Capri Fowler

Capri Fowler currently spearheads multi-year strategic planning efforts and implements data collection processes to track outcomes and impacts for NCC, a DC-based disability service provider. She believes in the power of supportive communities which is why she invests her time in non-profit organizations like NCC and the Veteran Health and Wellness Foundation (VHWF).

​Before starting her career, Capri took it upon herself to learn about service-related challenges, specifically within the healthcare system. With guidance from VHWF, Capri conducted independent research as an undergraduate on barriers to care for veterans and service members. This research gave her the opportunity to converse with key leaders at VA medical hospitals, civilian doctors with experience in the Armed Forces, and veterans across various demographics, branches of service, and war era involvement. The barriers her analysis addressed were limitations in healthcare access and obstacles caused by stigma and reintegration challenges. During that time she also helped a small team of doctors open Premier Health Express Urgent Care, a clinic geared toward veterans and military families in Central Maryland. She spoke about her Foundation research and the veteran urgent care as part of an interview segment which aired on ABC.

Capri earned two bachelors degrees from the University of Wisconsin, a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders (speech and hearing science), and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. During her time at the university, she competed in collegiate athletics as part of Division I’s Big Ten Conference. She was also an active member of V.E.T.S., an organization that works to bridge the gap between student veterans and traditional students.

Capri is very proud of those who have served in her family including her brother-in-law, a Marine Corps Captain now on active duty, and her grandfather, a Vietnam-era Army Veteran. She resides in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area and is grateful to be involved in the mission of the Veteran Health and Wellness Foundation (VHWF) because it gives her the opportunity to give back to the men, women, and families who have served and who are currently serving our nation.

Shirley M. Bowens

Shirley M. Bowens is a native of Duluth, Minnesota. Shirley attended the University of Minnesota-School of Nursing earning a Bachelor of Science degree. She also earned a dual master’s degree in Public Health and Maternal-Child Health including a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate while attending the University of Minnesota-School of Public Health.

Shirley later attended St. Catherine University- School of Nursing in St. Paul, Minnesota and was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Pediatric Nursing. She is a certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and earned the special distinction as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in 2001 and was awarded the “Maryland State Award for Nurse Practitioner Excellence” in 2005.

Her professional work experience includes working as a: Staff Nurse, Maternal-Child Health Clinic Nurse; Public Health Nurse; Nanny School Instructor; Nursing Supervisor; Nurse Specialist Consultant; Medical Recruiter, Nurse Practitioner; Corporate Wellness Consultant, Infection Control Consultant, Senior Nurse Executive, Departmental Assistant Director and Owner/Director of a childcare business.

Shirley proudly served with distinction in the US Navy for 25 years. During this period she deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while serving on-board the USNS COMFORT hospital ship.

Shirley has tirelessly committed her professional career to plan, implement and support the provision of quality and safe health care to civilians, military members, Veterans and their families.

Shirley Bowens resides in Glenn Dale, MD with her husband, Michael, and extended family members.

Evelyn L. Lewis

Dr. Lewis earned her medical degree from the University of the Health Sciences, The Chicago Medical School (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science) and completed a residency in family practice at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL. She completed a two-year faculty development fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center and Pacific Lutheran University with a Masters degree in the Social and Behavioral Sciences.

In June 2003, Dr. Lewis retired from the United States Navy after 25 years of service. During the next seven years, Dr. Lewis was Director Medical Policy World Wide Public Affairs and Policy for Pfizer, Inc. Currently, she serves as Chief Medical Officer for Chroma Health Solutions. She is also the Chief Medical Officer for Warrior Centric Health, LLC. Previous positions with Foundations and other non profit organizations include President of the American Academy Family Physician Foundation, member Board of Directors, Veteran’s Innovation Center, Board Chair for the National Children’s Center, and President Georgia Healthy Family Alliance.

She is an Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Family and Community Health, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Clinical Instructor, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and serves as the American Academy Family Physician’s delegate to the American Medical Association. Previous positions include Senior Researcher in Minority Health and Health Disparities Dillard University; Deputy Director, W. Montague Cobb/ National Medical Association Health Institute; Deputy Vice President for Minority Affairs; Director of the University Health Center; Vice Chair, Department of Family Medicine; Associate Chair for Research, Department of Family Medicine; and teaching faculty at several residency-training programs.

During her tenure at the Uniformed Services University, she was awarded a Project EXPORT grant from the NIH Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities. Her professional and research interests include the impact of culture and cultural competency on healthcare outcomes, Women’s and Veteran’s health, PTSD and TBI, education and training of healthcare professionals, health management and disease prevention, community outreach and engagement, patient safety, health and healthcare disparities, healthcare policy and clinical trials and minority participation.

Dr. Lewis is nationally recognized for her expertise in the areas of Community Outreach, Engagement and Enablement, Veteran Health and Healthcare Issues, Content/Program Development and Evaluation, Cultural Competency, and Health and Healthcare Disparities.

She presents and conducts workshops on those topics and other medical specialty areas nationally and internationally. Dr. Lewis has been tapped as a national and international speaker by many organizations and associations to include: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, National Medical Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Family Physician Foundation, Albany State University, Uniformed Services University, Spelman College, Price Waterhouse, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), Women of Vision, National association of Women Owned Small Businesses, American Federation of Teachers, National AFL-CIO, A. Phillip Randolph Institute, and legislative briefings at the national, regional and local levels.

Dr. Lewis is a Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and the American Academy Family Physicians, a member of several organizations and medical associations to include the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, the National Medical Association (NMA), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Commission to End Healthcare Disparities.

Her military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Medal, Joint Service Commendation, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal. Navy Sea Service Deployment, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service with bronze star, and the Coast Guard Special Operations Service medal.

Some of her most significant awards include:

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