Dr. Renée Branch Canady

Renée Branch Canady, PhD, MPA is a relationship-driven leader who has battled injustice in health throughout her 30+ years of public health practice. A recognized national thought leader in the areas of health inequities and disparities, cultural competence, and social justice, Dr. Canady is a sought-after national speaker. She has been influential in broadening the health equity/social justice dialogue while serving on national boards, review panels, and advisory groups. She serves as CEO of MPHI a nationally engaged public health institute in Michigan and was the Health Officer/Director of the Ingham County Health Department in Lansing MI where she led the development of the nationally known Health Equity Social Justice program. She continues to serve on the faculty at MI State University, where she developed and teaches the public health course on health equity practice. Her subject matter expertise is acknowledged in her service on numerous advisory boards including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) County Health Rankings Scientific Advisory Group, the National Collaborative for Health Equity Advisory Committee, the Institute for Alternative Futures Public Health 2030 project Advisory Group, and the National 10 Essential Public Health Services Task Force. Nationally, Dr. Canady served as chair of the Boards of Directors of the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), and the Council on Black Health, and on the National Public Health Accreditation Board. Within the state of MI, she serves on the executive committee of the Ascension Health System Michigan Market Board of Directors and was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the State of MI Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, where she co-chaired the Health Equity workgroup. Dr. Canady is an active servant leader, volunteering in her community and having served on several boards and organizations including Ele’s Place, a center for grieving children, Lansing Area AIDS Network, the Capital Area United Way, the American Red Cross, and the Greater Lansing African American Health Institute. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Links, Inc., and serves as a minister at the Tabernacle of David Church in Lansing, MI. Dr. Canady is most proud of her three adult sons who are all alumni of Morehouse College. She earned a PhD in Medical Sociology from Michigan State University, master’s in public administration from Western Michigan University and bachelor’s in public health nutrition and zoology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Dr. Canady’s favorite quote is from Dr. Ron David - “relationships are primary, all else is derivative.” May this book lead you to build deep and authentic relationships as you advance change and build lasting equity in our society.