Making Black history today: the leaders shaping innovation in public health

WHEN I was growing up with the dream of becoming a doctor, the barrier to entry felt impossibly high. At the time, I knew nothing about the healthcare leaders shaping our health system, and I had no role models in medicine who looked like me or teachers who encouraged me to believe that my goal was possible.

I attended a secondary school where only a third of students were expected to leave with at least five GCSEs at a passing grade, and the path into medicine felt completely out of reach.

When it came to applying for work experience in Year 10, I had no connections to hospitals or clinics and struggled to know where to turn.

Eventually, I secured a placement at Superdrug as a shop assistant. It was not the medical experience I had hoped for, but because it had a pharmacy attached, it felt like a step in the right direction.

At the time, I could barely imagine a future in medicine, and I certainly had no idea of the many ways in which healthcare leaders could make an impact that stretched beyond the consulting room.

Fast forward to today, and the landscape looks very different.

As part of The Voice’s Black History Month coverage, which celebrates the Black Britons making history today, I asked on LinkedIn for nominations of inspiring modern-day leaders transforming UK healthcare — and the response was overwhelming.

I received more than fifty names of individuals working across hospitals, general practice, public health, community services, academia, and digital health.

These leaders are innovating, advocating, and influencing policy in ways that benefit us all. I am delighted to highlight twelve outstanding individuals who represent the brilliance, innovation, and dedication within our community.

Among them are figures whose contributions are already well recognised nationally and internationally, alongside rising leaders who are shaping the future of healthcare.

Professor Kevin Fenton CBE

Professor Kevin Fenton is an internationally recognised public health leader and infectious disease epidemiologist with executive experience across government, academia, and global health institutions.

He has played a pivotal role in shaping national and international policy on health improvement, health protection, and reducing inequalities.

As Regional Director of Public Health for London, he led the city’s response to COVID-19 and authored the landmark Beyond the Data report on disparities in risks and outcomes.

Professor Fenton is also Chief Advisor on HIV to the UK Government, and in 2020, the Powerlist named him the second most influential Black person. His career is dedicated to advancing health equity and improving outcomes for communities most in need.

Professor Bola Owalabi

Professor Bola Owolabi is Director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme at NHS England and a GP in the Midlands.

She spearheaded the Core20PLUS5 approach, a pioneering national framework to narrow healthcare inequalities by focusing on the most deprived communities, underserved groups, and priority clinical areas.

Professor Owolabi is also Chief Inspector of Primary Care and Community Services at the Care Quality Commission, an Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham, and Vice President of the Royal Society for Public Health.

Her work spans national and international stages, including advising on healthcare equity policy across Europe, the Commonwealth, and beyond.

Professor Faye Ruddock DL

Professor Faye Ruddock is the Chair of Health Equity at the University of Greater Manchester and the Founding Chair of the Caribbean and African Health Network, a well-renowned national, Black-led organisation tackling health inequalities.

She is a leading advocate for Black women’s health, particularly in relation to fibroids, reproductive equity, and maternal outcomes.

Professor Ruddock also co-chairs Greater Manchester’s Maternity and Neonatal Equity group and serves as NHS England’s North West Independent Chair for Anti racism in Nursing and Midwifery. Her work is shaping the future of maternal health and ensuring that the voices of Black women are heard and acted upon.

Cedi Frederick

Cedi Frederick is Chair of NHS Kent and Medway and The Centre for Healthy and Empowered Communities. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Sage Homes, Co-Chair of Inspire for Black Londoners and a Kent Ambassador.

Alongside his leadership roles, he runs Consiliaris Digital Systems, Article Consulting Ltd, and his own executive coaching practice.

Recognised as one of Britain’s most influential Black people and named among the HSJ’s top fifty leaders from ethnic minority backgrounds, Cedi was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Canterbury Christ Church University in 2024 for his outstanding contributions to health, social care, and education.

Dr MaryAnn Ferreux

Dr MaryAnn Ferreux is Chief Medical Officer for Health Innovation Kent, Surrey & Sussex and a Non-Executive Director for both Kent and Medway NHS Partnership Trust and Kent Community Health Foundation Trust.

She has over two decades of experience across both the UK and Australian health systems, combining clinical expertise with innovation to drive change.

Her leadership focuses on tackling inequities in digital health, exploring bias in artificial intelligence, and ensuring fair access for underserved communities. She also chairs the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh EDI Committee and is committed to mentoring the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Dr Karen Joash

Dr Karen Joash is a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Head of School for Postgraduate Training in London, Keynote speaker, Mentor and an RCOG spokesperson. She has an MBA and an award-winning record in education and clinical care.

