Elizabeth Leiba

Founder, The Center for Black Women, Work, and Power

I lead a research-driven initiative examining labor, leadership, and institutional accountability at a critical inflection point in the American workforce.

My work focuses on how Black women experience power inside organizations, how institutions respond to economic and cultural disruption, and how leadership norms, policy decisions, and workplace structures shape outcomes over time. I approach these questions through long-form research, narrative analysis, and applied inquiry grounded in lived professional experience.

I have published multiple books that function as field-based research, documenting patterns in voice, silence, leadership evaluation, and institutional behavior across corporate, educational, and policy-adjacent environments. These works serve as qualitative evidence informing my ongoing analysis of workplace systems rather than as prescriptive or self-help material.

The Center for Black Women, Work, and Power provides a formal home for this body of work, supporting sustained scholarship, public-facing analysis, and institutional engagement. It is intentionally structured as a lightweight research entity to preserve independence, rigor, and publication focus.

I am currently engaged in research, writing, and advisory work related to workforce transformation, leadership dynamics, and organizational accountability.

For research inquiries or institutional correspondence:
info@centerforblackwomenworkandpower.org

Podcast Host

Host of Black Power Moves, a weekly deep dive podcast that is part of the Ebony Covering Black America Podcast Network. Episodes inform about Black culture, empowerment, entrepreneurship, and history.  

The podcast format exemplifies a casual, get-to-know-you conversation, rather than an interview. This  expresses the mission and goals, which are simply to amplify the voices of Black people across the Diaspora.

To that end, there are no prepared questions, to recreate the tradition of oral storytelling through a historical African lens. Guests tell their own stories in a way that feels comfortable and natural, with the host guiding the conversation in the framework of an authentic, culturally sensitive and relevant narrative that has a goal to amplify Black voices and inspire, educate and motivate listeners. 

Guests include Black tech leaders, college presidents, community leaders, trail blazing business and social entrepreneurs, educators, and cultural icons.

Notable Guests Include: 
- Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim, the City of Atlanta’s Chief Equity Officer
- April Walker, General Manager of the US Microsoft Technology Centers
- Glenn Woods, Senior Brand Social Media Manager for Hulu
- Kimberly Evans, Vice President for JP Morgan Chase & Company
- Sheldon Louis, Partner Manager for Twitter Sports
- Jacqie McWilliams, Commissioner of the CIAA
- Adjoa B. Asamoah, Co-Founder of the CROWN Coalition
- Manuel Godoy, CEO of Black Sands Entertainment 
- Dr. Kevin James, President of Morris Brown College
- Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, Founder of the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation
- Natalie Miller, Owner of the Historic Magnolia House 
- Jackie Iloh, Diversity & Equity Strategist at Lyft 
- Donna Dozier Gordon, Head of Inclusion & Diversity in the US at H&M
- Sue-Ann Robinson - Attorney for Ben Crump Law and CJ Lawrence - CEO of Black with No Chaser

As a geriatrician, physician executive, and lifelong advocate for dignity in aging, I've dedicated 15+ years to transforming care for older adults – particularly those living with dementia.

My journey from the Caribbean through the English Midlands, New York City, Florida, and Virginia has evolved me from clinician to leader, researcher to mentor, caregiver to changemaker.

CURRENTLY: Director of Statewide Graduate Medical Education at Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, architecting initiatives that strengthen Virginia's physician workforce. As a National GME Fellow with AACOM, I contribute to strategies that future-proof America's physician pipeline.

MY MOST TRANSFORMATIVE WORK happened in patients' homes, providing primary care to geriatric homebound patients with complex needs. That experience revolutionized my understanding: true healing unfolds not only in hospital corridors, but in familiar kitchens, at beloveds' bedsides, and through listening deeply to families.

MY EXPERIENCE SPANS:
🟡 Former Attending Physician & Assistant Professor in Geriatrics at VCU Health
🟡 Geriatric Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic
🟡 Board of Directors: Alzheimer's Association (Central Virginia) and CVHEG
🟡 Community Educator and Dementia Care Advocate
🟡 Passionate mentor focused on optimizing the medical workforce

To every role, I bring empathy married with systems thinking. Whether helping families during health crises, advising on workforce strategy, or envisioning my Brain Longevity Institute in the Caribbean, I lead with heart, science, and strategic vision.

