Black Health Initiative (BHI) Conference
Lineup
Dr. Donovan Christie, MD, FAARFM, FAAP, CPE
Workshop Topic: Renew, Repair, Restore: The Role of PRP, Stem Cells, and Peptides in Regenerative Medicine Bio: Fellow, American Academy of Anti-Aging, Functional and Regenerative Medicine Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics Member of the American College of Physicians Certificate of Training, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology AAAAI Dr. Donovan Christie, MD, founded ANWAN Wellness Medical Center P.C., the ANWAN Regenerative Center, and the Picture of Health Foundation Inc., and has been in clinical practice for over 30 years. He is passionate about preventive medicine, as the practice focuses on integrative and functional medicine, utilizing practical lifestyle interventions such as nutrition, exercise, spirituality, Immunotherapy, Nutraceuticals, Hormone Replacement, Regenerative stem cells, platelet-rich plasma therapy, detoxification, intravenous nutritional infusions, Massage Therapy, acupuncture, and pellet therapy. Dr. Christie received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Preventive and Regenerative Medicine. He is an author, educator, and chairman of the Picture of Health Foundation, whose mission is to educate the world on healthier lifestyles while serving impoverished nations with short-term medical outreach trips. He has traveled to many countries in West and Central Africa, as well as South America, delivering free healthcare to needy residents. He has inspired many through his annual 5K walk/run, which encourages people to move and get healthier, as well as through informative presentations at health fairs and seminars.
Dr. Michelle Cooke
Workshop Title: What No One Told Us - The Truth About Menopause for Black Women Bio: Dr. Michelle Cooke is a board-certified family physician, certified menopause practitioner, author, and founder of Sol Direct Primary Care in East Point, Georgia—a practice uniquely dedicated to Black women's health and wellness. Recognized as a Top Doctor by Atlanta Magazine and Castle Connolly, Dr. Cooke is passionate about transforming healthcare through personalized, patient-centered care. A proud graduate of Spelman College and Morehouse School of Medicine, she has built her career addressing the unique healthcare needs of Black women, with a special focus on eliminating health disparities and helping women thrive through every stage of life. Dr. Cooke is the author of What No One Told Us: The Black Woman's Guide to Menopause, an empowering guide created to help Black women understand the unique menopause journey, explore evidence-based treatment options, and confidently advocate for the care they deserve. Her clinical expertise includes menopause and midlife health, obesity and metabolic disease, cardiovascular health, lifestyle medicine, and hair loss in women. Through her practice, speaking engagements, writing, and social media platforms, Dr. Cooke is on a mission to ensure Black women are informed, heard, and empowered to take control of their health.
Dr. Sonza Curtis, PA-C, ND, IFMCP
Workshop title: Healing Is Our Inheritance: Reclaiming the Wisdom Our Grandmothers Never Lost Bio: Dr. Sonza Curtis, PA-C, ND, IFMCP, known as The Gut Doctor, is a board-certified Physician Associate, Naturopathic Doctor, and Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. She is the founder of Three D Wellness in Roswell, Georgia, and one of the first functional medicine certified practitioners in the state. Her work blends clinical science with ancestral wisdom, a philosophy she calls Science Meets Soul. The granddaughter of a midwife and herbalist, Dr. Sonza helps people get to the root of gut issues, hormone changes, and midlife health instead of chasing symptoms. She is a two-time Amazon bestselling co-author, an international speaker, and the author of the forthcoming book Midlife Literacy. Her message is simple. It is not what you eat. It is what is eating you.
DaShaun Johnson
Workshop Title: F.I.T.T.ness Prescription Bio: DaShaun Johnson is a American Sports & Fitness Association and Silver Sneakers® Certified fitness professional, community wellness leader, Guinness World Records title holder, and the Founder & CEO of GOA F.I.T.T. Club (Guru of Abs F.I.T.T. Club) - an intergenerational local and virtual fitness community built on the proven F.I.T.T. Principle: Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type. Known as "The Guru of Abs," DaShaun has spent more than a decade transforming lives through innovative, low-impact, functional training that makes fitness accessible, safe, and sustainable for all ages - especially seniors, caregivers, and the families who move with them. His expanding impact includes more than 500 seniors engaged in local programming each week, another 500 to 600 participants reached virtually through Facebook and YouTube, and more than 200 seniors served through international experiences each year. DaShaun's journey into fitness began in 2008 at LA Fitness in Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia, where he discovered his purpose to change lives through movement and nutrition. His passion and talent led to becoming a sponsored Nike Training Club instructor and training a roster of celebrities that includes Sheree Whitfield, Chef G. Garvin, Jamie Foxx, Hosea Chanchez, Brandy, and Jeezy. He has been featured in Rolling Out and Essence Magazine as one of the "16 Black Fitness Enthusiasts to Follow on Instagram," and has appeared on CNN Headline News, FOX 5, ABC7 New York, CBS Los Angeles, and WSB-TV. While his early career established him as a dynamic trainer, DaShaun's defining legacy is community transformation. He is the architect of the GOA F.I.T.T.ness Prescription™ - a clinically aligned, fitness-as medicine model that translates healthcare and wellness recommendations into practical, guided movement experiences. Designed with seniors in mind and welcoming to every generation, the F.I.T.T.ness Prescription™ bridges the gap between professional health guidance and everyday fitness through structured, low-impact programming that encourages 30 minutes of intentional movement at least five days per week. Through the F.I.T.T.ness Prescription™, GOA F.I.T.T. Club specializes in healthy aging, functional strength, balance, mobility, endurance, and intergenerational wellness. Its signature programs include Senior Body Sculpting, Muscles After 50 (MA50), Pound The Ground™ Walking Club, 360 L.I.I.T. - Generations In Motion, and The B.A.R.™ (Basic Abdominal Routine). From The B.A.R.