She has led pelvic health and perinatal mental health projects across North West London and contributes to national policies and topical events shaping women’s health. Her work addresses inequities, perinatal mental health, education, leadership and the impact of environmental factors. She is a functional medicine expert and has founded the health company www.bepurer.com.

Tara Humphrey

Tara Humphrey is the Founder and CEO of THC Primary Care, where she has spent more than a decade supporting over 300 Primary Care Networks across England. She helps healthcare leaders manage the complexities of finance, workforce, and collaboration in primary care.

Through her blogs and podcast, which have reached over 500,000 views and downloads, Tara amplifies the voices of healthcare leaders, raises awareness of the challenges of leading across multiple organisations, and celebrates the many positives within the NHS.

Dr Khadija Owusu

Dr Khadija Owusu, MBBS, MPH, is a GP Speciality Trainee and multi-award-winning social entrepreneur. She is the founder and executive director of the AKAYA Foundation, empowering girls across Ghana and the UK through health, education, and leadership.

She is also a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, and she is passionate about equity, women’s health, and inclusive leadership.

Dr Aziza Sesay

Dr Aziza Sesay is an award-winning GP, educator, and broadcaster passionate about health equity. She founded Talks with Dr Sesay and advocates for women’s health and cancer awareness.

As a multiple charity ambassador and trustee, she also serves as Vice Chair and Creative Director of Black Female Doctors UK and is a trusted voice in national and global health campaigns.

Dr Derek Adu Sarkodie

Dr Derek is an award-winning GP, entrepreneur and healthcare innovator dedicated to transforming modern medicine through prevention.

As the lead GP in his practice, he combines frontline experience with a passion for empowering people to take control of their health. He developed AduMed, a digital health platform that reaches thousands with practical, lifestyle-based solutions, and his YouTube channel has surpassed one million views.

He has documented his 40-pound weight loss and health transformation journey, and now coaches busy healthcare professionals to achieve the same.

Dr Jermaine Wright

Dr Jermaine Wright is a Specialist Registrar in Cardiology and Chief Registrar at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, where he has led initiatives to improve medical education, wellbeing, and career development.

He established a Resident Doctor Improvement Committee to connect clinicians with senior management and drive lasting change.

Passionate about widening participation, Jermaine draws on his own journey to inspire others. His achievements have been recognised through the Freedom of the City of London and election to the Worshipful Company of Barber-Surgeons.

Malone Mukwende

Malone Mukwende is an award-winning medical doctor and co-author of Mind the Gap, a clinical handbook of signs and symptoms in Black and Brown skin that has reached over 500,000 people in 170 countries.

He is the founder of Black and Brown Skin, which created Hutano, a digital platform delivering culturally competent healthcare and providing a safe space for Black and Brown communities.

Malone’s work has been recognised globally, sparking systemic change and inspiring future healthcare leaders.

These leaders represent only a fraction of the excellence within our community. The next generation deserves to see role models who look like them and who are shaping healthcare services and policy in real time. For my younger self, it would have made all the difference to know that this path was not only possible but already being paved by others.

There are also incredible organisations committed to increasing representation in healthcare. Organisations such as Melanin Medics, Modern Day Medics, and Black Female Doctors are working tirelessly to increase diversity in medicine, support aspiring clinicians, and ensure that young people know their ambitions are achievable.

Their work complements the leadership of those featured here, and together they are building a pipeline of talent that will continue to transform healthcare for years to come.

You cannot be what you cannot see.

As we celebrate Black History Month, it is important that we continue to spotlight these modern-day role models and their achievements. They remind us of what is possible when talent is recognised and given space to thrive.

I would encourage readers to follow or connect with these inspirational leaders on LinkedIn, to learn from their work and to be inspired by their journeys. Each of them shows us that there is no single path to making a difference in healthcare, and that our futures are brighter when we lift each other up.

A final word of recognition must also go to the Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN), who host the annual Black Healthcare Awards.

These awards are another powerful reminder that across the UK, Black professionals are leading change, challenging inequality, and creating a future where the next generation will not have to wonder whether they belong in healthcare. They will already know that they do.

Dr Julie Hammond  is a multi-award-winning GP, health advocate and innovator. She is the founder of the mamAR app: www.mamarhealth.com and is also writing a book on The Fourth Trimester due to be released in 2026.