MEET THE SPEAKERS
A Virtual Interactive Summit
JUNE 2, 2023
US UK SUMMIT ON RACE
STATE OF HEALTHCARE WORLDWIDE
RACIAL DISPARITIES & BEYOND
FREE & OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WORLDWIDE
11am EDT • 10am CST/Jamaica • 9am MST • 8am PST
4pm UK • 5pm South Africa/Lesotho • 6pm Kenya
KEYNOTE SPEAKER & PANEL MODERATOR
DR. NNEKA SEDERSTROM
United States
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Dr. Nneka Sederstrom received her BA in Philosophy from George Washington University in 2001. She began her career at the Center for Ethics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, the same year. She completed her Master's in Philosophy and Public Policy from Howard University in 2003, starting her Ph.D. studies in Medical Sociology and Race, Class, and Gender Inequalities at the same university. After beginning her Ph.D. studies, she became Director of the Center for Ethics and the Spiritual Care Department. She held these positions until she left to join Children's Minnesota in March 2016, where she served as the Director of the Clinical Ethics Department for almost five years.
Dr. Sederstrom recently joined the executive leadership team at Hennepin Healthcare System as the new Chief Health Equity Officer, where she will lead efforts in addressing health disparities, equity, and antiracism in the institution and community. Her Ph.D. is in Sociology with concentrations in Medical Sociology and Race, Class, and Gender Inequality, MPH in Global Health Management, and MA in Philosophy. She is a member of several professional societies and holds a leadership position in CHEST Medicine and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine. She is widely published in Equity and Clinical Ethics and speaks regularly at national and international meetings. Dr. Sederstrom is the mother of 2 amazing children and married to a fantastic husband. She loves to read (especially long epic fantasy series), dance, knit, bake, and engage in all things crafty. Her favorite music is anything before 2005, and her favorite quote is, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." By Maya Angelou |
DISTINGUISHED PANEL
MICHELLE COX
United Kingdom
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*Please note in respect to our Distinguished Speakers from the United Kingdom, some of the words spelled here are the correct spelling for those countries in the UK
Michelle Cox has 30 years of experience in the NHS (National Health Service) and 26 years as a registered nurse and progressed through the ranks to a senior nurse in NHS England. Michelle has worked in various Improvement and Transformation Programmes and has a particular interest in Health Inequalities to some of the most marginalised groups in the UK. As a Black nurse, Michelle has shone a light on issues affecting Black and ethnic minorities in England, leading in nationwide programs. Michelle has unapologetically and with ease discussed issues such as Female Genital Mutilation, Asylum Seeker and Refugee issues, Gun, Knife, and Gang Culture in public forums before others even addressed these controversial topics. She also led Military Veteran health over a decade ago, requesting priority access for this vulnerable group. Michelle is passionate about challenging discrimination and injustice, and her position as a nurse has enabled her to use this as a platform for social justice. Michelle is also Chair of the Steve Biko Housing Association, ensuring that the elderly and vulnerable in the local community have access to quality affordable homes free from racial discrimination. Michelle's area of responsibility is wider than being a Black senior nurse and broader than race. She has successfully connected to all protected classes and continues to fight for those unable to fight for themselves. Michelle helps define their lived experiences and advocates for change within public, private, and charity organisations. She has been described as authentic, honourable, and faithful to all causes. It was no surprise to hear of Michelle's landmark win in a recent tribunal case taking on her employer, the largest NHS organisation in England, for race discrimination, racial harassment, victimisation, and whistleblowing. The Employment Tribunal Judgement captures the highlights of the fight she took on for all Black and ethnic minorities in the NHS and wider healthcare industry. |
DR. JUDITH DALLAS-WALLER
Jamaica
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Dr. Judith Dallas-Waller is a highly skilled and qualified Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with a wealth of knowledge and experience in patient care, supported and enhanced by a meticulous approach to carrying out her patient responsibilities.
She has been operating her own private practice in Kingston, Jamaica, for over 25 years and continues contributing to medical education and development in that country and beyond. Dr. Dallas-Waller is a member of the Executive Council of the Medical Association of Jamaica and a Fellow of both the UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Additionally, she actively advocates for maximizing the health potential of women of all ages and extensively engages in mentoring projects and community outreach. |
REV. DR. JOHN VELAPHI NDIMANDE
South Africa
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*Please note in respect to our Distinguished Speakers, some of the words spelled here are the correct spelling for those living and working in South Africa.
