July 20, 2025 • 9 mins
In this episode, Dr. Aletha Maybank, President and CEO of Novellawells, LLC, discusses her journey from public health leadership to launching a new media venture aimed at reshaping the narrative around health. She shares insights on equity, advocacy, and the power of relationships in driving meaningful change across healthcare and beyond.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello, and welcome to the Becker's Healthcare podcast.
My name is Chanel Bonger. Today, I'm thrilled
to speak with doctor Aletha Mabing, a health
strategist and president and CEO at Novella Wells
LLC, who joins the podcast today to share
insights in her background, health care trends she's
keeping in there, and a bit more. Doctor
Maybank, thank you so much for joining me.
Could you get us started out by introducing
yourself and telling us a bit about your
(00:21):
background in health care?
Yes. Hi.
My background,
Aletha Maybank, I'm a pediatrician preventive medicine doc,
by training. But I've spent most of my
career in governmental public health,
and I've been in places and health departments
even more specifically,
leading local public health efforts,
(00:41):
both in New York City and in Long
Island as well in New York. And then
kind of tangent to that, you know, and
is affiliated with the role is also supporting
the institution
in starting,
their equity efforts
to embed equity,
across the entirety of the institution and start
building in that lens and mindset.
And then I was recruited to AMA,
(01:03):
about six years ago
and was their senior vice president and inaugural
chief health equity officer there
to help support,
starting a center for health equity, but also
working across their different, you know, constituencies
and, areas within the institution to also embed
equity and support that evolution, not only at
AMA, but I think the totality of medicine
(01:24):
as well. And now I'm kind of in
the space of I serve as a health
strategist and health advisor to several, companies and
institutions
as well as to individuals. I've been doing
more at the intersection of arts and health,
and and figuring out what I'm gonna do,
moving forward.
Got it. Got it. And I'm moving forward
into the meat of the podcast a bit.
(01:46):
Can you talk about the top trends that
you're keeping an eye on in health care
today?
Yes. For me, I think, you know, it's
it's it's a lot.
Because there's a lot, as we know,
on the the horizon right now, that is
at risk or
already has been eliminated, whether it's funding people,
positions,
(02:07):
certain types of values, and and mission,
in the way that we do this work.
And I think, you know, the greatest concern
is
watching
so many people start to
lose context to,
access to different health opportunities.
We see it in the context of lack
of communication and decreased communication
across the board when you don't have CDC
(02:29):
present in the way that they used to
to help support
messaging and and getting the information out and
working with local partners in the way that's
needed.
But we also see, you know, reduction of
research dollars,
that is happening across the board with with
many institutions. We see the reduction of
equity
explicit positions,
(02:49):
and work,
that has been happening. So, you know, the
overall trend is you start to get concerned
about
and not even start. We are concerned
that this vision to be able to have
optimal health for all
is, severely impacted,
in a negative way.
And so, you know, we have to keep
focusing
(03:09):
on our advocacy,
our collective advocacy, and our individual advocacy
towards what we know is right and and
what we deserve as humans, and and that's
health and good health.
Absolutely.
And now that we've talked about the trends
a bit,
going forward in the
second half of twenty twenty five, what are
you most focused on and excited about?
(03:32):
I'm most focused on
well, I'm now that I've, you know, resigned.
I'm most focused on, you know, figuring out
what what is the next path that I
wanna take individually,
who do I wanna work with,
where do I wanna be, and leverage the
talents and the relationships
that I have. But especially at this moment
(03:52):
of time,
that brings some level of excitement
for me, to have that space and opportunity.
However, it's all in the context of what's
really scary at this moment
for many people across this country. And I
even think from just the personal context of
many of us. You know, our parents and
our families, you know, are are being directly
impacted.
