Danita Johnson Woods, Ph.D.

President and CEO, Edgewater Health

As Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Danita Johnson Woods leads Edgewater Health in providing behavioral health care, primary care, and social health care services to residents of all ages residing in Gary and Northwest Indiana. Her goal is to help make a measurable difference in community health and well-being. Her personal mission is to serve as a leader who inspires and teaches as many people as possible for as long as possible to live their best lives. She specializes in organization turnaround and has had remarkable success in giving new life to troubled organizations. 

Edgewater Health has enjoyed continuous success under her more than 25 years of leadership. She has led several major initiatives for the organization. The Rapid Access Center (RAC) is the first of its kind in Indiana for persons in crisis and experiencing acute psychiatric distress. 

In August of 2016, Edgewater began expanding its model of integrated healthcare by acquiring primary care practices in Gary and Griffith, and most recently completed a new startup in Cedar Lake specializing in women’s health. 

Edgewater Health has completed several housing projects to address the shortage of adequate housing for individuals and families in the community. The most recent project was a $16M state-of-the-art housing complex. 

Throughout her career, Dr. Danita Johnson Woods has been recognized for her many accomplishments including receiving the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, the state’s highest civilian honor. She is also the recipient of the state of Indiana Governor’s Distinguished Hoosier Award and an inductee into the Northwest Indiana Business & Industry Hall of Fame. 

Danita is a speaker and four-time author. Her most recent book The Women’s Little Purple Book for Leadership can be found on Amazon.com and has already captured ten best-seller spots, including in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Her previous book, The Unapologetic Woman, is also a best seller. It has earned ten number one spots in the United States, Canada, and Germany. Through her work, she inspires people to dream big and understand the role personal responsibility plays in achieving success. 

Dr. Johnson Woods is a graduate of Indiana University earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Public Administration, a master’s degree in Social Service Administration and a graduate certificate in Health Administration and Policy from the University of Chicago. Additionally, she earned a Ph.D. from Walden University.

She stays active in professional and civic activities. She is a member of the Northern Indiana Chapter of the Links Incorporated, and a member of the Eta Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She is an avid runner and fitness enthusiast. Her commitment to a healthy lifestyle has led her to complete six marathons. Danita is an award-winning porcelain doll artist and doll collector. Her collection consists of over three hundred dolls. She also enjoys supporting Black artists of various media and styles and she has an extensive collection of Black art.