Black Yale Alumni Panelists:

• Andriette Ward, MD (Pediatrics), MPH

Dr. Ward (JE, Class of 1986) is a general pediatrician who currently practices at White Memorial Community Health Center in Los Angeles, CA.  She received her BA from Yale University, her MD from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, and her MPH in Health Services Research from UCLA. She has amassed an extensive history of conducting culturally appropriate community-based research among ethnic minority populations in diverse locations throughout Los Angeles. Her research interests, including community-based strategies to prevent and treat obesity and type II diabetes, have led to numerous publications, presentations, and ongoing research projects

• H. Steven Sims, MD (ENT-Otolaryngology), FACS

Francis L. Lederer Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Sims attended Yale College, Yale University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital.  After a research fellowship at NIH in Neurolaryngology and Voice Disorders, he completed a clinical fellowship in Laryngology and Care of the Professional Voice at the Vanderbilt Voice Center.  He is currently the Francis L Lederer Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Illinois, Eye and Ear Infirmary.  He was appointed during the Obama Adminstration to the advisory board for the National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders.  Areas of expertise include Neurolaryngology, Gender Confirmation Voice Procedures, Laryngeal Robotic Surgery and Performing Arts Medicine.  He leads the UIC College of Medicine Anti-Racism Curriculum as well.

• Makunda Abdul-Mbacke, MD (Obstetrics / Gynecology)

Dr. Abdul-Mbacke is a practicing Obstetrician-Gynecologist in rural Southwestern Virginia. She is the founder and CEO of Piedmont Preferred Women's Healthcare and Arise she started Arise Women’s Health Institute. She is an Attending Physician at UNC Rockingham Hospital. Dr. Abdul-Mbacke serves on the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Committee on Government Affairs. Dr. Abdul-Mbacke earned her undergraduate and medical degrees at Yale University. She completed a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Maternal Child Health from Harvard University. Dr. Abdul-Mbacke completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.