Bridging the Gap: Access, Healthcare Navigation, and Equity in Women's Health

Judith M. Watson immigrated to the United States from Jamaica at the age of seven and was raised in White Plains, New York. After graduating from White Plains High School, she enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving three years on active duty stationed at Ford Island, Hawaii, followed by seven years in the Army Reserves, ultimately achieving the rank of Sergeant E-5. She credits her military service with instilling the discipline, work ethic, and deep commitment to service that have defined her career.

Judith earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pace University and her Master of Public Health from New York Medical College. Her healthcare career began in 1994 at the Greenburgh Health Center—now part of the Westchester Community Health Center (WCHC) system—where she has dedicated over 31 years to advancing community health. Throughout her tenure, Judith has held a range of leadership roles, including Executive Director of the Greenburgh site and Chief Operating Officer of the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center. She now serves as Chief Executive Officer of WCHC, leading a health care system of nine sites that provides high-quality, accessible care to underserved populations across Westchester County.

Judith is deeply active in the community and serves on 14 community and nonprofit boards, including the Board of Westchester Medical Center. She presently serves as the Board Chair of the Community Health Care Association of New York State. In recognition of her decades of service and impact, she was recently awarded a Doctor of Commercial Science (honoris causa) from Mercy University School of Business and a Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) from Pace University for her contributions to public health and community well-being.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Judith enjoys spending time with her family and significant other, jogging, traveling, watching movies, and practicing meditation.

Dr. Kameelah Phillips is a New York City–based, board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist
with nearly two decades of experience in women’s health. She earned her degree in Human Biology with a concentration in Women’s Health and Human Sexuality from Stanford University, her medical degree from the University of Southern California, and completed her OB/GYN residency at NYU School of Medicine, graduating with surgical honors.

Dr. Phillips is the founder of Calla Women’s Health and EvolveGYN, high-touch private
practices focused on comprehensive gynecologic care, perimenopause, menopause, and sexual medicine. A passionate educator and advocate, she is known for making even the most intimate and “too awkward to ask” women’s health conversations approachable, evidence based, and empowering.

Her commitment to women’s health extends globally through medical work in Ghana, Cuba, Tanzania, and Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake. In 2020, she was named one of The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans for her advocacy surrounding the contributions of enslaved Black women to the history of gynecology.

A nationally recognized media contributor and speaker, Dr. Phillips has appeared on The
Drew Barrymore Show, CNN, ABC, and numerous other media platforms. She is also the
author of The Empowered Hysterectomy: Your Complete Handbook to Diagnosis, Decision, and Treatment, a comprehensive guide helping women make informed decisions about their gynecologic health.

Follow her on Instagram @drkameelahsays

Dr. Leslie C. Appiah is a nationally recognized clinician, researcher, and leader in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult reproductive health. Her clinical and research interests include fertility preservation, reproductive late effects among cancer survivors, and hormone replacement therapy for medically complex patients.

Dr. Appiah earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. She completed a BIRCWH fellowship in reproductive genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, followed by a clinical fellowship in pediatric and adolescent gynecology at Texas Children’s Hospital.

A NICHD CREST Scholar, Dr. Appiah is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Fertility Drugs and Cancer Task Forces. She has served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, published more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, and delivered more than 100 national and international presentations.

Dr. Appiah co-founded the Pediatric Initiative Network of the Oncofertility Consortium and chaired its Female Oncofertility Scientific Committee. She currently serves as Executive Co-Chair of the Consortium’s Reproductive Health Outcomes and Preservation Evaluation (R-HOPE) Collaborative. She has also held leadership roles within ASRM and the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.

An alumna of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program and a Fellow of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, Dr. Appiah has received numerous honors, including the Denver 5280 Top Doctor and Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine awards.

Dr. Cheryl Lynn Brannan is a nonprofit leader with more than three decades of experience advancing equity, innovation, and systemic change. As founder of Westchester-based Sister to Sister International, she leads efforts to improve the health, education, and economic empowerment of Black and Brown women, girls, and their families.

Her pioneering work includes creating the Lower Hudson Valley’s first STEAM summer camp and academy for girls of color, expanding educational and career pathways in underserved communities. She also led the research report Still I Rise: Status of Black Women and Girls in Westchester County, helping elevate data-driven policy solutions and Black maternal health as critical local priorities.

