2024 Featured Speaker

Vice President of Accountability, Belonging, and Culture, Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)

Dr. Jones is the Vice President of Accountability, Belonging, and Culture at the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).

Dr. Jones is a proven leader in the healthcare association space with an extensive track record of advancing equity and inclusion in health care environments. In her role, she has supported AWHONN’s efforts to infuse principles of diversity, equity and inclusion across the organization. Dr. Jones has also played a key role in helping AWHONN implement its DEI roadmap and has supported AWHONN members in the advancement of the organization’s mission.

Dr. Jones previously served as director of the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Center for Diversity and Health Equity (CDHE). In this role, she operationalized the strategic priorities of the AAFP’s Board of Directors and executive leadership on issues of workforce diversity, health in all policies, medical education and practice tools that advance equity.

Prior to joining the AAFP in 2017, Dr. Jones served as Director of Maternal Child Health for March of Dimes Kansas and was a Fellow with the Army Public Health Center at Fort Leavenworth, KS advising the Senior Commander of the Combined Arms Center.  Both roles involved the development and implementation of equity focused health promotion strategies to reduce disparities in maternal mortality, preterm birth, substance use and suicide by addressing the social determinants of health, policy, systems and infrastructure.

Dr. Jones completed her doctoral degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Health Policy and Management where her research on unconscious bias has led to the development of evidence-based curriculum and training for faculty.  Jones earned a Master of Public Health from the University of West Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Missouri Kansas City.

Dr. Jones is a native of Kansas City, Kansas where she lives with her three daughters and extended family, including their 3-year-old lab mix Django.  In her downtime she enjoys traveling, wine tastings and Kansas City jazz.