Reverend Professor John Velaphi Ndimande is married to Tony Ndimande, and together, they have three daughters, a son, and nine grandchildren. He is a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). He pastored three churches in 25 years of service. Rev. Dr. Ndimande was President of the AME Lay Organization, mentored the Men's League- Sons of Allen, and is a member of the Board of Examiners for the Licentiates of the MM Mokone Conference. He is a member of the IHC (International Health Commission) for the 19th Episcopal District of the AME Church. A family physician by profession, Prof Ndimande founded Thomas Medical Centre in 1980 and has been the lead Doctor and CEO there to date. Having mentored several newly qualified doctors post Community service. After attaining his MBCHB Degree at the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA), he established Thomas Medical Centre as a one-stop Medical Centre for Surgical, Medical, and Obstetric services. He then joined Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University and Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital as a Specialist Family Physician. He served as the first Family Medicine Head of the Clinical Unit at Tshwane Health District during the period of application of the Declaration of Alma- Ata on the development of the District Health System (DHS) post-apartheid and in the piloting of the National Health Insurance (NHI). He has been a lecturer from 2005 at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences for undergraduate, postgraduate, and the Nelson Mandela Fidel-Castro (NMFC) programs until retirement in 2023. During his Academic tenure, Prof Ndimande produced many Specialist Family Physicians, did extensive research work, and published 17 SAPSE Accredited journals focusing on Primary Health, Women's Health, HIV, and many other subjects. In the years 2018 and 2019, he served as the Acting CEO at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital, bringing stability to many departments and completing several projects. Post-retirement, Prof Ndimande has returned to running Thomas Medical Centre full-time and runs a farm with his wife, Tony, emphasizing healthy produce and animal husbandry. Prof Ndimande serves on the various Boards in South Africa, including Setshaba Medical Research Centre, and was a lead Primary Health Physician in the HIV vaccine research sites. Mental health became his interest both academically and in the primary health setting, and he exited the public service as a pioneer in re-engineering mental health in the Atshwane District. Prof Ndimande is a scholar, an enthusiastic and health-conscious person interested in participating in sports, including marathon running, Squash and enjoys travelling at very short notice. |
DR. PHINY HANSON
Lesotho
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*Please note in respect to our Distinguished Speakers, some of the words spelled here are the correct spelling for those Commonwealth of Nations affiliated with the UK.
Dr. Phiny Hanson is a Mosotho lady (Lesotho National) married to Dr. Moses Hanson. She is a grandmother of two children (Mpho & Phuthi Leshoele) from her daughter Mrs. Mampho Leshoele. Dr. Hanson is a member of Wicker Temple within the Central District in the Lesotho Annual Conference (LAC) of the 18th Episcopal District of the AME Church. She is the Director of the LAC Health Commission of the AMEC. Dr. Hanson is a nutritionist with over 42 years of experience working on various programs in Lesotho, Southern Africa, and the AFRO WHO countries. She was trained as the first cohort in Africa on Nutrition Leadership http://www.africanutritionleadership.org/. She holds a Doctorate Degree and Master of Science Degree in Nutrition from Potchefstroom University in South Africa and an Honours Degree in Nutrition with Food Science from the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside, United Kingdom. She holds postgraduate health policy, financing, and public financial management qualifications. She is a certified Global Fund Grant Management Governance and Oversight Consultant (through Management Sciences for Health). From 2012 to 2016, Dr. Hanson supported the Governments of Lesotho and Malawi in finding funding to implement the national HIV and AIDS response and build the capacity of local networks to implement programmes for orphans and vulnerable children. Dr. Phiny Hanson has significant experience working on the governance of various sectors in Lesotho and elsewhere, including the health, agriculture, and education sectors, the national nutrition programme, and the HIV/AIDS national response. Recently (2020 to date), she has provided technical advice to the World Bank-funded projects in the health sector and agriculture and food security sector in Lesotho as the Nutrition Specialist. Her responsibilities include developing the system and tools to improve the equitable delivery of community health services in Lesotho and monitoring the performance of the commercialization of agriculture projects. Dr. Phiny Hanson has pioneered key developmental projects in Lesotho, including:
Dr. Phiny Has served as Country Director on 2 USAID-funded capacity-building projects in Lesotho from November 2009 to December 2012. Phiny Hanson IntraHealth - Bing; https://www.hfgproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Lesotho-Health-Systems-Assessment-2010.pdf. She worked for Irish Aid in Lesotho as Health Adviser for two consecutive country programmes from 2002 to 2009. She has established her own hospitality facilities that are now accredited with the Lesotho Quality Assurance Tourism system. |
REV. DR. MIRIAM BURNETT
United States
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Rev. Dr. Miriam J. Burnett serves as the Supervisor of Missions for the Eighteenth Episcopal District and Medical Director of the International Health Commission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church(AME). In June 2020, she was appointed by the National Council of Churches, USA (NCCUSA) representative to the World Council of Churches Consultation with its ecumenical partners on health to discuss our responses to COVID-19 and its implications on the future of the health and healing ministry.
