Corey Dion Lewis
Clinical health coach, Broadlawns Medical Center
Age: 39
Spouse: Heidi Lewis
Children: Vivien and Hudson
Reasons he is a Forty: Corey served on the Iowa Healthiest State’s “Make It OK” campaign committee to bring mental health awareness to the African American community. He engaged in several Broadlawns Medical Center community impact projects. He organized the My City My Health conference, which explored the realm of health equity during the one-day in-person event. He created the “Healthy Project” podcast, which provides culturally competent and aware education and resources to address health disparities and promote health equity in diverse communities.
What are your goals in your role at your company? At Broadlawns, I aim to inspire and motivate the community we serve to reconsider their approach to health, while providing them with the necessary resources and tools to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
What are your goals for your community involvement? Through my podcast, "The Healthy Project," I aim to raise awareness and advocate for health equity. I also strive to bring attention to health disparities and find solutions to these issues through my health equity conference, My City My Health.
What's your biggest passion, and why? My family. I represent them in everything I do and I want to make them proud.
What is it that drives you? Growing up, I was surrounded by a culture of chronic illness and easily preventable diseases that were claiming the lives of my loved ones. As a child, witnessing this motivated me to want to be part of the solution.
What are your future aspirations? I envision My City My Health pushing the limits in health equity conferences held in Des Moines. I anticipate the growth of the conference, culminating in the eventual hosting of a global health equity conference, known as My World My Health Conference in Des Moines.
Three hobbies: Basketball, podcasting and smoking meats.
Fun fact: Corey has written and acted in a short film called “The Mustache Movie.” “It's so stupid, it's funny,” he says.
One word to describe you: Disruptive.
What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? I would love to have a deeper and more meaningful conversation about the root causes and solutions to improve health equity and justice for our most vulnerable communities.
What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? Never stop learning. Find your community and build with people that may not see your vision, but love you enough to help you bring it to life.
What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address? An area that I believe deserves attention is the problem of lack of physical activity. Populations such as minorities, those with lower socioeconomic status, individuals with disabilities and those with limited education experience higher rates of inactivity, which increases their susceptibility to preventable health issues. Providing access to secure and inclusive environments for physical activity for all, including men, women and children, would be highly beneficial.
Anything else you haven't addressed that people must know about you? My favorite quote. "Dreamers are the saviors of the world. As the visible world is sustained by the invisible, so men, through all their trials and sins and sordid vocations, are nourished by the beautiful visions of their solitary dreamers" [author James Allen]. Dreamers are the ones who dare to imagine a world that is different from the one we currently live in. We have the courage to envision a future that is better, brighter, and more fulfilling than what we currently have. Through our visions and dreams, we inspire others to believe in the possibility of a better future, and to work toward making it a reality. So if you are a dreamer, never give up on your dreams. Know that your visions and aspirations are what drive humanity forward and inspire others to strive for greatness. Your dreams may seem impossible to achieve at times, but with persistence and determination, you can make them a reality.