™ Method, DaShaun developed Core Rx™ - a seated and standing core prescription that trains all three planes of motion to support posture, balance, stability, and functional movement without requiring floor work DaShaun is now expanding this mission through FitCare and Caregivers Academy - "From Caring to Coaching." The Academy is a caregiver wellness and education model that pairs a 45-minute workout for caregivers with 45 minutes of practical instruction rooted in the Senior Body Sculpting curriculum. It is being designed to equip family and professional caregivers with safe, practical tools for chair exercise, functional mobility, strength, stretching, balance, fall-prevention awareness, daily movement routines, and motivational coaching. The long-term vision is a scalable learning platform that helps caregivers bring purposeful movement into homes and care settings nationwide. On May 2, 2026, DaShaun officially earned a Guinness World Records title for the largest core fitness class, leading a 420-person core fitness lesson at Clayton County International Park in Jonesboro, Georgia, with support from Axxess Benefit Consultants. The achievement demonstrated the power of inclusive, community-centered movement and established a global benchmark for his signature core training approach. DaShaun has partnered with AARP Georgia, the American Diabetes Association, Black Girls Run, Black Health Matters, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the United States Air Force, and the Pentagon to deliver accessible fitness experiences across the country. Through recurring initiatives such as AARP Georgia Fitness Fridays and Black Health Matters programming, he continues to meet older adults where they are and make movement feel welcoming, achievable, and empowering. Today, DaShaun Johnson is recognized not only as a trainer, but as a pioneer in intergenerational fitness, healthy-aging advocacy, caregiver education, and fitness prescription innovation. His mission is simple: help people move consistently, safely, and confidently for life.
Dr. Bridgett Moss,. DO, ABFM, FAAFP, ABPS, ABOIM
Workshop Title: The Silent Saboteurs: Everyday Toxins That Impact Your Wellness Bio: Dr. Bridgett Moss is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin native with more than 20 years of healthcare experience. She is dually board-certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Medicine and provides dedicated comprehensive, patient-centered care that addresses the whole person. Dr. Moss attended North Division High School, where she participated in the Medical Specialty Program. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. She received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and started her postgraduate training through the University of South Florida's Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency Program. She transitioned and completed her Family Medicine residency training at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center. She served as Chief Resident at the central city site at Aurora Sinai Medical Center, caring for underserved and underrepresented patient populations. In 2019, Dr. Moss completed the Integrative Medicine Fellowship Program through the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine in Tucson, Arizona. She earned board certification in Integrative Medicine in 2021 and continues to expand her expertise through advanced studies in Functional Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and Environmental Medicine. Her approach to healthcare combines conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary and alternative therapies, allowing her to identify and address the root causes of disease while promoting healing from the inside out. Dr. Moss has a special interest in Environmental Medicine and is passionate about increasing awareness of how environmental exposure, including toxins, pollutants, nutrition, lifestyle factors, and other external influences—may contribute to the development and progression of chronic diseases. She partners with patients to better understand these connections and develop personalized strategies that support healing, disease prevention, and long-term wellness. She also empowers patients with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to make informed decisions about their health. Dr. Moss currently serves patients with urgent healthcare needs within one of Milwaukee’s major healthcare systems. She is also an active member of numerous international, national, and local nonprofit organizations. Dr. Moss’s philosophy of medicine is healing is a journey, in which she is honored to walk side by side with you through moments of uncertainty and seasons of renewal. Together, we will listen to your body’s wisdom, nurture your mind, and spirit, and celebrate each step toward restoring balance, promote healing, and achieve a healthier and more vibrant you.
Dr. Macie Smith
Workshop Title: Dementia Care Strategies to Address Behavioral Aspects of Dementia Bio: Dr. Macie P. Smith is a leading expert in the field of aging, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and caregiving. She is a licensed social worker and gerontologist contributing more than 25 years of dedicated experience to protecting the rights, inclusion, and care of vulnerable populations. Dr. Smith’s unapologetic approach to compassionate care has been featured on national media platforms, such as Fox News, Black Enterprise, and The Grio. She’s a 3x time Amazon best-selling author and the recipient of multiple awards and recognition for her growing body of work on dementia care and caregiving; and she is known for her ability to blend professional authority with relatable storytelling. Dr. Smith currently owns a geriatric care management practice offering education, support and guidance to seniors and their families as they navigate the long-term care system. Whether she is appearing at the White House for caregiver conversations or speaking about the care crisis on Fox News, Dr. Smith’s mission remains the same: to activate and inspire the minds of those who care for yours.
Dr. Sheryl Strange-Canady
Workshop Title: Navigating Preventative Care Across the Lifespan Bio: Dr. Sheryl L. Strange‑Canady is a double board‑certified Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine physician with more than 20 years of experience spanning primary care, urgent care, emergency medicine, and medical education. A dedicated patient advocate, she has served communities across Georgia through roles at Kaiser Permanente, Piedmont Healthcare, Lifepoint, and urgent care practices. She earned her MD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and completed her Family Medicine residency at Aurora St. Luke’s/University of Wisconsin. She also completed faculty development training at Morehouse School of Medicine. Her published research includes work on prostate cancer incidence in African American men. Dr. Strange‑Canady is committed to advancing equitable, compassionate, and evidence‑based care, and continues to champion wellness and prevention in the communities she serves.
Greg Crafter
Workshop Title: Growing Health, Minds, and Opportunity: Turning Food Education into Community Impact
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