This consultation is beginning an active partnership with the World Health Organization. In addition, Dr. Burnett continues to work with the National Volunteer Agencies Active in Disaster (NVOAD). She is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the AME Church. On May 15, 2023, she was appointed as the Convener of the re-launched National Council of Churches, USA Health Taskforce. As a minister and medical doctor, Rev. Dr. Burnett strongly advocates 'holistic health,' a concept that embodies physical, psychological, social, economic, and spiritual health that is powerfully demonstrated in her speeches across the US and the globe. She sees faith-based organizations as specifically empowered to create this possibility and has put the power of her commitment to supporting their efforts. In addition, her past professional experiences include the continuation of creating great healers as an Instructor of Medicine at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and Associate Professor of Spirituality and Health at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia. She served as Director of Faith and the City and founding Director of the Institute for Faith-Health Leadership and Institutional Review Board at the ITC. Dr. Burnett served as the ITC liaison to the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) Center of Excellence on Health Disparities. She led the Fall 2017 Doctor of Ministry "The Black Church, Social, and Environmental Justice" Cohort at the ITC. She is presently an instructor for the Turner Theological Seminary Certificate of Theology Program. Dr. Burnett received a B.A. in Psychology from York College of the City University of New York, undertook postgraduate studies from Queens College of CUNY, and obtained a Doctor of Medicine from the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Burnett, a US Army veteran, completed her Internal Medicine internship and medical residency at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She later obtained a Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the Morehouse School of Medicine along with a Master of Divinity from Turner Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center, both in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also Board Certified with a Fellowship designation in Health Care Quality and Management with subspecialty certification as a Physician Advisor. She completed the Six Sigma Green Belt with an emphasis on Healthcare training at Villanova University. She is also a certified Professional Medical Coder. Dr. Burnett completed the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Contact Tracing certification. She has also completed two (2) units of Clinical Pastoral Education in the Academic Division of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy at Johns Hopkins Health System. Above all, Dr. Miriam Burnett is a person focused upon service with compassion, work with excellence, and love without bias. |
DR. GOME DAVID LENGA
Kenya
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*Please note in respect to our Distinguished Speakers, some of the words spelled here and dates listed are the correct spelling/date format for those Commonwealth of Nations affiliated with the UK.
Dr. Gome Lenga was appointed as HSIF Board Chairman on 7th February 2023. He has over twenty-five years of experience in Medical Service and Management. He has held management positions in medical service provision in different organizations and currently works at Kenya Ports Authority as the Manager Medical Services. Dr. Gome Lenga has expertise in surgery, health planning, management, and research. Since 2022, he has been the Principal Surgeon of St John Ambulance Kenya and a Board Member of Special Olympics Kenya. He served as President of the Surgical Society of Kenya for a 2-year term and as a Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) member for Special Olympics International for six years. He is a member of the Kenya Medical Association, Surgical Society of Kenya, International AIDS Society, International Cleft Palate Foundation, the Institute of Directors, and the International Commission on Occupational Health. Dr. Gome Lenga has a Master's in Business Administration - Healthcare Management, a Master's in Occupational Safety and Health, a Master's of Medicine in Surgery, and numerous certificates of advanced training from Kenyan and international institutions. |
BEAU STUBBLEFIELD-TAVE
United States
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Beau Stubblefield-Tave is a data-driven management consultant specializing in cultural competence, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB.) DEIB and its component parts are built on a foundation of Cultural Competence —The ability to work with and for diverse cultures.
As Managing Principal and Co-Founder of the Center for Culturally Fluent Leadership, Beau helps individuals and organizations to enhance their DEIB efforts through diversity training, organizational culture assessments, coaching on leading diverse teams, integrating DEIB into strategic plans, and related consulting services. Leadership training has proven invaluable in helping members of senior management teams develop into Culturally Fluent Leaders, who then lead their respective organization's evolution into becoming Culturally Proficient Organizations. Beau has delivered cultural competence training to organizations in healthcare and other industries. He has also led evaluation efforts to assist organizations in improving their workforce diversity, improving the performance of their diverse teams, and integrating DEIB principles and activities into their cultures. Some examples of work he has led include: Facilitating the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA)'s Race Task Force work to educate MTA members in addressing issues of race and racism in the classroom and beyond, and developing and teaching a 10-week course, "Cultural Competency for Improved Patient Care" for Bristol Community College Beau is a published author and has served as a public speaker on DEIB issues from Maine to California and Alaska to Florida. Titles have included: "The Skin That We Speak: Thoughts on Culture and Language in the Classroom," "' Can We Talk?' An Introduction to Cross-Cultural Communication," and "Racism: What it Is and How to End It." Beau earned a BA in Behavioral Sciences and an MBA in Health Administration and Policy from the University of Chicago. |
BILL WELLS, JR
Lead Program & Panel Organizer
United States
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Bill Wells is President, W. Wells & Associates, LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy development. In his work, Additionally, Bill provides customized human capital and talent acquisition & retention solutions as well. Bill also works closely with senior leaders providing coaching and guidance during culture change and transformation.
Previously, Bill served as Vice President - Global Diversity/Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) for Traveler's Insurance. Earlier in his career, Bill held a variety of executive and general management level positions in both the telecommunications industry, including leadership roles in Human Resources, Information Technologies, Marketing, Operations, Strategic Planning, and Business Development. Bill holds an MBA degree with a major in Marketing, a graduate certificate in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Psychology major. Bill is a life member of the National Black MBA Association, including former Chairman, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Also, Bill is married, has two sons, is a freelance writer, avid music-lover, jazz enthusiast, and enjoys golf. |
Friday June 2, 2023
FREE & OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WORLDWIDE
11am EDT • 10am CST/Jamaica • 9am MST • 8am PST
4pm UK • 5pm South Africa/Lesotho • 6pm Kenya
