Dr. Knitasha V. Washington, DHA, MHA, FACHE

Dr. Knitasha Washington, DHA, FACHE, is a nationally esteemed leader in healthcare transformation, celebrated as a humanitarian, visionary thought leader, and pioneering architect of high-performing healthcare systems and communities. Recognized for advancing health equity, patient-centered care, and evidence-based healthcare practices, Dr. Washington has consistently championed policies and innovations that create sustainable improvements across the healthcare spectrum.

As the founder, President, and CEO of ATW Health Solutions—a globally recognized, woman-owned management consulting firm—Dr. Washington has guided ATW to become a premier partner to government agencies, healthcare systems, and organizations across the nation. Under her leadership, ATW Health Solutions delivers expert consulting, data-driven insights, and transformative system solutions that measurably improve healthcare outcomes. Notably, ATW’s collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through the Partnership for Patients initiative achieved monumental results: saving an estimated 87,000 lives, reducing 2.1 million instances of patient harm, and generating $19.8 billion in healthcare cost savings. In Illinois, ATW’s work on stroke disparities contributed to the development of Illinois HB5014, legislation promoting community-based education as a proactive intervention for stroke prevention. These accomplishments exemplify ATW’s impact on quality, safety, and health equity.

Dr. Washington’s commitment to social justice is a central force in her work, driving her nationally recognized efforts to reduce healthcare disparities and champion equitable, patient-centered care. Her leadership extends to influential board roles with the National Quality Forum (NQF) and the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE), where she has shaped policies and practices aimed at enhancing healthcare quality and safety for all communities.

Her passion for healthcare improvement is deeply personal. After the preventable loss of her father due to a medical error in 2009, Dr. Washington became an outspoken advocate for quality improvement and harm reduction, especially for vulnerable populations. This personal mission has fueled her relentless pursuit of healthcare safety and harm elimination, ensuring that her work resonates on both a professional and personal level.

Dr. Washington’s outstanding contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2023 Governors State University Alumni Leadership Award, the 2017 CMS Leadership Award, the 2014 Governors State University Luminary Pioneer Award, and the 2013 American College of Healthcare Executives Regents Health Care Leadership Award. Most recently, in 2024, she was honored with the FORUM IMPACT Women in Leadership Award for her transformative leadership and contributions to the healthcare sector.

Dr. Washington is a visionary whose influence reverberates across the healthcare industry. Her steadfast commitment to systemic improvement and equity has established her as a trusted voice and a catalyst for positive, lasting change in healthcare delivery. Through her extensive body of work, Dr. Washington continues to lead the way in building a more equitable, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare landscape.

She holds a Doctorate of Health Administration from Central Michigan University, Masters Degree from Governors State University and Bachelor of Arts from Chicago State University. She is the proud mother of Knadya, Antwon and grandmother to Zuri-Jae Reign.