Dr. Imani Ma’at is a Health Educator and Behavioral Scientist with over 22 years of experience at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specializing in community and international health, HIV/AIDS, and chronic disease prevention. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Master of Public Health Program at Morehouse School of Medicine.
As a leader, educator, and author, Dr. Ma’at designs impactful wellness programs and is the creator of the Healthy Haiku method, an innovative approach that combines health education with creative expression to empower youth and communities.
Education
Dr. Ma’at has earned degrees from:
- Mount Holyoke College
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Harvard University
- Teachers College, Columbia University
Awards & Recognition
Healthy Haiku Training Manual – Research & Achievement Award
The Healthy Haiku Training Manual and approach was evaluated through a Postdoctoral Fellowship in collaboration with Morehouse School of Medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Tuskegee University. The program received an Achievement Award for its evaluation research.
Professional Background
Dr. Imani Ma’at is a Health Educator and Behavioral Scientist who worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 22 years. She specialized in community and international health, HIV/AIDS, and chronic diseases.
She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at Morehouse School of Medicine, where she teaches courses such as Women’s Health and Development, Research Methods, and Intercultural Communications and Health.
Dr. Ma’at is the CEO of Focused Health, LLC, a company specializing in educational workshop design and implementation, as well as focus group design, implementation, and data analysis.
Youth & Community Impact
Driven by her passion for youth development and the arts, Dr. Ma’at co-founded Youth Educational Services (Y.E.S.) 4 Health, Inc., a non-profit organization combining theater and health education.
She later launched the Healthy Haiku 4 Youth poetry workshop series, which has been systematically evaluated through a Fellowship involving Morehouse School of Medicine, Tuskegee University, and the University of Alabama. This work documents the effectiveness of using creative expression as a tool for health education and behavioral change.
Publications & Healthy Haiku Series
Dr. Ma’at has authored multiple books based on the Healthy Haiku method:
Promoting Healthy Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors Among Youth Using Haiku and Creative Expression: A Training Manual for Mentors
A comprehensive guide addressing topics such as HIV, violence, self-esteem, nutrition, and exercise, while incorporating poetry and creative expression.
Healthy Haiku Poetry: Using Creative Expression to Transform Youth
Focuses on empowering youth through artistic expression and self-awareness.
Healthy Haiku 3: How to Fight Childhood Obesity One Poem at a Time
This book:Serves as a platform for health awareness discussions
Guides youth and mentors through nutritional health topics
Introduces English Language Arts and Haiku poetry
Encourages creative reflection on health behaviors
Provides a “Power Source Prompt (PSP)” for real-life decision-making
Read Dr. Imani’s featured interview on MysticMag to learn more about her work, philosophy, and approach to wellness. Read Here
Haiku is like a vortex of energy; a haiku moment is a moment of absolute intensity in which the poet’s grasp of his intuition is complete and the image he describes lives its own life. The art of haiku is to frame reality in a single instant that will lock the poet and reader into sharing the same experience.