Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D. is the CEO of the YWCA USA, leading one of the Nation’s oldest and largest multicultural organizations promoting solutions to enhance the lives of women, girls, people of color and their families. For more than 150 years, the YWCA has dedicated its efforts to eliminating racism and empowering women with a focus on women’s economic empowerment, racial justice and women’s health and safety.

Dr. Richardson-Heron has more than 20 years of leadership and management experience in the healthcare, corporate and nonprofit sectors.  Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and in May, 2013, she was named one of the “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by Women’s eNews.

Dr. Richardson-Heron received a Doctorate in Medicine from New York University School of Medicine and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology from Barnard College. She also completed a Human Resources Executive Program at the University of Michigan.