Gaylyn Henderson, MPH is a nationally recognized health advocate, public health professional, and speaker with nearly two decades of experience advancing health equity, chronic disease prevention and management, and large-scale program implementation across federal, state, and community systems.

Gaylyn currently serves as a patient representative for the Stenosis Therapy and Anti-Fibrotic Research (STAR) Consortium, is a member of the IBD Social Circle, and sits on the Patient Advisory Board for Janssen Biotech, Inc. She also served on the Inaugural Patient Advisory Committee for the National Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, where she was honored with the organization’s first-ever Catalyst for Online Community Engagement Award.

Throughout her career, Gaylyn has led and coordinated regional and national initiatives focused on chronic disease prevention and management, women’s health, minority health, and access to care for underserved populations. Her expertise spans grant and budget oversight, policy analysis, program evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and interagency collaboration. She has held senior advisory roles within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including the Office of Minority Health, the Office of Women’s Health, and the Office of Population Affairs, contributing to national efforts addressing health disparities, opioid misuse, family planning access, faith-based partnerships, and emergency preparedness.

As a frequent speaker, Gaylyn delivers compelling talks at national conferences, academic institutions, community forums, and corporate events, bridging public health expertise with lived experience to address topics including chronic illness, disability visibility, patient-centered care, health equity, mental health, and stigma reduction.

Through her advocacy platform @GutlessandGlamorous, Gaylyn is widely recognized as a leading public voice elevating health literacy, mental health awareness, and ostomy visibility. She was featured in the groundbreaking Aerie by American Eagle “Don’t Change You, Change Your Bra” Fall campaign and is now a featured model for Aerie—the first model with an ostomy.

Gaylyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Benedict College (Cum Laude) and a Master of Public Health from the University of South Carolina (Magna Cum Laude). She is the founder of Gutless and Glamorous, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering individuals living with or considering ostomy surgery and dismantling stigma through education, visibility, and community support.

She remains deeply committed to improving population health outcomes through equity-centered, data-driven, and community-informed public health practice.