Black Female Physicians Driving Innovations to Eliminate Health Disparities.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

The Black Women Physicians Association (BWPA) is a network of Black female physicians using lived experience, clinical expertise, and cultural insight to redesign healthcare from the inside.

BWPA was founded in 2019. Our work began in 2020 — at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic — as New Jersey continued to face an alarming Black maternal mortality crisis. Dr. Pamela Brug turned her personal maternal struggle into purpose and gathered colleagues — Dr. Campbell-Oparaji, Dr. Hutchinson-Colas, and Dr. Otway — to build a new path forward. Our founding physicians refused to wait for permission to change a system that was failing their patients, their families, and their communities.

Today, BWPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with over 1,000 volunteer hours logged, funding from six major institutions, and a growing portfolio of physician-led activities — including the development of the IMPATH app to find culturally humble physicians.

Dr. Brug and the founding physicians have personally financed the organization in excess of $100,000 to date.

WHO WE ARE

Black female physicians driving innovations to eliminate health disparities

Our Mission
Our Vision

Every patient, a C.A.R.E. physician. Every community, health equity.

THE BWPA METHOD

We do not just study disparities. We redesign the systems that create them.

We call our approach the BWPA Method — three pillars, one mission:

  • ARCHITECTURE

    TO REDESIGN RESEARCH

    Architecture transforms research from a distant, extractive exercise into a collaborative process that centers lived experience as a key component and returns knowledge to the community.

  • ENGINEERING

    TO REBUILD ADVOCACY

    Engineering transforms advocacy from top-down messaging into strategic engagements, i.e., community education, speakerships and policy work, that rebuilds connection to systems from the inside.

  • LEGACY

    TO RENEW OUR PROFESSION

    Legacy transforms succession from a simple handoff into a formidable physician community — supported by mentorship, sponsorship, recognition, and physician entrepreneurship that builds owned assets for control and community health.

Together, these pillars form a complete engine for change: Evidence. Action. Permanence.

What We Have Built

  • 1000+ Volunteer Hours

    Donated by BWPA physicians before any paid staff

  • $100,000+

    Personally financed by BWPA founding physicians

  • 6 Institutional Funders

    American Cancer Society, NJ OASH, NJ CSIT, Rutgers ISGRJ, NNLM, NBWRA

  • Research Collaboratives

    Multi-level teams (high school to medical residents) investigating health disparities & building academic skills & networks

  • IMPATH App

    Directory of culturally humble physicians starting with New Jersey physicians

  • Content Development

    Menopause podcast series, COVID-19 pregnancy handbook, Pop-up wellness clinic guidebook

  • Strategic Engagements

    Trainings, speakerships, and policy work across New Jersey & nationally

  • Physician Ecosystem

    Professional development, trainings, wellness and ventures

Close-up of a healthcare professional wearing a white coat with a stethoscope around their neck.
A smiling Black woman wearing a white t-shirt with the words "BELIEVE BLACK WOMEN." and light blue ripped jeans.
A stylized yellow Pac-Man character facing right with a dot in its mouth, on a black background.

The Work

Ahead

✻

We have proven what volunteer physicians can build. Now we need infrastructure to scale.

We are seeking partners to help us:

  • Hire and build a dedicated management staff

  • Expand the IMPATH app statewide and beyond

  • Grow our research collaboratives, strategic engagements and physician ventures

Health equity is not complicated or a distant dream. It is an achievable choice when we work together.

Become a Member. You Can:

  • Give.

    Contribute financially to BWPA to help us build a sustainable organization

  • Partner.

    Share our mission with your network & Embed BWPA expertise into your institution, company or organization

  • Download.

    Beta Test IMPATH App

Contact BWPA & Inquire Today 
Putting C.A.R.E. back into healthcare. Reshaping it from the inside.

Leadership

Our leadership is a powerhouse of physicians, researchers, and advocates who bring expertise, empathy, and relentless dedication to health justice. We don’t just talk about change—we work individually and collectively to make it happen.

Board of Directors

  • Pamela Brug, MD, MS

    FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

    Dr. Pamela Brug is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology with over 25 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and completed her residency at Jersey City Medical Center. Dr. Brug is on the faculty of Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, and faculty in the Division for Advocacy and Outreach at the Rutgers-RWJMS Women’s Health Institute.

  • Toni Otway, MD

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Dr. Toni Otway is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She completed medical school at the University of Miami and residency at Staten Island University Hospital. After residency, she went into private practice serving the Staten Island, NY community. Dr. Otway is a Medical Director for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

  • Damali Campbell-Oparaji, MD

    SECRETARY

    Dr. Damali Campbell Oparaji is a board-certified physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology for over 20 years and more recently Addiction Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Temple University-Lewis Katz School of Medicine and completed her residency at Jersey City Medical Center, Mount Sinai Program.  In 2023  she  was promoted to  associate professor at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health.

