Beyond the Whitecoat, Two Physician Leaders on Influence, Strategy, and Non-Traditional Paths

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:

Marjorie Dejoie-Brewer, MD

Director of Patient Advocacy at Fulcrum Therapeutics

Healthcare Provider Medical Director, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter        

Marketa M. Wills, M.D., M.B.A., FAPA

CEO & Medical Director

American Psychiatric Association

BIOS:

Dr. Marjorie Dejoie-Brewer, M.D. is a physician-scientist, health equity strategist, and nationally recognized advocate for rare diseases with a particular focus on Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). With over two decades of experience spanning academia, industry, and community health, she integrates clinical leadership, patient advocacy, and whole-person wellness to drive meaningful change in healthcare.  She currently serves as Director of Patient Advocacy at Fulcrum Therapeutics where she leads initiatives to amplify the patient voice, strengthen advocacy partnerships, and expand access to innovative therapies while creating a culture of inclusion. She is also Medical Director of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Delaware and the founder of M.A.D. Fit, a health and wellness consultancy rooted in functional medicine, integrative care, and mind-body health, and a co-chair of the Bridging the Gaps Alumni Network.  A certified yoga instructor and SCD warrior herself, Dr. Dejoie-Brewer blends movement, mindfulness, and holistic practices with scientific rigor - a philosophy that has informed her development of community-based wellness programs, mental health initiatives, and patient-centered education tools nationwide.  Previously, she served as Global Medical Director at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where she contributed to the FDA approval of CASGEVY, the first gene-editing therapy for Sickle Cell Disease, and as Patient Engagement Lead at Pfizer, where she spearheaded rare disease advocacy strategy. She has also advanced outreach and clinical research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and across multiple national advocacy organizations.  Her contributions have earned her recognition as a 2023 Global Genes Rare Champion of Hope in Advocacy, Faces of SCD honoree by NIH, a SCDAA Champion Award recipient, and a Philadelphia Mayoral Proclamation.  Dr. Dejoie-Brewer is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences, including the Sickle Cell Educational Summit, the Bridging the Gaps Symposium, and the Nobel Women Conference. Her recent publications include “Transfusion outcomes following Allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Beta-Thalassemia” (Value in Health, 2024) and “Democratizing Education for Sickle Cell Gene Therapy” (NHGRI, 2023).  Her mission is simple but powerful: to make the world a healthier place - one person, one policy, and one practice at a time.

Marketa M. Wills, M.D., M.B.A., FAPA, is the CEO/Medical Director of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), becoming the organization’s eighth CEO—and its first Black American and first woman in the role—on June 1, 2024. She leads the 180-year-old professional society with a focus on advancing equitable, high quality, and patient centered mental health care.  Prior to joining APA, Dr. Wills served as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Johns Hopkins Health Plans (JHHP), where she led clinical strategy and operations across Pharmacy, Medical Management, Care Management, and Quality Improvement. Her leadership helped drive improved outcomes and cost-effective care for health plan members.  Her career spans roles at McKinsey & Company, Memorial Hermann Hospital System and WellCare Health Plans where she has led efforts around strategy & operations, physician affairs, population health and clinical quality.  She is the co-author of a groundbreaking book entitled “Understanding Mental Illness” which is a practical guide written to educate the public about common mental health and substance use conditions and how to get needed help.  Dr. Wills earned her medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and completed a residency in adult psychiatry at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital program, serving as chief resident in her last year. She also has a master’s in business administration from The Wharton School.  Outside of work, she enjoys fitness, traveling, the arts, and engaging in community services. She is a certified yoga teacher and dedicated meditator.