I also make soap, love bold earrings, and once walked from Manhattan to the Bronx to chase my first job in medicine. It's this blend of grit, creativity, and compassion that propels me forward.

Building a more human-centered healthcare future? Let's connect.

Amy SM Paul M.D., MSHA

Our global physician shortage is growing.

The World Health Organization projects a shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030, with physicians at the center of that gap.

In Virginia, we need a minimum of 4,000 additional physicians by 2030 to resolve our physician shortage. Currently, 30% our physician workforce is preparing for their retirement. 
These seem like impossible numbers.

And yet, most physicians are never trained to understand the very health policies that determine:
1. How many residency positions are funded?
2. Where and how can physicians practice?
3. How is a physician's time valued, and how is the care they provide reimbursed?
4. What training programs do we expand or close, and where should we start new ones?
5. What do we use to retain our newly trained doctors?

I believe that closing this gap will require us all to take small steps together. 
Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, we were proud to host our first GME Advocacy Day at the Virginia General Assembly this year. This event brought resident physicians into direct conversation with policymakers about why they chose medicine, their challenges, and what is required for the future of our physician workforce. They brought their brilliance and the voices rarely heard at the decision-making tables - that of the implementers of the policies. 

I firmly believe that if we do not understand and contribute to how health policy is shaped, funded, and sustained, we lose our chance to add our voices to the future of our profession and patient access. We lose our ability to be the best stewards possible of the health of our communities. 

In an era defined by workforce strain, aging populations, and rising chronic disease, physicians must be fluent not only in clinical care but also in policy, funding, and advocacy. The future of global health depends on it.

Thanks to Harrison Hayes, Henry W. Lewis III, Julia Billingsley, Arthur Lodge Kellermann, Randall Longenecker, Amy N. Taloma, PhD, Lauren Winston, and @Chad Sims for your tremendous support. 
Many thanks to everyone who participated and added their voices.
We are grateful for your partnership and support!

Amy SM Paul

Geriatrician & Physician Executive | Global Consultant on Aging & Workforce Resilience | Founder of Flourish Cognitive Health | Helping family caregivers leverage neuroplasticity with creativity

I am very proud of the accomplishments of the team at Augusta Health, as they continue their work to build and grow GME programs in their region. Thanks to you Timothy Norton, Jessicah Collins, Ashley Basmajian for attending our first GME Advocacy Day. I was especially proud and happy to host one of their Internal Medicine residents Dr Alexander Nguyen, DO. I am a firm believer that physicians need a clear understanding of health policy and the role it plays in their day-to-day interactions with patients. Thanks so much for joining us!

Millennial CLO | “World Class” Health Law Puzzle Solver | “Beloved” Relationship Builder

The Augusta Health team today was in Richmond advocating for Graduate Medical Education and supporting Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority’s Advocacy Day!  

Very successful meetings occurred with several delegates and senators regarding the need for the budget amendments on supplemental funding, technical assistance, and data reporting.

A big shout out to Jessicah Collins, Augusta Health’s program director for Internal Medicine GME, and to Alexander Nguyen, DO for walking the halls of the General Assembly with me and Ashley Basmajian in support of Augusta Health. 

Thank you to Amy SM Paul for planning and we are hopeful that the state of Virginia will be a leader in GME. Bring physicians and support healthcare and business, industry, and the economy grows. 

#millennialCLO
#GME
#supportphysicians
#advocacy

I am truly honored to participate in this upcoming webinar alongside sharon napper and Phyllis Jones.

The U.S. POINTER study, inspired by the original Finnish FINGER model, provides something we have needed for a very long time in dementia care: a practical, evidence-based roadmap for prevention. It moves us beyond theory and into practical and attainable action.

This work is central to my clinic’s approach, particularly for caregivers, who face some of the highest risks of cognitive decline. For them, prevention is not abstract. It is strategic, intensive, and life-changing.

What makes U.S. POINTER especially powerful is its intentional inclusion of participants from diverse backgrounds. For decades, clinical research has too often failed to represent the very communities most affected by disease. And when it comes to dementia, minority populations carry a disproportionate burden.

