Javette C. Orgain, M.D. M.P.H. R.P.

A lifelong Chicagoan, for Javette’s early childhood and currently, she has lived on the south side of Chicago. However, she was born at Cook County Hospital and has spent much of her life living, going to school, and working on the West Side of Chicago: living in South Lawndale and K-town, attending St. Mary Catholic for her high school diploma, and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) for everything else.  Javette was involved in community organizing in the ABLA homes on Racine and Roosevelt on the near West Side of Chicago.  In the early 80’s, she ran a food co-op for the ABLA-CHA residents because there was no major grocery store close to the area.  She wrote health articles for a community newspaper and tutored math at the local YMCA.

Javette earned her BS in Mathematics, MD, and MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from UIC.  After graduation from UIC College of Medicine, she completed her residency training in family medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chicago on north Lake Shore Drive.  Professionally, Dr. Javette C. Orgain is a family medicine physician and clinical associate professor (courtesy) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), where she practiced from 1985-2017.  She also chaired the Medical Alumni Council.  Dr. Orgain is an inaugural and current board member of Longevity Health Plan of Illinois, and a former home care physician with Vitas Healthcare/Hospice having previously served for more than 20 years.  During her years at UIC, Dr. Orgain was Assistant Dean of the UICCOM Urban Health Program from 2006-2011.  She was Medical Director for UI Health Mile Square Health Center (MSHC), serving for more than eight years throughout her tenure.  In her role as medical director, Dr. Orgain actively participated in the design of the clinical offices at the new MSHC flagship facility in the Illinois Medical District.  She is a former chair of the Illinois State Board of Health.

Dr. Orgain is the 100th President of the National Medical Association (NMA).  She is a past president of the Cook County Physicians Association in Chicago – the local society of the NMA.  Since becoming a member of the NMA, Dr. Orgain has been a chair and trustee from Region IV; chaired the Committee on Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws, Rules Committee, Council on International Affairs, Council on Concerns of Women Physicians, Family Medicine Section, Task Force on Legacy; and served on the Task Force on Judicial Council Reform, and more. Dr. Orgain also served as vice-chair of the Past Presidents Council.  Additionally, she represented the NMA at the World Health Organization Conference on Tobacco Control and was a NMA Delegate to the United Nations after completing the application for NMA to become a non-governmental organization (NGO).

Within the American Academy of Family Physicians, she is and remains only the third woman and first African American Speaker of the Congress of Delegates and continues to advance diversity and equity in family medicine.  Dr. Orgain was the first African American  president and board chair of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians.  Due to her commitment to mentorship,  she is the first female physician, lifetime member of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA).  Dr. Orgain is certified as a Registered Parliamentarian with the National Association of Parliamentarians and is past president of the Illinois State Association of Parliamentarians.  A lifelong active member in the community where she lives, Dr. Orgain has also chaired Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC) Church in Society Ministry.  She is a board member of TUCC Imani Works, chairing the board development committee.

Dr. Orgain has received numerous awards including the NMA Practitioner of the Year Award in 2014, 2023 living legacy award from the Cook County Physicians Association in Chicago, 2025 TUCC Justice Giant Award, and 2026 University of Illinois Alumni Association highest award – the Alumni Achievement Award.  All have been given in recognition of her exceptional professional accomplishments and for exemplifying the enduring value of a distinguished career and lifetime of service.  She is a dynamic African American leader, vital to the Chicago community that she has always served and beyond.