Evelyn L. Lewis, M.D., M.A., FAAFP, DABDA

Evelyn L. Lewis, M.D., M.A., FAAFP, DABDA
elewismd@myvhwf.org

Community Outreach, Engagement, and Enablement; Veteran Health and Healthcare Issues; Content/Program Development and Evaluation; Cultural Competency

Dr. Lewis earned her medical degree from the University of the Health Sciences, the Chicago Medical School (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science), and completed a residency in family medicine at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL. She completed a two-year faculty development fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center and Pacific Lutheran University and earned a master’s degree in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. In June 2003, Dr. Lewis retired from the United States Navy after 25 years of service.

During the next seven years, Dr. Lewis served as Director of Medical Policy and Worldwide Public Affairs and Policy for Pfizer, Inc. She is the Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Warrior Centric Health, LLC, President & Chairman of Veterans Health and Wellness Foundation, and past Board Chairman for the National Children’s Center.

She is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Health at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and a Clinical Instructor at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. She has served as an appointee to and chair of the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation and is a member of the Engagement Panel for the Department of Veteran Affairs Health Services Research and Development’s Pain/Opioid Consortia of Research.

Dr. Lewis has also been selected as a Senior Scientist/Investigator for the American Academy of Family Physicians’ National Research Network and serves as the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates.

Previous positions include Senior Researcher in Minority Health and Health Disparities at Dillard University; President of the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation; past Chair of the AAFP Research Committee; Deputy Director of the W. Montague Cobb/National Medical Association Health Institute; Deputy Vice President for Minority Affairs; Director of the University Health Center; Vice Chair of the Department of Family Medicine; Associate Chair for Research; and teaching faculty at several residency-training programs.

During her tenure at the Uniformed Services University, she was awarded a Project EXPORT grant from the NIH Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities.

Her professional and research interests include the impact of culture and cultural competency on health and healthcare outcomes; women’s health; the impact of military service on service members, veterans, and their families; education and training of healthcare professionals; health management and disease prevention; community outreach and engagement; health disparities; health policy; and clinical trials and minority participation.

Dr. Lewis is nationally recognized for her expertise in community outreach, engagement, and enablement; veteran health and healthcare issues; program development and evaluation; cultural competency; and health disparities. She presents and conducts workshops on these topics nationally and internationally.

She has been invited to speak by numerous organizations including Austin Oaks Hospital, Black Health Trust, National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Chicago Medical School, Blacks in Government (BIG), John P. Mayhugh Foundation, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, National Medical Association (NMA), American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Albany State University, Uniformed Services University, Spelman College, Price Waterhouse, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), Women of Vision, National Association of Women Owned Small Businesses, Congressional Black Caucus, American Federation of Teachers, National Black Caucus State Legislators, National AFL-CIO, A. Phillip Randolph Institute, and various legislative briefings.

Dr. Lewis is a Fellow of the NACD and the AAFP and a member of several professional organizations including Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA), AAFP, AAFP Foundation, NMA, and AMA.

Her military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with a bronze star, and the Coast Guard Special Operations Service Medal.

Her awards and honors include the National Community Based Organization Network (NCBON) Unsung Hero Award; keynote speaker at the Chicago Medical School 2019 White Coat Ceremony; the 2018 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Rosalind Franklin University; Top Blacks in Healthcare Award; State of Maryland and State of Tennessee House of Representatives proclamations; the CDC/ATSDR Blacks in Government (BIG) Black Women Rock Award in Business; and publication of her story, “Keeping the Dream Alive,” in Women of Color in Leadership, Taking Their Rightful Place.

Additional honors include the W.E. Upjohn Award for Innovation, Career Communications Group Women of Color Emerald Honor for Medical Education Award, and recognition as one of nine family physicians profiled in the AAFP 50th Anniversary book, Caring for America – The Story of Family Practice.

Dr. Lewis’ most recent publications include the book Blacks in the Military and Beyond and the 5th edition of Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Family Medicine.