John Lumpkin, MD, MHP, Proviso East class of 1969, currently serves as president of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. He was the first African American physician trained in emergency medicine in the country after completing his residency at the University of Chicago, then earned his master’s degree in public health at the University of Illinois. His extensive list of awards, and accomplishments include being the senior vice president of programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. He continues to acknowledge race and racism in health care and believes community health is a pillar to address racism and equity. In June 2020, he co-authored a paper, “In Health, Not All are Equal,” stating: “Thus, if we truly desire a free, healthy and prosperous society, those who have been denied true equal rights must not only have access to these rights, but also access to an affordable, equitable and culturally competent health care system.”