Dr. Brannan’s advocacy contributed to the establishment of the Westchester Black Maternal Child Center of Excellence and helped secure more than $4 million in public funding for community organizations. She also convenes Birth Equity Town Halls, bringing together elected officials, hospitals, and community partners to improve birth outcomes throughout Westchester County.

Prior to founding Sister to Sister International, Dr. Brannan held senior leadership roles in sales, marketing, and human resources at Xerox. She holds degrees from SUNY Cortland and Mercy University, where she later served as an adjunct professor. In 2024, Mercy University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science in recognition of her leadership and contributions to health equity.

Her honors include recognition from New York State Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Chuck Schumer, 914INC., Westchester County, and Nonprofit Westchester.

Rev. Kym McNair is a descendant of enslaved Africans, Jamaican immigrants, community organizers, preachers, and teachers. She carries forward their legacies through her work to confront oppression and systemic racism, particularly its impact on Black women and girls.

Her commitment to community organizing is rooted in the example of her mother, E. Theresa McNair, who safety-planned her departure from Jim Crow Mississippi during the Great Migration and later worked on behalf of incarcerated women and community members facing hunger, homelessness, and poverty.

Rev. McNair has served as a panelist and workshop facilitator for religious and civic organizations throughout Westchester County and has supported congregations in integrating faith-based antiracism principles into their ministries. She is a contributor to We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from the Freedom Church of the Poor and an organizer and educator-trainer with The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond.

As Director of Faith-Based Initiatives for Westchester County, Rev. McNair strengthens relationships among clergy, religious communities, and community partners across denominations to advance faith-based organizing and collective action.

She has received numerous honors from religious, civic, and government organizations for her advocacy for relationships and communities grounded in respect, equality, safety, and freedom from power and control.

Outside of her work, Rev. McNair finds joy in early-morning walks with her rescue dog, Simba; gospel music; tending her gardens; being Titi to her nieces, Lydia and Olivia; and cheering on the New York Liberty. A lifelong reader of science fiction and fantasy, she is especially drawn to Afro- and Africanfuturism—and to its vision of a future in which Black women’s voices are heard, their leadership is followed, and their lives are protected.

Andrea Beltran Ruggiero, MPA, is a seasoned healthcare executive and nonprofit leader with more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience advancing community health, integrated care, behavioral health, prevention, care coordination, and whole-person service models. As Executive Vice President of Community Health at the Open Door Family Medical Center and Family Services of Westchester, she provides enterprise-level leadership across diverse programs and service lines, translating strategic priorities into operational plans, staffing models, quality improvement initiatives, compliance structures, and measurable goals that strengthen access, equity, and community impact.

Throughout her tenure at Open Door, Andrea has led complex organizational and programmatic initiatives, including the integration of Family Services of Westchester programs into Open Door’s care network.

Andrea’s leadership spans HIV services, PrEP, patient advocacy, care management, WIC, wellness programming, school-based health, grant administration, value-based care, clinical transformation, and population health.

Born in Ecuador and bicultural and bilingual in Spanish, Andrea brings a deep personal and professional commitment to serving diverse communities.

Andrea holds a Master of Public Administration from Pace University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Manhattanville College. She completed leadership development programs at Columbia Business School and the Geiger Gibson Capstone Fellowship in Community Health Policy and Leadership at The George Washington University. She is also a published co-author of research focused on HIV prevention among low-income Latina women and has presented nationally and regionally on value-based care, HIV program succession planning, mental health, and community-centered literary dialogue.

Abagael “Abby” Slattery-Kumar, DNP, MPH, MSN, RN is a Clinical Implementation Specialist with the Delivery Decisions Initiative at Ariadne Labs. She partners with health systems and clinical teams to implement the TeamBirth project, providing training, coaching, and ongoing support to advance autonomy and dignity in childbirth while reducing maternal health inequities.

Before joining Ariadne Labs, Abby served as an adjunct faculty member at Manhattanville College, teaching maternal-child health courses and clinicals for nursing students. She brings clinical experience as a labor and delivery nurse and has completed advanced practice clinical training in nurse-midwifery.

Abby earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse-Midwifery from Baylor University. She also holds a Master of Public Health from Harvard University, focused on global maternal and child health; a Master of Science in Nursing from Columbia University; and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Davidson College.

Amoya Stewart is a Jamaican-born educator, graduate student, and advocate pursuing her Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education at SUNY Empire State University. Through her advocacy and writing, she raises awareness about endometriosis, chronic illness, mental health, and the importance of culturally responsive healthcare.

Read Amoya’s story >