Executive Director
Reggie Ivey is a seasoned public health leader with more than 30 years in the field and nearly three decades of service to the Tulsa Health Department (THD). From 1992 to 1955, Ivey was employed by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, serving in the HIV/STD Division. Ivey credits his experience working with clients who tested positive for HIV or who were recently diagnosed with AIDS as a training ground for learning about people from diverse backgrounds. He also honed his ability to care for and be compassionate toward the most vulnerable. Ivey has held the position of Associate Executive Director for 13 years. He began his career at THD in 1995 as a Health Education Specialist. He later became Manager of the Health Education Department and the Tulsa Healthy Start Initiative. This initiative aims to reduce infant mortality in Tulsa County. In 2003, Ivey left THD for one year to serve as Executive Director of the Margaret Hudson Program. This is a school for pregnant and parenting teens. He returned to THD in 2004, as Associate Director of Community Health Services. In 2011, he was appointed by the Board of Health to serve as interim director for 13 months.
Ivey is a tireless advocate for addressing health disparities, particularly the divide between North and South Tulsa. He emphasizes the importance of tackling the social determinants of health to bridge this gap and is a well-respected expert in the field. His accomplishments include spearheading the creation of the Tulsa Health Department’s North Regional Health and Wellness Center, located at 56th Street North & Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, securing funding for key public health projects, leading multiple community engagement collaboratives, growing THD’s general fund to the highest it has been historically, serving as a founding member and current chairperson of Be Well Community Development Corporation (a non-profit organization, that has provided financial literacy, homebuyer education and down payment assistance to 58 families that have purchased homes in the last two years through the North Tulsa Forward Program). He served as the first Healthy Start program manager for nine years. He developed THD’s first nutrition and fitness program for elementary-aged children. He has led efforts to improve the client experience by launching remodeling projects to improve all THD sites in Tulsa County. Ivey has spearheaded numerous health prevention and equity conferences, established the THD Office of Health Equity, promoted the development and training of the THD management team, led the process to develop a Workforce Development Plan, and was closely involved from beginning to completion of THD’s most recent Strategic Plan. Ivey frequently leads discussions on health equity and social justice, using data and research to highlight systemic inequalities that affect marginalized communities. His work is driven by a deep commitment to breaking the cycles of poverty and poor health. This includes establishing an annual two-day conference in Tulsa to highlight the systems-level changes required for true health equity led by local and national experts in health equity and social justice.
Ivey has served as a Literature Reviewer for the Oklahoma State Department of Health for HIV/AIDS materials. He has been an Objective Reviewer for the Oklahoma Abstinence-Only Education Project. He also served as an Objective Reviewer for Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children, a federal grant.
Ivey is the author of “A Black Woman’s Pain”, an Op-Ed published in the Tulsa World in 2023. He has written articles for the Oklahoma Eagle and the Tulsa Healthcare Journal.
A graduate of Northeastern State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and communication, Ivey also holds a master’s in human relations with an emphasis on organizational development from the University of Oklahoma. He further pursued postgraduate studies in organizational leadership and was a Fellow at the National Public Health Leadership Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is an Oklahoma Public Health Leadership Institute Fellow and a Leadership Tulsa Fellow (Class 50). In 2021, Ivey completed a Healthy Communities Fellowship through the Aspen Institute.
Throughout his career, Ivey has worked to improve public health systems, provided resources to underserved communities, and challenged oppressive practices. Ivey also served on the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Board of Directors, reflecting his national influence on public health policy. In addition to his professional roles, Ivey is deeply involved in various local organizations. Some of the boards he has served on include the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation, Greater Tulsa African American Affairs Commission, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League, and the Oklahoma Public Health Association, where he led as President of the Board. Ivey currently serves on the Healthy Minds Advisory Board, the Booker T. Washington High School Distinguished Hall of Fame Board, and the Be Well Community Development Corporation Board, as Chairperson.
Ivey’s leadership and dedication have earned him recognition, including the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award - Northeastern State University, Outstanding Public Service Award, and Supervisor of the Year (Tulsa Health Department). In 2019, he was awarded the North Tulsa Visionary Leadership Award from the North Tulsa Community Coalition. In 2017, Ivey received the Exceptional Merit Award from the Oklahoma Public Health Association. He also received the Circle of Friends Community Service Award from The Links, Inc.
Reggie was married to his late wife Ida for 24 years and is a proud father of two young adults. Ivey is most proud of the impact he and his wife have had in shaping the lives of their children, Jeremiah a 2024 graduate of Fisk University, and Kaiden, a 2024 graduate of Jackson State University. His role in positively shaping the future of Tulsa County’s 600,000 residents’ health is solidified not just through his career accomplishments, but also through his personal values and vision for the community. A passionate advocate for structural change, he remains steadfast in his mission to create healthier, more equitable futures for Tulsa County families. His leadership serves as a model for others in the public health field. It demonstrates the power of dedication, empathy, and tireless commitment to social justice. Ivey’s contributions extend far beyond his position at the Tulsa Health Department. He will continue to inspire others through his advocacy and leadership in health equity.