Yvonne Johnson-Phillips, MD, makes history, the first African American president of the Orange Bowl committee.

MIAMI LAKE – Yvonne Johnson-Phillips, MD, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Baptist Health South Miami, Officially Appointed orange bowl 85th President and Committee Chairman as of January 31, 2023. Johnson has been a member of the Orange Bowl Committee (OBC) since 2010. She succeeded former President and Chairman Frank Gonzalez and became the first African American President of the Orange Bowl. Combat Committee.

Johnson-Phillips will oversee the Committee’s continued commitment to the South Florida community, including a full roster of events for 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 the highest-ranked ACC team if the champion is in the playoffs, against a representative from the Big Ten, the SEC, or Notre Dame.

The Orange Bowl and its partners have committed more than $40 million to improving the lives of the South Florida community over the past two decades through their Orange Bowl Cares program, which has four pillars: youth sports, education, community engagement, and heritage programs.

The Legacy Program initiative, in conjunction with local municipalities and partner support, has resulted in over $25 million in improvements to South Florida parks from Homestead to Belle Glade over the past 15 years, including the newest Orange Bowl field at Mitchell Moore Park at Pompano Beach. It also includes an investment to upgrade learning centers in South Florida schools in partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation, which provides assistance to thousands of students each year.

Making history

“I am incredibly honored to be President of the Orange Bowl Committee, and I am extremely proud to be the first black woman to be appointed chairman,” said Yvonne Johnson-Phillips. “I look forward to continuing the Orange Bowl’s 88-year tradition of promoting and serving the South Florida community through a year-round schedule of impressive events and invaluable initiatives, as well as hosting an outstanding, iconic college football game.”

Community Engagement

Johnson-Phillips worked at Baptist Health South Florida for over twenty years, serving as Medical Director of the Emergency Department at South Miami Hospital before taking her current position as Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Johnson has spent much of the past three years serving as a trusted community spokesperson for local and national media, educating the South Florida community about reliable information about the COVID-19 pandemic. Before devoting her professional life exclusively to the practice of hospital management and emergency medicine, Dr. Johnson spent several years in private practice with Dr. Robert Kawa.

Special Olympics

As a Special Olympics board member in Florida and the mother of a Special Olympics athlete, Dr. Johnson-Phillips is proud to be a Special Olympics Associate Partner and runs 5k races with Special Olympics athletes in Miami-Dade County Special Olympics Athletics. competitions. Community organizations in which Dr. Johnson is involved outside of the Orange Bowl Committee and Special Olympics in Florida include chairman of the charity Baptist Health Foundation, Boards of Directors of Our Pride Academy and Casa Familia, Greater Miami Membership. Links, Incorporated and former vice chairman of the Miami Dade Early Learning Coalition.

Dr. Johnson received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine. She completed her residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. Her passion for emergency medicine and Miami-Dade’s cultural diversity has led her to make the South Florida community her home.

elected president

Bradley D. Houser is transitioning to Johnson-Phillips’ former role as president-elect and will serve as the 86th president and chairman from 2024–25. Henry W. Crockett will serve as First Vice Chairman and become President and Chairman in 2025–26. Eric L. Poms enters his 18th year as CEO and celebrates his 30th year on the Orange Bowl Committee.