Joni S. Williams

Joni S. Williams, MD, MPH, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and holds dual roles as the Section Chief for Inclusion and Community Outreach and Section Chief for Research in the Department of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). She also serves as the Milwaukee Community Chair in Health Equity Research and Director of the Center for Advancing Population Science (CAPS). Her research focuses on reducing health inequities through social-medical integration, particularly addressing race, socioeconomic status, and geographic barriers affecting chronic disease outcomes in marginalized communities. She leads the ARCHE team within CAPS, advancing health equity research, clinical trials, and community engagement.

Dr. Williams earned her MD from the Medical University of South Carolina (2012) and her MPH in Community Health from Drexel University (1998). She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in health disparities research at the Medical University of South Carolina (2008–2014).

Her research interests include health equity, community-based interventions, and addressing social determinants of health. She has secured multiple grants, including NIH R01, R21, and U54 awards, and has authored over 260 publications. She is an active member of the Society of General Internal Medicine’s Health Equity Commission and serves as an associate editor for the Journal of General Internal Medicine and the American Journal of Medicine Open.

Dr. Williams is committed to education, mentoring over 50 learners, and has received recognition such as the MCW President’s Inclusive Excellence Award (2023). She collaborates with community partners like the Milwaukee Area Health Education Center and the Greater Galilee Baptist Church to advance health equity initiatives.