  • Juana Hutchinson, MD, MBA

    TREASURER

    Dr. Juana Hutchinson-Colas is a Professor and the Chief of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS). She also serves as the co-director of the Pelvic Floor Program at RWJMS. Dr. Hutchinson-Colas is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and as a Subspecialist in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, with over 27 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from the State University of New York Health Science Center in Brooklyn and completed her residency training at the same institution. Her subspecialty training was at Montefiore Medical Center, a teaching hospital affiliated with Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Learn More About Our Board

  • Additional Degree: Master of Science in Medical Education and Leadership from the University of New England.

    Specialty Interest: Black maternal and infant morbidity and mortality

    Affiliations: Hackensack Meridian Health Raritan Bay Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center; National Medical Association; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Westfield

    Care Philosophy: "people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel," Maya Angelou

    Personal: Dr. Brug is married and has three children.  She enjoys board games, biking, reading and traveling. 

  • Specialty Interest: Education and wellness for women in underserved communities, maternal and child health, and medical care for the uninsured.

    Affiliations: ABOG

    Care Philosophy:  Empowering people with knowledge that will help them make educated decisions about their health that will lead to better outcomes, and foster trust.

    Personal: Dr. Otway is married with one daughter. She enjoys traveling, pilates, reading and spending time with family and friends.

  • Specialty Interest: Health literacy, food insecurity e.g., Addressing social determinants of health to  promote Health equity in women’s health.

    Affiliations: Board Member of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Northern New Jersey (PPMNJ), National Medical Association NMA Board Member, Regional Trustee, NJ Medical Association Chapter President; NJ Maternal Mortality Review Committee, Appointed Public Board member of NJMIHIA

    Care Philosophy: Your zip code should not determine your access to quality care.

    Personal: Dr. Campbell Oparaji is married to partner Anthony and they have two children and both come from large immediate and extended families.  She enjoys cooking, traveling and being involved in her church.

  • Additional Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare from the George Washington University School of Business.

    Specialty Interest: Mentoring, postgraduate education, and pelvic floor health.

    Affiliations: The New Jersey Medical Association; the National Medical Association—Board of Trustees; member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG); and vice president of the New Jersey ACOG.

    Care Philosophy: Dr. Hutchinson-Colas believes in providing compassionate, patient-centered care that empowers individuals to engage actively in their health journeys. Her approach integrates evidence-based medicine with a deep respect for each patient’s unique needs, values, and goals. She strives to create a collaborative environment where patients feel heard, supported, and informed, enabling them to make confident decisions regarding their care. By fostering open communication and trust, she aims to address immediate health concerns while promoting long-term wellness and quality of life. As a healthcare leader, Dr. Hutchinson-Colas is dedicated to advancing equitable, high-quality care that respects the dignity of every patient and contributes to the overall improvement of healthcare systems.

    Personal: Dr. Hutchinson is married and has two children. She enjoys watching tennis, playing pickleball, traveling, and reading historical fiction.

Executive Director

A professional woman with long black hair, glasses, and gold earrings, smiling in front of a plain white wall, wearing a beige blazer.

Viergela Louidor

Transformative leadership doesn’t always wear a white coat.

Viergela brings a visionary approach and deep-rooted commitment to health equity in her role as the inaugural Executive Director of the Black Women Physicians Association (BWPA). A trusted partner early in the organization’s founding, Viergela played a central role in implementing the physician-led BOD’s vision for BWPA—guiding its operational development, fostering cross-sector relationships, and driving a more than 400% increase in resources to support its mission.

  • With a background in business development and social impact consulting, Viergela has consistently bridged the gap between vision and execution. Her efforts have catalyzed sustainable partnerships, amplified advocacy efforts of the BWPA and underrepresented students in health research.

    Viergela is a systems thinker who brings clarity and cohesion to complex challenges recognized for her unique ability to connect the dots across sectors, disciplines, and lived experiences. Her work bridges business development, nonprofit strategy, and community engagement—aligning seemingly disparate efforts into meaningful, forward-moving initiatives. Whether mobilizing cross-sector partnerships or guiding operations, she leads with intention, insight, and deep listening.

    As Executive Director, Viergela is focused on scaling BWPA’s impact—expanding community-based research and mobilizing statewide advocacy efforts. Her forward-looking leadership is rooted in purpose, collaboration, and a vision for a healthier collective future for all.