Yvonne Johnson-Phillips, M.D. Makes History, First African American woman president of the Orange Bowl Committee
MIAMI LAKES – Yvonne Johnson-Phillips, M.D., Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Baptist Health’s South Miami Hospital, has officially been installed as the Orange Bowl Committee’s 85th President and Chair as of January 31, 2023. Johnson has been a member of the Orange Bowl Committee (OBC) since 2010. She succeeds Immediate Past President & Chair, Frank Gonzalez, and becomes the first African American woman president of the Orange Bowl Committee.
Johnson-Phillips will oversee the Committee’s continued commitment to the South Florida community, including a full slate of events highlighted by the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl on December 30 at Hard Rock Stadium. This year’s matchup will feature the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion or highest ranked ACC team if the champion is in the playoff, against a representative from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame.
Orange Bowl and its partners have committed more than $40 million to improving the South Florida community over the past two decades through its Orange Bowl Cares program, which is comprised of four pillars: Youth Sports, Education, Community Engagement and Legacy Programs.
The Legacy Program initiative, in conjunction with local municipalities and partner support, has resulted in more than $25 million worth of improvements to South Florida parks from Homestead to Belle Glade over the last 15 years, including the latest Orange Bowl Field at Mitchell Moore Park in Pompano Beach. It also includes the investment into the redesign of learning centers in schools across South Florida in partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation, which impacts thousands of students each year.
History Making
“It is an incredible honor to serve as president of the Orange Bowl Committee, and I am exceptionally proud to be the first Black woman installed as chair,” said Yvonne Johnson-Phillips. “I look forward to carrying on Orange Bowl’s 88-year tradition of promoting and serving the South Florida community through a year-round schedule of impactful events and invaluable initiatives, as well as hosting an outstanding, iconic college football bowl game.”
Community Engagement
Johnson-Phillips has been with Baptist Health South Florida for over twenty years, serving as a Medical Director of the Emergency Department at South Miami Hospital prior to accepting her current position as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Johnson has spent much of the last three years serving as a trusted community messenger on local and national media, educating the South Florida community with reliable information on the COVID-19 pandemic. Before dedicating her professional life exclusively to the practice of hospital administration and Emergency Medicine, Dr. Johnson was in private practice for several years with Dr. Robert Cava.
Special Olympics
As a board member for Special Olympics Florida and a mother of a Special Olympics athlete, Dr. Johnson-Phillips is proud to have become a Special Olympics Unified Partner and runs 5k races with Special Olympics athletes in the Miami Dade Special Olympics County Track and Field competitions. The civic organizations Dr. Johnson is involved with outside of the Orange Bowl Committee and Special Olympics Florida, include physician philanthropy chair of the Baptist Health Foundation, the boards of directors of Our Pride Academy and Casa Familia, membership in the Greater Miami Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and past vice chair of the Miami Dade Early Learning Coalition.
Dr. Johnson received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine. She completed her residency at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. Her passion for the excitement of emergency medicine and the cultural diversity of Miami-Dade has led her to make the South Florida community her home.
President-Elect
Bradley D. Houser moves into Johnson-Phillips’ former role as President-Elect and will serve as the 86th President and Chair during the 2024-25 year. Henri W. Crockett will serve as the First Vice-Chair and will become President and Chair in 2025-26. Eric L. Poms enters his 18th year as the Chief Executive Officer and marks his 30th year with the Orange Bowl Committee.
