Gail C. Christopher, DN

Dr. Gail C. Christopher is an award-winning social change agent and author with expertise in the social determinants of health and well-being and related public policies. A prolific writer and presenter, Dr. Christopher is an author and co-author and has contributed to 14 books and hundreds of articles, presentations, publications, and more. She is known for her pioneering work to infuse holistic health and diversity concepts into public sector programs and policy discourse. She retired from her role as senior advisor and vice president at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where she was the driving force behind the America Healing initiative and the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation effort. In 1996, she was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. She chaired the board of the Trust for America’s Health from 2012-2022. In 2019, Dr. Christopher became a senior scholar with George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and became the executive director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity. In 2021, she was elected by the APHA Governing Council to serve as the APHA Honorary Vice President for the United States. In 2023, the American Journal of Health Promotion honored Dr. Christopher as one of the 10 Most Influential Women Scholars in Health Promotion. In January 2024, Dr. Christopher became chair of the board of The Institute for Functional Medicine.