About Us.

Vision Statement
Public health must be at every table to address the determinants of health. It requires that we are fearless and unrelenting in our insistence on change at all levels of accountability while bringing content knowledge and wide-ranging skills. We seek a renewed social contract. Our humanity compels us.

Established in November 2021, Public Health Liberation is a 501c3 non-profit headquartered in Washington, DC. We seek to accelerate the pace of change in eliminating health inequity through development of innovative theory and strategies. We place importance on local action and accountability by engaging across health, political, economic, and social systems. Public Health Liberation is a transdiscipline, welcoming all backgrounds and areas of expertise. Please consider becoming a member.

We meet biweekly to develop new tools and programming to further liberation in public health. Membership has many benefits: co-authorship for manuscripts and tools, free attendance at trainings and webinars, access to virtual community for personal and professional development, and opportunity for international public health leadership. As we grow, benefits will only increase.

Public Health Liberation - EIN is 87-3772652

Meet the Council

  • Patricia Bishop

    Mrs. Bishop, Greenleaf Midrise's Resident Council President, is a Washington, DC native and one of the most proponent public housing leaders in Washington, DC. Mrs. Bishop is the recipient of the 2021 Southwest Community Leadership Award. Mrs. Bishop comes from a large family and has been taught from a young age to care for her biological and adopted families. Mrs. Bishop’s favorite liberation quote is to, “Get into good trouble,” the phrase made famous by Congressman and Civil Rights leader John Lewis.

  • Jehan El-Bayoumi, M.D.

    Dr. El-Bayoumi is a professor of medicine and she has a very active clinical practice. She has served on the boards of Center for Women Policy Studies, National Women’s Health Network, and Arts for the Aging. She is currently serving as a board member for Whitman Walker Health. Dr. El-Bayoumi founded the Rodham Institute to honor her patient, Mrs. Dorothy E. Rodham.

  • Rhonda Hamilton

    Rhonda Hamilton, a lifelong community leader, public housing advocate, and public health professional who is passionate about improving the health and well-being of her community. She is an elected official, representing the Buzzard Point and public housing communities as an Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

  • Doug Koch, EdD

    Douglas J. Koch, EdD, is the Associate Director of Teaching and Learning for the Department of Bio-Medical Sciences at the Philadelphia campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. In this role, he supports the pedagogy behind the use of various educational technology tools including Blackboard Learn, ExamSoft, and i>clickers. His areas of academic interest include the teaching of end of life issues, computer based testing and online and adult learning.

  • Ebony Moody - Board Member

    Ebony Moody is a leading project management expert and experienced membership engagement specialist. Ms. Moody serves on the Public Health Liberation Board as its Member Engagement Board representative. She also serves as the Editor for The Hub - PHL’s online publication platform. Ms. Moody has extensive experience in product innovation, management and leadership, human resources, and training. (Board Member for incorporation)

  • Christopher Wiliams - Board Member

    FOUNDER

    Dr. Williams is a public health researcher and educator. His applied equity work with an emphasis on liberation philosophy is situated in Washington, DC and the Southwest neighborhood. He spans public health research, legal writing and research, community organization, policy analysis, education policy, and news/media. (Board member for incorporation)

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  • Dr. Felecia Williams

    Dr. Felecia Williams, an interdisciplinary scholar, is the former associate dean of the University College at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Prior to her appointment as associate dean, she served as an assistant professor of Focused Inquiry in the University College at VCU. Additionally, she was an associate professor of Political Science and Public Administration at Virginia Union University. Dr. Williams also taught at a Community College, where she was selected as a Virginia Council for International Education faculty delegate to the United Kingdom. She has taught courses in American Government, research methods, comparative politics, urban and metropolitan politics, and multicultural dimensions of society. She earned the PhD in Public Policy and Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and the MPA from the University of Virginia. Her research interests include internationalization of college and university campuses, and issues affecting urban populations.

  • Pamela P.S. Perkins

    Pamela P.S. Perkins, Founder and Senior Curriculum Developer, Human Communication Institute (HCI). PHL Board Consultant. HCI specializes in all forms of Human Communication practices with special emphasis on Behavioral Communication for personal, civic and professional growth in support of the Public Health Economy.

We’re Recruiting

We are recruiting members that will work to fully develop our principles and will author a white paper on best practices and recommendations. The committee is expected to publish in summer 2022. We are seeking individuals who are interested in addressing the social determinants through a radical approach of assessing and affecting "systems" whether public health, political, social, economic, policy, or research, we would greatly appreciate it if you would forward this opportunity. To cover initial start-up costs as a non-profit, we have membership fees. However, we can work with individuals for a partial or full discount. All HUD-assisted residents get a membership waiver. We hope to significantly reduce or completely eliminate membership registration fees once we have established ourselves as a non-profit.

Desired Attributes
1. Ideally from one of these communities. All interested individuals are welcome to apply even if your community is not listed. No public health background is required. Community health equity champions, as well as clinicians/academicians, are encouraged to apply. Community representatives of interest: American Indian, Appalachia, African American/Black (esp. descendants of enslaved people), Children's advocacy, Community within declining regional economy, Coastal or other communities vulnerable to climate change, Exploited labor or trafficking, including advocates, Families/communities in generational poverty and cycles of disease burden, Health equity research, Hispanic/Latinx, Interdisciplinary research, Lack of access to college or technical education, LGBTQ+, Marginalized or stigmatized due to social norms or subject to violence or discrimination, Mental health needs or advocates, People with disabilities or their caretakers, Rural areas in US, Seniors, Women (All intersectionalities)

2. Actively participate in a work group at least monthly and make a meaningful contribution, including accepting and completing assignments outside of meetings.

3. Be willing to listen to other perspectives different from your own and be willing to help support the inclusiveness and principles of the Public Health Liberation Movement.

4. Be willing and able to learn new approaches, theories, practices, and skills for applied liberation from outside of your field of study or training.

We're very excited about the potential of this new movement. Thank you for taking the time to read this and hope that you consider joining or forwarding it to those whom you think may be interested. Please feel free to contact us at info@publichealthliberation.com. We will finalize our work groups and Board soon, so apply now to be a founding member!