Abuse and Neglect Practice, A Judge's Guide," and "Health for Teens in Care," both under the auspices of the American Bar Association's Center on Children and the Law.

Juanita Price is the Chief Executive Officer for Hillcrest Children and Family Center, Washington DC. Hillcrest is an historic organization which was founded by First Lady Dolly Madison to care for orphans from the War of 1812. In 2009, when Price was hired, it was thought by some that Hillcrest had seen its better days. There were fewer than 5 fulltime staff, very limited children services, a non-sustaining business plan, and news on her first day that reserve funds “in the millions” had been lost in a Ponzi Scheme prior to her arrival. Fast forward 2023—Hillcrest’s 180 staff provides evidenced - based comprehensive behavioral health services to children, adults and families, in multiple sites; providing over 60,000 visits through 8 programs annually; serving over 2100 students through school-based services in collaboration with more than 75 partners for service coordination and advocacy. In FY2023 Hillcrest won a $4 million SAMSHA grant to become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center.

In 2001 Juanita was recruited to the District from Toledo, Ohio and served as the CEO of the District of Columbia Community Services Agency. At the time the DCCSA was one of the largest community behavioral health agencies in the country and the largest in the District. The agency was established to help meet criteria to help end the Dixson Lawsuit which held that the District had failed to provide community-based alternatives to Saint Elizabeths the public psychiatric hospital. Juanita worked with other leaders in the newly created cabinet level Department of Mental Health to create community alternatives and reduce the number of people held in the hospital who could experience a better quality of life in a least restrictive settings as required by law.

Prior to Juanita’s DC experience, she served as an administrator and advocate at every level of behavioral health governance. At the Lucas County Mental Health Board she was an advocate and 1st coordinator of services for minority youth; As CEO/Superintendent of Toledo Mental Health Center, the state hospital, she was responsible for leading “informed consent” which is giving a patient the knowledge to make decisions about treatment including the right to refuse medication, a constitutional right yet historically denied; instituting a smoke free environment ; and improving quality care by leading the charge for the hospital’s first Joint Commission Accreditation for Healthcare Organization Certification (JCAHO). These are commonplace now but in the 1980’s it was considered trail blazing especially since Juanita was the first black woman to hold the office of Superintendent at the institution. Prior to leaving Toledo for DC Juanita was the CEO of a 24-hour runaway center for 10 years in Toledo where she broke more records. She completed a capital construction project to construct a 24 hour runaway shelter for children and adolescents and implemented Project Safe Place throughout the city which is part of a national network that provides immediate help and supportive resources for all young people in crisis through a network of sites. Ms. Price, a trailblazer for women executives in the field of mental health, has written history with every position she has held. Those who have worked closely with Juanita over the years have noted, “people for whom she advocates, are well served”.

Ms. Price has 40 years of teaching and community mental health management experience and is a highly sought-after motivational speaker and consultant in the area of management, mental health, and cultural competence.

Reverend Doctor Staccato Keithan Powell II was born on an Easter Sunday in April 22, 1984. In 2003, Reverend Powell attended Lincoln University. It would be here that Rev. Powell was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Beta Chapter. He would describe his initiation as one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences. Rev. Powell would graduate from Lincoln University in 2007 and begin to shape the lives of the individuals he encountered in an excellent way. After graduating from the first HBCU in the nation he immediately enrolled into Duke University and completed his Master’s of Divinity at the oldest black institution of the south, Shaw University, to study under Gardner C. Taylor. He currently serves as the senior pastor of Fisher A.M.E. Zion church in Phoenix, AZ. Recently he received his Doctorate in Ministry at United Theological Seminary where he is now an adjunct professor.

Courtney Lang is the Founder and Principal of Langco + Partners, a public affairs and strategic communications firm recognized for advocacy, activism, and grassroots mobilization. Courtney advises clients on achieving health equity, access, affordability, structural racism, and the importance of systemic change amidst resilience. Courtney’s commitment to improving the human condition and identifying social needs galvanizes public conversation and coalition building. Previously Courtney served as the Senior Director of Alliance Development for Pfizer Inc. and US Public Affairs Liaison for Eli Lilly & Company. She determined the strategic focus for national advocacy and alliance development activities. Courtney provided expertise in legislative partnerships that support federal and state-wide priorities, including strategic guidance on policy, disease management, and care coordination. Courtney earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Pepperdine University and a Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University College of Law. She also studied Comparative Health Law and Policy at St. Anne’s College, Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Recently, Courtney has proudly served as an adjunct professor of Media Law for her alma mater Pepperdine University. She is a native of Washington, DC, and has resided in Los Angeles, CA, and Cleveland, OH.

Daniel H. Gillison Jr. brings expertise in non-profit leadership and a passion for advocating for people with mental illness to NAMI. Before coming to NAMI, Dan led the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), where he was responsible for strategic planning, personnel management, board communications, oversight of APAF's public education programs and outreach, and formulating strategic alliances and partnerships to further APAF's mission. Prior to APAF, Gillison led County Solutions and Innovation for the National Association of Counties (NACo) where he was instrumental in repositioning the organization's programs to provide expertise in health and human services, justice and public safety.

Deborah McCloud, CEO & President of From Darkness to Light, LLC, is a passionate mental health advocate who speaks nationally, sharing her story of living with her own mental illness as well as being the parent of a child who grew up with various mental illness diagnoses.

As a motivational speaker, Ms. McCloud encourages others by sharing her own journey and steps that helped her leave the darkness created by mental illness.

An IT professional, Ms. McCloud holds a B.S. in Business Administration in Computer Information Systems from North Carolina Central University, an MBA from Georgia State University, and a Women’s Entrepreneurship Certification from Cornell University. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Trey Morse is a rising senior at Kennesaw State University, where he is majoring in Media and Entertainment. He aspires to become an actor or news media personality. He has starred in multiple short films and commercials and has 100k followers on Tik Tok. Trey resides with his family in Atlanta, Ga.

Rev. Anika Wilson Brown, Ph.D. is a nationally sought-after speaker, preacher, mental health professional and social justice activist-leader. Her message is one of healing and restoration through practical application. As the recently appointed Pastor of The Union Temple Baptist Church in Washington, DC, she succeeds her father, Rev. Willie Wilson, becoming the first woman appointed pastor in the church’s 55-year history. It was there that she grew up, served in ministries, and was ultimately ordained as minister of the Gospel. She also serves as Chair of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Interfaith Council and advises the Mayor’s Cabinet on matters related to the faith and religious well-being of the community. Dr. Anika believes in the power of mentorship and has actively been involved with and gained wisdom from: Rise Together Mentorship Network, Circle of Sacred Fire Preaching Intensive for Women of Color in Ministry, and Equal Women in Ministry Group.

She received a Bachelor of Psychology from Spelman College and a Master of Social Work from Catholic University of America. In 2020, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy from Loyola University Maryland in Counseling Education and Supervision. For her, the most important accomplishment is being a wife to John and “mommy” to Jendayi, Nyela and Naaji. She sees her greatest gift as her family.