(04:13):
And when that happens and those conversations are
happening around our tables and in our homes,
it really it really kind of speaks
to the level of urgency,
that is really needed at this moment to
have change that is gonna be productive for
for all, and and it's very clear that
that's not what's happening. And so it's hitting
our homes hard emotionally,
(04:34):
financially. And
so, you know,
excitement is is there, I believe, in the
context of having joy and being able to
experience that, that it's part of survival.
But it's also important to contextualize
any of that in the realities of where
we're at in this country.
Yeah. Absolutely.
And now that we spoke about the future
a bit, looking back in the last six
(04:55):
to eighteen months, can you talk about something
that you're most proud of, maybe that you
did at your prior role or maybe starting
up your new LLC?
Sure. I mean, my my,
so I did launch a film company,
with several other folks,
called Truth Light. We're in the very beginning
parts of this, and I it's an uphill
(05:16):
was it a learning curve that's straight up
for me, I guess, because I have not
been trained as a filmmaker, but I, you
know, I know that there's the possibility to
still have,
my voice and my present. I'm working with
other people who are filmmakers.
And the idea is, you know, how do
we expand this narrative around health? That has
been a thread of my career.
I feel how health is demonstrated
(05:37):
in communication vehicles across this country.
It's very narrow.
And if you think about it, most shows
on TV, when you think about health explicitly,
they're all happening in the emergency room, like,
all of them. You don't see the other
aspects in the totality of all the different
ways that how health shapes and informs who
we are or what shapes health and and
(05:58):
how that informs who we are and how
we show up. So that's what the company
is to do. And so I'm very excited
and very proud to have started that and
kind of branched out into a space that
isn't fully familiar, but in terms of, you
know, the process of of how to do
it and how to make that sauce per
se, however,
fully familiar in terms of the importance of
(06:19):
messaging and and how do we get people
to change.
You know? How do we inspire action beyond
what people normally do? And that's what all
of us are working to do as health
professionals
is to inspire action to have healthier lives,
but that's not always,
an easy thing to do. And I think
it takes creativity
and skill to do that.
Got it. That is definitely something to be
(06:41):
proud of. And now with all of your
passion and the pivots you've been able to
make in your career, I'm wondering what advice
would you give to evolving leaders maybe looking
to have the same impact in their careers
as you have?
My advice
you know, I I've been reflecting a lot
on this, and it comes back to
almost my very first week of working
(07:02):
as a professional past
my two years of clinical years when I
was a practice as a pediatrician, and I
started
in the office of minority health out in
Suffolk County, Long Island, and I was creating
that office. And I was actually check cashing
a check,
my first paycheck. This is, you know, a
long time ago. We don't do that anymore,
do we? We don't go to the bank
to do it, typically.
(07:24):
And I was at the teller counter and,
you know, the individual behind was trying to
have a conversation. You could clearly see I
was in a rush.
And he said to me, because it right
away, he said you know, as I I
was getting ready to to leave, he said,
doctor,
I want you to remember, it's always all
about relationships.
And I I'll never forget that. And I
(07:46):
think that has been the absolute,
I wanna I wanna say power,
that I have had in my career,
and that is what has created the power
in a sense that I've had. I think
the trust and the credibility
that I've had, throughout my career is
really understanding the foundation of having relationships
and building them and having centered those
(08:08):
and not be transactional,
I think, has been the momentum
for what I have been able to create,
and it will be the momentum for what
I do moving forward.
Excellent advice. Well, doctor Maybank, I've enjoyed our
time today. But before I let you go,
is there anything else that listeners should know?
No. You know, I think at this moment
(08:28):
in time,
I would, you know, encourage us to to
reach out to one another. I think right
now, we all
are feeling,
moments of isolation,
especially in these roles that we have
within health. Again, it's a scary time. This
is where we do need to rely and
call upon each other more than ever
(08:48):
and understand
that the ecosystem in its wholeness is what's
gonna be most helpful than in our silos
and and isolated. So I just encourage us
to to engage with one another. One, just
for support, emotional support, but also for strategic
thinking and strategic planning
on what is possible so that we can
build power to create change.
