Felicia Hance Stewart, M.D., was appointed as the Director of Reproductive Health Programs for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation in August 1996.  Prior to her appointment, Dr. Stewart served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services, where she was the senior national official responsible for family planning and population issues.

Dr. Stewart, who is an obstetrician/gynecologist, is a distinguished clinician and researcher.  She has published widely on contraception and family planning issues and co-authored several important textbooks in the field.  From 1973 to 1994 Dr. Stewart was a practicing physician at the Sutter Medical Group/Sutter Medical Foundation in Sacramento, California, while also serving during that as staff physician and associate medical director at Planned Parenthood of the Sacramento Valley.  She has been the principal investigator on numerous major research projects, and has served on many national scientific and professional advisory and scientific review committees.

Dr. Stewart received her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of California, Berkeley, and her medical degree from Harvard Medical School.

As Director of Reproductive Health Programs, Dr. Stewart is responsible for one of the Foundation’s four major program areas.  The Foundation’s work on reproductive health focuses on improving services for low-income women and preventing unintended pregnancy.