Dr. Rodney Hood is a frequently sought national speaker who articulately addresses the current healthcare concerns in the United States, especially health issues that persist in our most vulnerable populations. Dr. Hood has lectured extensively to diverse national audiences of healthcare providers, health administrators, medical students, federal and state governmental agencies as well as to national private and public audiences. Dr. Hood became the 101st President of the NMA in August 2000. During his tenure, he served as an advocate for strengthening African American physicians and protecting the medically underserved. He spearheaded three major initiatives:
1. Health Disparities-shedding light on the differences that exist in health status between African Americans and the general population; 
2. Access-ensuring quality and affordable health care services for all Americans; and 
3. Medical Workforce-increasing the representation of African Americans in the medical workplace, academic medicine and medical research.
His areas of expertise include health disparities, medical history and racism, health policy and advocacy as well as cultural competency in healthcare. He is an honor graduate from Northeastern University School of Pharmacy, UCSD School of Medicine, UCSD Medical School Internal Medicine Residency, Past Chairman of the board of the National Medical Association, UCSD Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine and currently serves as the President & CEO of the