Full Name
Joan Wilson
Title
Assistant Director, Urban Health Initiative
Business or Org Name
Emory University
Speaker Bio
M. Joan Wilson, MAS, JM, FACHE
Joan Wilson is a public health leader focused on global maternal & infant health and international human rights and currently serves as the Assistant Program Director for the Urban Health Initiative (UHI), Emory School of Medicine, where she develops and leads programs that address health disparities and food insecurity.
Joan has a long history of engagement with her local and “world” community. For over 20 years, Joan has been involved in advocacy issues for Native Americans on federal Indian reservations, as well as for those living in urban poverty. She has coordinated resettlement assistance for refugees and worked with migrant workers living in extreme poverty conditions. She has organized public health teams and traveled to rural parts of Central America to help to improve the living conditions that were associated with a high rate of infant mortality. Her background in aviation (and experience as a pilot) has been instrumental in helping to improve safety in third world airports that are essential for infrastructure as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid. Some of her current projects through UHI involve addressing food insecurity issues in urban Atlanta and teaching business skills, literacy, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects to inner-city youth in entrepreneurial and literacy programs that she developed. Her “Sprouting Readers ©” program is a garden-themed literacy program combines promotes a love of reading with garden-related STEM education for K-3rd graders.
Joan received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Mercer University, a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Juris Master degree with a focus in Global Health Law and International Human Rights from Emory Law School. She is board certified in Healthcare Administration and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Senior Fellow in the Global Collaborating Center for Reproductive Health. She has also owned/operated farms in Georgia, Colorado and Hawaii and currently breeds heritage poultry in Gainesville, GA.
Joan Wilson is a public health leader focused on global maternal & infant health and international human rights and currently serves as the Assistant Program Director for the Urban Health Initiative (UHI), Emory School of Medicine, where she develops and leads programs that address health disparities and food insecurity.
Joan has a long history of engagement with her local and “world” community. For over 20 years, Joan has been involved in advocacy issues for Native Americans on federal Indian reservations, as well as for those living in urban poverty. She has coordinated resettlement assistance for refugees and worked with migrant workers living in extreme poverty conditions. She has organized public health teams and traveled to rural parts of Central America to help to improve the living conditions that were associated with a high rate of infant mortality. Her background in aviation (and experience as a pilot) has been instrumental in helping to improve safety in third world airports that are essential for infrastructure as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid. Some of her current projects through UHI involve addressing food insecurity issues in urban Atlanta and teaching business skills, literacy, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects to inner-city youth in entrepreneurial and literacy programs that she developed. Her “Sprouting Readers ©” program is a garden-themed literacy program combines promotes a love of reading with garden-related STEM education for K-3rd graders.
Joan received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Mercer University, a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Juris Master degree with a focus in Global Health Law and International Human Rights from Emory Law School. She is board certified in Healthcare Administration and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Senior Fellow in the Global Collaborating Center for Reproductive Health. She has also owned/operated farms in Georgia, Colorado and Hawaii and currently breeds heritage poultry in Gainesville, GA.
Speaking At
