BlackDoctor Honors Healthcare Leaders at 11th Annual Gala

BlackDoctor.org, a leading health and wellness resource for Black communities, recently hosted its 11th Annual Top Blacks in Healthcare (TBH) Awards Gala. The prestigious event, held at The Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., brought together over 200 healthcare leaders, innovators, and advocates to celebrate those making significant contributions to the industry.

Celebrating Excellence in Healthcare

The 2026 gala honored 14 distinguished individuals whose work is advancing leadership, service, and innovation in healthcare. Hosted by Allison Seymour and Guy Lambert, the evening was a powerful testament to the dedication and impact of Black professionals who are shaping the future of health equity and care for generations to come.

The event was made possible through the generous support of key partners and sponsors, including Novo Nordisk, Amgen, UCB, Novartis, Social Mission Alliance, Vertex, Limitless Impact Foundation, and Bayer. Their commitment underscores the importance of recognizing and supporting Black excellence in the healthcare sector.

Honoring Trailblazers and Innovators

Among the esteemed honorees were prominent figures such as Dr. Cheryle Baptiste-Hill (Immediate Past President, National Dental Association), Ricki Fairley (CEO, TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance), and Dr. Robert Winn (Director, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center). Each honoree represents a commitment to improving health outcomes, increasing access to care, and fostering trust within the communities they serve.

Throughout the evening, many honorees reflected on the significance of their recognition, emphasizing the ongoing work needed in representation, access, and accountability within healthcare. The shared commitment to mentorship and ensuring a more equitable healthcare system for future generations was a recurring theme.

• Dr. Cheryle Baptiste-Hill — Immediate Past President, National Dental Association
• Yvonne Bryant — Commercial Head of Hemoglobinopathies, Novo Nordisk
• Jason Carter — Senior Marketing, AbbVie
• Sakinah Conway-Geneus — Executive Director, Customer Experience & Collaboration, U.S. Pharma Medical Affairs, Bayer
• Dr. Ogo Egbuna — Vice President and Clinical Development Leader, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
• Dr. Keith Ferdinand — Professor of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine
• Ricki Fairley — CEO, TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance
• Dr. Janet Franklin — Vice President, Global Development Biosimilars, Amgen
• Rodney Gillespie — Senior Vice President, U.S. Oncology TA Head, Novartis
• Dr. Roger A. Mitchell — President, National Medical Association
• Dr. Randall C. Morgan — Executive Director, President & CEO, W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute
• Dr. Jayne Morgan — Vice President, Medical Affairs, Hello Heart
• Dr. Robert Winn — Director, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

A Purposeful Celebration

The atmosphere at the gala was both celebratory and deeply purposeful. The recognition served not as an endpoint, but as a powerful call to action, reinforcing the collective drive to push forward and make a tangible impact. BlackDoctor.org plans to carry this momentum into future content, collaborations, and initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes in Black communities.