(09:10):
A great note. And, doctor Mabing, I wanna
thank you once again for your time today
and for sharing your insights on the Becker's
Healthcare podcast. Thank you. Thank you.
Hello, and welcome to the Becker's Healthcare podcast.
My name is Chanel Bonger. Today, I'm thrilled
to speak with doctor Aletha Mabing, a health
strategist and president and CEO at Novella Wells
LLC, who joins the podcast today to share
insights in her background, health care trends she's
keeping in there, and a bit more. Doctor
Maybank, thank you so much for joining me.
Could you get us started out by introducing
yourself and telling us a bit about your
(00:21):
background in health care?
Yes. Hi.
My background,
Aletha Maybank, I'm a pediatrician preventive medicine doc,
by training. But I've spent most of my
career in governmental public health,
and I've been in places and health departments
even more specifically,
leading local public health efforts,
(00:41):
both in New York City and in Long
Island as well in New York. And then
kind of tangent to that, you know, and
is affiliated with the role is also supporting
the institution
in starting,
their equity efforts
to embed equity,
across the entirety of the institution and start
building in that lens and mindset.
And then I was recruited to AMA,
(01:03):
about six years ago
and was their senior vice president and inaugural
chief health equity officer there
to help support,
starting a center for health equity, but also
working across their different, you know, constituencies
and, areas within the institution to also embed
equity and support that evolution, not only at
AMA, but I think the totality of medicine
(01:24):
as well. And now I'm kind of in
the space of I serve as a health
strategist and health advisor to several, companies and
institutions
as well as to individuals. I've been doing
more at the intersection of arts and health,
and and figuring out what I'm gonna do,
moving forward.
Got it. Got it. And I'm moving forward
into the meat of the podcast a bit.
(01:46):
Can you talk about the top trends that
you're keeping an eye on in health care
today?
Yes. For me, I think, you know, it's
it's it's a lot.
Because there's a lot, as we know,
on the the horizon right now, that is
at risk or
already has been eliminated, whether it's funding people,
positions,
(02:07):
certain types of values, and and mission,
in the way that we do this work.
And I think, you know, the greatest concern
is
watching
so many people start to
lose context to,
access to different health opportunities.
We see it in the context of lack
of communication and decreased communication
across the board when you don't have CDC
(02:29):
present in the way that they used to
to help support
messaging and and getting the information out and
working with local partners in the way that's
needed.
But we also see, you know, reduction of
research dollars,
that is happening across the board with with
many institutions. We see the reduction of
equity
explicit positions,
(02:49):
and work,
that has been happening. So, you know, the
overall trend is you start to get concerned
about
and not even start. We are concerned
that this vision to be able to have
optimal health for all
is, severely impacted,
in a negative way.
And so, you know, we have to keep
focusing
(03:09):
on our advocacy,
our collective advocacy, and our individual advocacy
towards what we know is right and and
what we deserve as humans, and and that's
health and good health.
Absolutely.
And now that we've talked about the trends
a bit,
going forward in the
second half of twenty twenty five, what are
you most focused on and excited about?
(03:32):
I'm most focused on
well, I'm now that I've, you know, resigned.
I'm most focused on, you know, figuring out
what what is the next path that I
wanna take individually,
who do I wanna work with,
where do I wanna be, and leverage the
talents and the relationships
that I have. But especially at this moment
(03:52):
of time,
that brings some level of excitement
for me, to have that space and opportunity.
However, it's all in the context of what's
really scary at this moment
for many people across this country. And I
even think from just the personal context of
many of us. You know, our parents and
our families, you know, are are being directly
impacted.
(04:13):
And when that happens and those conversations are
happening around our tables and in our homes,
it really it really kind of speaks
to the level of urgency,
that is really needed at this moment to
have change that is gonna be productive for
for all, and and it's very clear that
that's not what's happening. And so it's hitting
our homes hard emotionally,
(04:34):
financially. And
so, you know,
excitement is is there, I believe, in the
context of having joy and being able to
experience that, that it's part of survival.
