Bettina Byrd-Giles, CEO of The Bethesda Life Center, Inc., was selected as one of only 40 professionals from across the United States to participate in the new Culture of Health Leaders program. The program, co-led by the National Collaborative for Health Equity and CommonHealth ACTION with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will provide leadership training to address issues like food systems, racial stress, and immigrant trauma. Through professional coaching, networking, and an advanced leadership curriculum, Byrd-Giles and other leaders will gain high-level skills to apply new knowledge and competencies to lead meaningful change in their communities and fields.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
September 12, 2016 Theresa Lewallen, Deputy Director
Culture of Health Leaders National Program
Center
202-789-3533; info@cultureofhealth-leaders.org
Birmingham Community Leader Selected for New
National Leadership Program to Build Culture of
Health
Birmingham, AL. Professionals from Albuquerque, N.M., to New York City—working across a range
of fields, including architecture, education, and government—have been selected to participate in the
Culture of Health Leaders program. Working individually and in teams, these leaders will address top-
of-mind issues in health and equity, including food systems, racial stress in urban communities, and
immigrant trauma.
As one of only 40 applicants selected, Bettina Byrd-Giles, CEO, The Bethesda Life Center, Inc. joins
Culture of Health Leaders, a new program co-led by the National Collaborative for Health Equity and
CommonHealth ACTION with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Byrd-Giles will
join leaders from across the country to participate in leadership development training and to
collaborate and innovate to solvepersistent challenges and advance a Culture of Health—one that
places well-being at the center of every aspect of life.
“The inspiration and visionthese leaders bring to our program is astounding, and they come at
health and equity from every angle,” said Brian Smedley, Culture of Health Leaders co-director and
executive director and co-founder of the National Collaborative for Health Equity. “They will redefine
the way leaders in every field use their innovation and influence to shatter the status quo on health in
our country.”
During the program, Byrd-Giles will develop high-level leadership skills through professional
coaching, networking and an advanced leadership curriculum. While participating in the program
she will apply new knowledge, competencies, and leadership in the community and field.
“This program gives leaders the opportunity to have even more impact,” said Natalie S. Burke,
Culture of Health Leaders co-director and president and CEO of CommonHealth ACTION. “They will
gain a very unique experience, allowing them to collaborate and learn from other leaders from many
different arenas and immediately apply what they have learned to lead substantive and meaningful
change.”
Additional partners providing training and coaching to leaders include: American Planning
Association, American Public Health Association, Build Healthy Places Network, Center for Creative
Leadership, Institute for Alternative Futures, and Leadership Learning Community.
Culture of Health Leaders is one of four new leadership development programs launched this year by
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and represents a four-year, multimilliondollar investment.
The programs join five existing leadership programs in advancing RWJF’s legacy of supporting the
development and diversity of leaders impacting health. The 2017 application period for the new
programs will open in January. Additional information is available at www.cultureofhealth-
leaders.org.

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