Our #WCW today is Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, a Zimbabwean-born physician whose remarkable journey has taken her from Harare to the forefront of public health leadership in the United States. Born in 1982 to activist parents, her upbringing was shaped by resilience and a strong sense of justice.
Even as a child, Mati showed courage—her first protest at age 11 landed her on the front page of the news, a sign of the fearless advocate she would become. Her academic path reflects brilliance and determination. After excelling at Drury University with honors in chemistry and biology, she pursued medicine at Case Western Reserve University, earning both her MD and Master of Public Health.
She went on to complete her residency in internal medicine and specialized further with fellowships in infectious diseases, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections at Washington University School of Medicine. She held faculty positions at Washington University, where she also advanced diversity and inclusion policies, and worked at John Cochran VA Medical Center as lead HIV clinician and medical education coordinator. Her work consistently focused on marginalized communities, ensuring equitable access to healthcare.
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Her impact expanded through initiatives like Fast Track Cities, aimed at ending the HIV epidemic by 2030. She spearheaded the launch of an HIV data dashboard, empowering communities with vital information. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she became a trusted voice, engaging directly with vulnerable populations and advocating for fair public health responses.
In October 2021, Dr. Hlatshwayo Davis made history as the first Black female physician appointed Public Health Director of St. Louis in its 257-year history. In this role, she has tackled pressing issues from COVID-19 to gun violence, sexually transmitted infections, and behavioral health, cementing her reputation as a transformative leader.
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