Danielle Brooks

Danielle J. Brooks, J.D. has spent the last decade designing, leading and managing research, project development, strategy and implementation programs across a variety of industries including healthcare, media and communications, human rights, policy, and law. She prides herself on bridging creativity with strategic approaches that result in true impact. She is a recognized thought leader and expert in the field of health equity.

Danielle began her career as a policy fellow for former Governor, and Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas Vilsack where she designed community building initiatives for members of the state of Iowa. She then followed this work by participating in a variety of positions including working for the Iowa Supreme Court; managing coalitions to influence the development of key Health IT policies; serving as an Executive Editor for the award winning blog Disruptive Women and Health Care;  and leading the development of the Iowa Accountability Program, Judicial Training Institute (IAP JTI). The IAP JTI is an initiative that works to improve the judicial handling of domestic violence cases, through innovative approaches focused on judicial leadership, community/judicial relations and the elimination of procedural bias. She also served on the Health IT advisory board for the Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center (TCC) for Health Disparities Research at Morehouse School of Medicine, where she guided the organization on key media campaigns and policy. In addition to this appointment, she also served on the Advisory Panel for Health IT, Health Disparities, and Improving Industry for the Patient Centered Outcome Research Institute ( PCORI). Danielle is the former owner and Managing Director of Bridges, a boutique healthcare consulting firm with national reach; the primary author of the Petal Framework, a Bridges and Morehouse School of Medicine project; and, a producer for the Healthcare Road Trip. She has held positions for Academy Health and served as a subject matter expert and guest for NCQA blog, summit, and podcast.

An Iowan, Danielle studied at Oberlin College and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics. She then attended William and Mary School of Law, achieving her Juris Doctorate.