Vanessa Walker Harris, MD, serves as Director of the Office of Family Health Services at the Virginia Department of Health, where programs focus on nutrition security, chronic disease prevention, and maternal and child health.  She most recently served as the Secretary of Health and Human Resources for Governor Ralph Northam, and ensured equitable access to high quality healthcare and social services that promote a healthy Virginia. She advanced to the role of Secretary after serving as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources and playing a key part in addressing Virginia’s maternal health inequities. Originally from Ohio, she earned a BS in Chemistry from Hampton University and a medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She completed internal medicine residency and endocrine fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Walker Harris is on a journey to realize a society where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve their health and wellbeing goals.