It is because of my own personal struggles that I am committed to aiding those fighting poverty and inequity.  On April 26, 1992, at the age of 19, I gave birth to my son and spent the next three years raising him in subsidized housing while enrolled as a full-time college student with a part-time work-study job. Like many other young mothers without access to essential financial security, I received Medicaid for health coverage, a monthly welfare check, and food stamps. I can recall those days, as if they were yesterday, of being on Medicaid. I remember being treated like a second-class citizen, having medical clinicians and care team members talk at me and not to me, disregard my concerns and comments, not answer my questions directly, or just blow me off and not answer my questions at all. I was made to feel ashamed and discounted because I was “in the system. I was pegged as one of those lazy, uneducated, non-compliant patients when no one really bothered to listen because, in their minds, I was that able-bodied person that was taking advantage of their tax money.

I did not feel like an active participant in my own health and wellness journey. Although, at the time, I was unable to articulate that, as I did not understand what “that” was. 

I eventually got married, began working full-time, and put school on hold. Fortunately - although many years later - due to the dawn of online learning, I was afforded the opportunity to return to school and still work full-time. 

In 2005, I received my master’s degree in Health Care Management, followed by a doctorate in Health Care Administration in 2015. Entering the healthcare arena as a professional staff member, I vowed that I would aim to make a difference for struggling people with marginalized backgrounds like my own. 

And here I am -  laser-focused on ensuring that all people experience justice and equity - regardless of their socioeconomic status, gender, or race.

Over the last 20 years, I have witnessed how healthcare access, health outcomes, and health status of specific populations in the United States are affected by social determinants of health (SDoH), leading to significant disparities.

I am focused on improving the SDoH that so frequently result in a lack of equitable care for marginalized populations.

Neither Equity House nor I are in the business of placing blame. Rather, we’re here to draw attention to and provide context for health inequities in order to foster thought- provoking dialogue about the issues contributing to inequities and promote an inclusive call to action to combat imbalances. 

Become a change agent. Promote equitable care for all Americans.

I am committed to moving the delivery of healthcare services from transactional to transformational.  Join me.