2011: Freda Lewis-Hall, MD

The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) named Freda Lewis-Hall as its 2011 Woman of the Year. 

Freda Lewis-Hall, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Pfizer. In her distinguished 36-year career, Dr. Lewis-Hall has held leadership roles in direct patient care, academics, media, government, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. “I am deeply honored to be named Woman of the Year by the HBA,” said Dr. Lewis-Hall. “The HBA has been an agent of positive growth for many women who have made great contributions to the advancement of healthcare. To have been nominated for this award by my fellow members of the healthcare community is especially meaningful to me. Whether we’re in industry, academia, government, or the non-profit arena, we share a common goal: to improve the quality of healthcare for all patients.”

“The HBA is extremely proud to honor Freda Lewis-Hall as our 2011 Woman of the Year,” says Deborah Coogan Seltzer, HBA chair emeritus. “Dr. Lewis-Hall sets the tone for all of us with her unique abilities as a talented physician and leader. She has a longstanding commitment to the social responsibilities of healthcare leadership – especially in making sure that people have the education and understanding to make the best healthcare decisions.”

“Freda defines what it means to be a leader in today’s rapidly changing healthcare industry. She has a genuine and singular passion to improve the lives of patients – a passion that motivates and energizes her colleagues at Pfizer and everyone with whom she interacts. She has been a dedicated mentor and an inspiring role model to hundreds of women and men in industry, academia and medical practice,” said Ian Read, CEO and president of Pfizer. “Freda is intensely engaged in critical policy dialog in the interest of better patient outcomes. We are fortunate to have her as our top physician ensuring the quality, safety and effective use of Pfizer medicines.”

In September 2010, Dr. Lewis-Hall was appointed by the Government Accountability Office of the United States to the inaugural Board of Governors for the new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). Established through the healthcare reform law, PCORI will prioritize and direct a range of research programs to improve the nation’s quality of healthcare.

In 2009, Dr. Lewis-Hall was one of 15 women spotlighted by ForbesWoman as a role model for young women in science. She was recognized in 2010 as one of the 25 Most Influential African-Americans in Healthcare by Black Health magazine and as one of the 75 Most Powerful Women in Business by Black Enterprise magazine. Over the course of her career, Dr. Lewis-Hall has personally mentored more than 100 women.

Dr. Lewis-Hall has a strong record of patient advocacy, and she has spoken extensively on the impact of mental illnesses on patients, families and communities. She is a vocal champion of the imperatives to break down cultural barriers and eliminate healthcare disparities, often working closely with members of the Health Brain Trust of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Read the Woman of the Year cover story from Pharmaceutical Executive magazine

Read Freda's Woman of the Year speech

All information in the honoree’s bio is reflective of the time they won the award.