Board Member
Julie Morita, MD, is President & CEO and a board member of The Joyce Foundation, where she oversees the charitable distribution of approximately $65 million annually from $1.3 billion in assets. Previously, she served as Executive Vice President of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, leading national grantmaking and strategy to advance racial and health equity. Earlier in her career, Dr. Morita spent nearly two decades with the Chicago Department of Public Health, culminating in her appointment as Commissioner, where she oversaw the public health needs of nearly 3 million residents and led citywide efforts to embed health equity into policy and practice.
A nationally recognized public health leader, Dr. Morita has advised the White House, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. Her lifelong commitment to equity—shaped by her family’s experience with the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II—has guided her work across philanthropy and public service. Dr. Morita earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Illinois, completed her residency at the University of Minnesota, and began her career as a pediatrician before entering public health through the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service.
Why are you joining the Board
I am honored to support the work of the Greater Chicago Food Depository because it not only helps meet the basic needs of more than 800,000 people each year, but also works to build a stronger future by investing in food access, economic opportunity, and community-driven solutions that help neighborhoods thrive.
What does this work, and mission mean to you?
I am inspired by the Greater Chicago Food Depository's belief that food is a human right and that hunger is a challenge we can solve together. That belief resonates deeply with my commitment to advancing health equity because good health begins with meeting basic needs. Ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious food is one of the most powerful ways we can create the conditions for people and communities to thrive. It reflects both compassion and determination, along with a deep commitment to human dignity and opportunity.