But it's also important to contextualize
any of that in the realities of where
we're at in this country.
Yeah. Absolutely.
And now that we spoke about the future
a bit, looking back in the last six
(04:55):
to eighteen months, can you talk about something
that you're most proud of, maybe that you
did at your prior role or maybe starting
up your new LLC?
Sure. I mean, my my,
so I did launch a film company,
with several other folks,
called Truth Light. We're in the very beginning
parts of this, and I it's an uphill
(05:16):
was it a learning curve that's straight up
for me, I guess, because I have not
been trained as a filmmaker, but I, you
know, I know that there's the possibility to
still have,
my voice and my present. I'm working with
other people who are filmmakers.
And the idea is, you know, how do
we expand this narrative around health? That has
been a thread of my career.
I feel how health is demonstrated
(05:37):
in communication vehicles across this country.
It's very narrow.
And if you think about it, most shows
on TV, when you think about health explicitly,
they're all happening in the emergency room, like,
all of them. You don't see the other
aspects in the totality of all the different
ways that how health shapes and informs who
we are or what shapes health and and
(05:58):
how that informs who we are and how
we show up. So that's what the company
is to do. And so I'm very excited
and very proud to have started that and
kind of branched out into a space that
isn't fully familiar, but in terms of, you
know, the process of of how to do
it and how to make that sauce per
se, however,
fully familiar in terms of the importance of
(06:19):
messaging and and how do we get people
to change.
You know? How do we inspire action beyond
what people normally do? And that's what all
of us are working to do as health
professionals
is to inspire action to have healthier lives,
but that's not always,
an easy thing to do. And I think
it takes creativity
and skill to do that.
Got it. That is definitely something to be
(06:41):
proud of. And now with all of your
passion and the pivots you've been able to
make in your career, I'm wondering what advice
would you give to evolving leaders maybe looking
to have the same impact in their careers
as you have?
My advice
you know, I I've been reflecting a lot
on this, and it comes back to
almost my very first week of working
(07:02):
as a professional past
my two years of clinical years when I
was a practice as a pediatrician, and I
started
in the office of minority health out in
Suffolk County, Long Island, and I was creating
that office. And I was actually check cashing
a check,
my first paycheck. This is, you know, a
long time ago. We don't do that anymore,
do we? We don't go to the bank
to do it, typically.
(07:24):
And I was at the teller counter and,
you know, the individual behind was trying to
have a conversation. You could clearly see I
was in a rush.
And he said to me, because it right
away, he said you know, as I I
was getting ready to to leave, he said,
doctor,
I want you to remember, it's always all
about relationships.
And I I'll never forget that. And I
(07:46):
think that has been the absolute,
I wanna I wanna say power,
that I have had in my career,
and that is what has created the power
in a sense that I've had. I think
the trust and the credibility
that I've had, throughout my career is
really understanding the foundation of having relationships
and building them and having centered those
(08:08):
and not be transactional,
I think, has been the momentum
for what I have been able to create,
and it will be the momentum for what
I do moving forward.
Excellent advice. Well, doctor Maybank, I've enjoyed our
time today. But before I let you go,
is there anything else that listeners should know?
No. You know, I think at this moment
(08:28):
in time,
I would, you know, encourage us to to
reach out to one another. I think right
now, we all
are feeling,
moments of isolation,
especially in these roles that we have
within health. Again, it's a scary time. This
is where we do need to rely and
call upon each other more than ever
(08:48):
and understand
that the ecosystem in its wholeness is what's
gonna be most helpful than in our silos
and and isolated. So I just encourage us
to to engage with one another. One, just
for support, emotional support, but also for strategic
thinking and strategic planning
on what is possible so that we can
build power to create change.
(09:10):
A great note. And, doctor Mabing, I wanna
thank you once again for your time today
and for sharing your insights on the Becker's
Healthcare podcast. Thank you. Thank you.
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