Nationally recognized physician and public health leader to guide strategic alignment and systems change across Missouri
St. Louis, MO (FEBRUARY 19, 2026) Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) today announced the appointment of Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. A respected infectious diseases physician and public health leader, Dr. Hlatshwayo Davis will help advance the Foundation’s strategic plan-aligning programs, partnerships, and policy efforts to remove barriers to health and opportunity across Missouri. Her first day with the Foundation is February 23, 2026.
In this role, Dr. Hlatshwayo Davis serves as a key member of the Executive Team, working closely with President and CEO Dr. Dwayne Proctor and the Board of Directors to help all Missourians be as healthy as possible, regardless of geography or background. She will focus on strengthening internal alignment, deepening partnerships across sectors, and amplifying community-led solutions that address the root causes of poor health.
Her appointment reinforces MFH’s commitment to collaborative leadership and to serving as a trusted, statewide resource.
“Dr. Mati brings the rare combination of clinical expertise, executive leadership, and a deep commitment to uplifting community voices,” said Dr. Proctor. “Her career reflects her deep understanding that lasting change requires building trust, investing in people, and coordinating systems. She understands how policy, public health infrastructure, and multisector partnerships are all needed to achieve health equity for Missourians.”
Dr. Hlatshwayo Davis most recently served as Director of Health for the City of St. Louis, where she led a comprehensive modernization of the city’s public health infrastructure. During her tenure, the department expanded staffing, achieved national reaccreditation, and launched the city’s first Behavioral Health Bureau and City Justice Center Health Monitoring Bureau, efforts that contributed to improvements in mental health access and a renewed spotlight on jail deaths. She also spearheaded innovative mobile health initiatives that reached more than 13,000 residents in marginalized neighborhoods annually.
Her leadership in St. Louis earned regional and national attention for strengthening organizational capacity, advancing public health policy, and rebuilding trust between institutions and communities.
Before her government service, Dr. Hlatshwayo Davis practiced at the John Cochran Veterans Hospital and served as faculty at Washington University School of Medicine. She has held leadership roles in HIV medicine; medical education; and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She currently serves as a board member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and is executive producer and co-host of IDSA’s “Let’s Talk ID” podcast. A frequent contributor to international media, she has been featured by outlets such as the BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera.
“I’m excited to join the Foundation, especially at such a pivotal time,” said Dr. Hlatshwayo Davis. “MFH has a demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and respecting the input of community partners. The Foundation has always been a bold leader in health equity, centering its work on the broad sense of health. I look forward to working alongside leaders across the state to strengthen alignment, deepen impact, and help ensure every Missourian has a fair opportunity to achieve their healthiest life.”
