Risa Lavizzo-Mourey

Risa Lavizzo-Mourey at the World Economic Forum

Risa Lavizzo-Mourey is an influential figure in the fields of public health, healthcare policy, and non-profit organizations. She has made significant contributions to improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities in the United States through her leadership roles, particularly as the president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), one of the country's largest philanthropic organizations dedicated to health.

Early Life and Education

Risa Lavizzo-Mourey was born in Seattle, Washington. She pursued her undergraduate education at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Following this, Lavizzo-Mourey obtained her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed her residency in internal medicine. Furthering her education, she also holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, emphasizing the importance of integrating medical knowledge with business acumen in healthcare management.

Career

Lavizzo-Mourey's career has spanned clinical medicine, academic teaching, and health policy research before her tenure at the RWJF. She has served as a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was deeply involved in health services research, focusing on issues of geriatric care and health disparities among minority populations.

In 2003, Lavizzo-Mourey became the president and CEO of the RWJF, a position she held until 2017. Under her leadership, the foundation emphasized building a "Culture of Health," aiming to improve health and healthcare for all Americans by addressing social factors influencing health outcomes, such as housing, education, and income. Her work has been pivotal in shifting the national conversation around health to include social determinants and health equity.

Legacy and Impact

Lavizzo-Mourey's leadership at the RWJF has had a lasting impact on public health policy and practice. She has been instrumental in launching initiatives that address childhood obesity, support the development of healthier communities, and increase access to affordable healthcare. Her efforts have contributed to a broader understanding of health as a product of multiple social, economic, and environmental factors.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout her career, Lavizzo-Mourey has received numerous accolades for her contributions to medicine and public health. These include being elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.

Personal Life

Details about Lavizzo-Mourey's personal life are kept private, reflecting her preference to focus public attention on her professional work and advocacy for health equity.

See Also

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Health disparities
• Social determinants of health