Becoming a Professional Patient — A Self-Advocacy Masterclass

Dr. Annette Okai is fellowship trained in Multiple Sclerosis. She is the Director of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research at North Texas Institute of Neurology and Headache in Plano, TX, and Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at Texas Tech University Health Science Center. Dr. Okai is a diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. In addition to her clinical practice, she is actively engaged in multiple clinical trials in multiple sclerosis and is published in several neurological journals. She is a graduate of MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine (now Drexel School of Medicine) in Philadelphia. She completed her neurology residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Dr. Okai was the recipient of the National MS Society fellowship award and a fellowship grant from the National Institutes of Health. She completed a two-year fellowship in clinical neuroimmunology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and a graduate certificate in public health.

Brianna Pearson serves as We Are ILL’s Volunteer & Program Manager. She obtained her degree in Health Information Management and currently works as an senior analyst for a revenue cycle management company. Brianna was diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in August 2021 after losing vision and feeling in her left side. Getting diagnosed in the middle of a pandemic while dealing with postpartum depression took a toll on her. After a lot of therapy and finding the We Are ILL community, she finally began to process and accept her new normal. Her goal is to encourage others dealing with MS to find community and practice self-advocacy — an aspect that also played a huge part in where she is at today with her own care. Brianna also went on to become a member of the National MS Society’s Emerging Leaders Board and helped raise over $100,000 at her first fundraising event. She has fearlessly shared her story across various platforms, including Rush Medical Center, WebMD, WAI and blogs within the community. She was born and raised in Detroit, MI. Brianna relocated to Chicago, IL, in 2019 after marrying her best friend and blending their families together, becoming a mother of four.

Dr. Keziah Tinkle-Williams, an award-winning instructor, creative technologist, and researcher, has a long history of supporting diversity and inclusion. In addition to teaching English Composition, Humanities, and African American Studies, Dr. Tinkle-Williams serves as co-Chair of the Ethnic Studies Instructional Council, making decisions that impact ethnic studies course offerings for the Maricopa County Community Colleges District. After completing a Ph.D. in General Psychology, with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction, Dr. Tinkle-Williams has consulted with several organizations as a cognitive psychologist, in addition to presenting workshops about racial bias and artificial intelligence.

Dr. Mitzi Joi Williams is a Board-Certified Neurologist and fellowship trained Multiple Sclerosis Specialist who serves as the Founder & CEO of the Joi Life Wellness Group Multiple Sclerosis Center in Newnan, GA. She is considered a subject matter expert in neurology, multiple sclerosis and health disparities. Dr. Williams has over 15 years of experience in the field of multiple sclerosis. She received her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and received her Doctor of Medicine Degree from Morehouse School of Medicine also in Atlanta, Georgia. She completed her Internal Medicine Internship, Neurology Residency, and Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship at Georgia Health Sciences University (formerly MCG) in Augusta, GA, where she received numerous accolades and served as Chief Resident of the Neurology Residency Program. Dr. Williams has spearheaded and participated in multiple steering committees and work groups to further research in underserved populations with MS with a focus on the African American population. She serves as a board member with We Are ILL, and has recently joined efforts to increase diversity in clinical trials and educate the community about the importance of research participation. Through collaborations with national and international committees, she advocates for people living with MS to share in the decision-making process with their healthcare teams to combat this disease. Dr. Williams is the author of “MS Made Simple: The Essential Guide to Understanding Your Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis.” She continues to live out her mission to provide personalized multiple sclerosis care delivered with expertise, compassion and joy.

Diagnosed in 2019, Nicole is focused on living and thriving with multiple sclerosis. She prioritizes self-advocacy, leveraging a dynamic and loving support system to overcome her MS challenges, and elevating and empowering the voices and experiences of African Americans living with MS. She resides in Chicago, Illinois, and professionally provides executive coaching to organization leaders.

Nwandi Williams is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Georgia. She graduated with her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University. Much of her career has been focused on underserved communities, particularly helping adolescents, adults and families navigate traumatic experiences and the impact those experiences have on their lives. In February 2023, Nwandi launched Release To Peace, LLC. With “helping women pursue peace on purpose” as its mission, Release To Peace aims to create a space for women to unveil, navigate and release trauma-ridden narratives that reinforce shame, guilt, and distrust of self, so that they can live lives that reflect hope, fulfillment and peace. As an MS warrior, Nwandi prides herself in bringing not only her clinical background to the table, but also her lived experiences with mental health in relation to living with a chronic health condition. Nwandi resides in Atlanta, GA. She enjoys the beach and has a newfound passion for travel.

Anita Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2015. She began her advocacy work soon after as a founding member of the Minority Research Engagement Partnership Network (MS MREPN). Anita is a member of the iConquerMS RIDE Council and is Co-Chair of the Engagement Committee. She has consulted on a variety of MS-related research projects.