Grounding my clinical guidance in the work led by Ms. Jones and her colleagues is both a privilege and a responsibility. I am proud to align my practice with science that is rigorous, inclusive, and actionable.
Thank you, Rachel Coney-Bowles, for this opportunity to contribute to this discussion.
Looking forward to a meaningful conversation.
Join us https://lnkd.in/eMQKgXMT

Founder & Executive Director, The Right Shoes, Inc. | Mentorship & Life-Transition Readiness | Pathways to Power | Public Health Leader

Excited to share that the Healthy Brain Virginia Program will be hosting an upcoming webinar on February 25: Why Representation Matters in ADRD research. 

This conversation will explore how representation in research, clinical care, and community engagement shapes trust, supports earlier diagnosis, and improves brain health outcomes, especially in communities that have historically been underrepresented.

We’re honored to feature Ms. Phyllis Jones, who will share her lived experience as a research participant and why community participation is so important.

I hope you’ll join us and help spread the word by sharing with your networks. 
Together, we can move from awareness to action and build more equitable brain health for all.

See you there!
Rachel

https://lnkd.in/eMQKgXMT

Music is not background noise in my life. It’s never been.
It is deeply embedded in my memories, identity and joy.

I watched this recent interview with Kes, and found myself unexpectedly emotional.
There is something profoundly powerful about hearing Kes speak about his music, his heritage in the art and his father’s influence on him. I remember this moment of loss for his family. 
Most  important for me, though, is learning how his most meaningful songs were born in moments of intense emotion.
As someone who grew up in the Caribbean, I know this truth in my bones. No matter the island, music is always with us. It is how we celebrate. It’s in our food, conversations, friendships and daily lives. Music is how we remember who we are. For us West Indians, rhythm is not just entertainment. It is our lineage and culture.
And what moved me most was Kes’ openness with  his visible emotion as he reflected on his father’s impact. That kind of vulnerability signals artistry and a wash of memories in motion.

Here is what we now know from neuroscience:
Creative arts,  especially music, very deeply activate widespread neural networks. Even in moderate to advanced dementia, musical memory pathways often remain accessible when other cognitive domains falter.

Why?

Because music is encoded across multiple brain regions. It is in our emotion, movement, hearing centers, and long-term memory circuits. It is layered deeply. 

I have seen patients who struggle to recall their children’s names suddenly sing every word to a song from their youth. I have enjoyed their posture change as their faces open, eyes light up and personality shine through.

Music transcends memory loss. 

It unlocks parts of the brain we fear are gone.

That is why I bring music intentionally into my work with families who are trying to protect their brains and delay cognitive decline. We do not only prescribe labs and lifestyle plans. We protect identity and  joy.

And for me, Caribbean music is personal. Kes the Band is one of my favorites. 

Soca and calypso music take me back to my childhood days, family gatherings, grueling call days and exuberant days. It is dancing in the kitchen with my children while reflecting on my own identity.

So yes, I admire Kes not just as an artist, but as a cultural steward. His contribution to West Indian culture with his open vulnerability reminds me that we all share this language that is rooted in parts of our brains we don’t fully understand. And even when all seems lost the love and emotion music returns is profound. His interview demonstrates how deeply music connects us to a larger purpose.

It is a reminder that we are not powerless against cognitive decline.
We can protect the brain through movement, nutrition, sleep, social connection and yes, through creative arts.
Sometimes the most powerful prescription is a playlist.

https://lnkd.in/eRXjY8pf

#flourishcognitivehealth #deeperthansoca

Open video: Kes the Band brings soca music to the forefront on youtu.be

Kes the Band brings soca music to the forefront

I 100000% agree with Eric Topol, MD and the American College of Physicians. 
I am not a provider and I did not go to provider school.  
I do not identify as a provider nor do I respond when I am called a provider.

I am a physician.
I am a doctor.
I am a healer.

This is my identity.
I do not call anyone else a provider.

When we think about physician burnout or physician shortages, we are thinking about how we get the brightest, most empathetic and capable minds to care for our communities. The names that we use or how we categorize people matters. The word provider intrudes on our ability to be successful with recruitment, retention and overall satisfaction.

Names matter.

"The term [provider] should not be used to describe physicians, nor should physicians use it to describe themselves, their team members, or their trainees."
https://lnkd.in/gqkNmz7t

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Amy SM Paul M.D., MSHA

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