Meet the New CEO of the National Headache Foundation ft. Katy Oakley

In this episode of HeadWise™, host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, welcomes Katy Oakley, the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Headache Foundation (NHF). Katy shares her personal journey living with post-traumatic headache and chronic migraine following a traumatic brain injury in her twenties and how years of daily head pain, delayed diagnosis, and difficulty accessing care shaped her path to leadership within the headache community. Drawing from both her lived experience and professional background in marketing and mission-driven organizations, Katy discusses how she plans to expand NHF’s reach, empower people living with headache and migraine, and strengthen education and certification for healthcare providers—especially in primary care. In this conversation, they explore: - Living with post-traumatic headache and chronic migraine - The emotional and practical toll of daily head pain - Barriers to care, step therapy, and treatment access - Why patient-centered leadership matters - Katy’s vision for the future of the National Headache Foundation - How HeadWise listeners can help shape future episode topics This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the leadership guiding NHF forward—and a reminder that people living with headache and migraine are not alone.