Jawana L. Williams, MPH-CHS, MA-P, DrPHc
    DrPH Candidate | Tulane University
      Founder & Principal Consultant












"I diagnose "SYSTEMS, not SYMPTOMS"      


 

Professional Public Health Journey​​

Jawana L. Williams, MPH-CHS, MA-P is a seasoned public health professional with over 12 years of experience in infectious disease prevention, health equity, and community health education. She currently serves as the inaugural Disease Research & Intervention Surveillance Specialist with Seattle & King County Public Health – Jail Health Services, where she has pioneered innovative approaches to care in carceral settings.

​

Jawana developed and launched the first female-targeted HIV and syphilis rapid testing program within King County correctional facilities, addressing a long-standing gap in women’s health behind bars. By implementing point-of-care testing for incarcerated women, she created a model that delivers immediate results, timely treatment, and sexual health education before release. This initiative has not only improved early detection and treatment outcomes but also provided a replicable framework for gender-responsive care in correctional health systems nationwide.

​

Her career spans a wide range of public health settings, including community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), academic institutions, HBCUs, and correctional health services. She has led CDC-funded prevention programs in the Southeast, supervised HRSA-funded sexual health programs at Whitman-Walker Health in Washington, DC, supported the COVID-19 response with Johns Hopkins University, and directed HIV/STI outreach and education initiatives across the Southeast and Pacific Northwest.

Beyond program delivery, Jawana has a strong track record of executive-level engagement, working with C-Suite and D-Suite leaders to align organizational priorities with community health needs. She provides strategic guidance on program design, funding opportunities, and policy development, ensuring that initiatives are both community-responsive and institutionally sustainable.

​

Academically, Jawana earned her Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences from Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine in New Orleans (2025), and a Bachelor of Science in Health Education from Johnson C. Smith University, a historically Black university in Charlotte, NC. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) at Tulane University, School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, LA specializing in Organizational Leadership, Health Equity & Advocacy in Social and Behavioral Sciences.

​

As the Founder of Unity Health Navigators, LLC, Jawana has extended her mission beyond public health systems and into the nonprofit sector. Her organization is committed to bridging gaps in care, advancing equity, and building innovative community partnerships that improve outcomes for underserved, rural, and carceral populations. Unity Health Navigators offers HIV/STI counseling, rapid testing, consulting, training, and equity-focused program development designed to transform how communities experience care.

​

At the heart of Jawana’s work is a simple belief: health is more than treatment — it is equity, compassion, and the power of community. Her mission is to expand access to compassionate, community-driven health services while collaborating with partners who share the vision of healthier, more equitable futures.