Heart of Equity

In this episode, Alexis Yeboah, Program Manager at Best Buy Health, joins us in discussing the strong Black woman archetype, the stigma of mental health therapy, and the pathways toward achieving optimal mental health. Listen to hear Alexis' insights on how Black women can prioritize their mental health and who plays a role in supporting them.

The history of reproductive medicine in the U.S. is built on the pain and suffering of enslaved Black women — and maternal health disparities continue today. In this episode, InovCares founder Mohamed Kamara shares how culturally respectful maternity care and digital health can be leveraged to address this history and improve health outcomes for Black women and mothers.

With over 50 years in the health care industry, John Bluford III, MBA, FACHE shares what he has learned, what has changed, and what he hopes to see. As the President and founder of the Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute, John Bluford discusses what it means to be a rising leader in health care and how he hopes to lift up today's scholars and advance health equity.

Is it impossible to align corporate, civic, and philanthropic interests to make grantmaking in health care more equitable? Olivia Jefferson, Vice President of Social Responsibility & Head of UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation, thinks so. This discussion focuses on merging three disparate communities and their interests while showing how health care professionals can apply a health and racial e...

We continue our discussion with licensed social worker and nonprofit co-founder of the Wellspring Second Chance Center, Deseria Galloway.  She talks about how the murder of George Floyd impacted the social work efforts that were already in progress, and how social services fit into the larger health care landscape.

We hear from licensed social worker and nonprofit co-founder of the Wellspring Second Chance Center, Deseria Galloway.  She discusses the history and current realities of Black social work — as well as Black Lives Matter and the role Black social workers are taking.

Dr. Anthony Coleman, DhA, serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Iowa's Broadlawns Medical Center, a nonprofit health care organization that works to provide quality and cost-effective health care. In this episode, we chat with Dr. Coleman about how his 16-year naval experience informs his leadership, what it's like for him as a Black man in the health care industry, and how health car...

Too many Black professionals see opportunities and unmet needs in the health care space, but they’re anxious about leaving steady paychecks and benefits to go for an entrepreneurial endeavor, whether as a consultant or a business owner.  André Blackman, CEO and founder of Onboard Health, sits down to discuss whether or not health equity can be better addressed through the entrepreneurial route.

The term John Henryism was coined in the 1970s by epidemiologist Sherman Hames. It refers to the way Black executives work to the point of sacrificing mental and physical health to convey their professional value. In this episode, we're speaking with Lisa Mallory, PhD, Executive Director at NAHSE and CEO of LMM & Associates, LLC. Dr. Mallory shares her insights on this phenomenon to help listeners...

Health equity means that everyone has the chance and support they need to access health services and live a healthy life. But even with the best health interventions, optimal health can’t be achieved when someone is living in a community filled with violence, brutality, and fear. Jazz Hampton — CEO, General Counsel, and one of the founders of TurnSignl — discusses how police brutality is connected...

Our conversation continues with Dr. Ronald Wyatt, Vice President and Patient Safety Officer, MCIC Vermont, LLC. He shares both instruction and therapy on how to navigate being a DEI officer and avoid the glass cliff — and another space he calls "the Black bluff." 

Everyone in health care rushed to hire a DEI leader in the last three years, but what really makes this officer successful — or not? When Black professionals are hired to leadership in times of crisis or recession, they may have been set up for failure. So, how can we avoid this "glass cliff?" Dr. Ronald Wyatt, Vice President and Patient Safety Officer, MCIC Vermont, LLC, shares his thoughts. 

Being a power couple looks fun, but it takes a lot of work, balance, and planning. The divorce rate among Black Americans is higher than for other ethnicities. That means that Black professionals need to be selective about juggling work and family. Here's a discussion with our host's very own spouse, HR and equity executive Toni Newborn Radford, about signs it's not you, it's the job — and when it...

Dr. Vabren Watts, Director of Health Equity at Health Affairs, rejoins us for another sit-down as we talk about the lack of Black men working as health care executives. Dr. Watts is an expert in health equity and has penned hundreds of articles about the latest advancements in medicine in several health news publications. In his current role at Health Affairs, he works to dismantle practices that...

Our latest guest is Vabren Watts, PhD, Director of Health Equity at Health Affairs. Dr. Watts is an expert in health equity and has penned hundreds of articles about the latest advancements in medicine in several health news publications. In his current role at Health Affairs, he works to dismantle practices that perpetuate racial bias in scholarly publishing of health policy and health services r...

In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, we discuss St. Paul's relationship with healthcare providers in the aftermath of George Floyd's death, and he shares what he's doing to support the well-being of residents as they deal with a housing shortage. The city's first-ever Black mayor also highlights some of the work he's doing with Black healthcare professionals an...

Mayor Melvin Carter was elected as St. Paul's first-ever Black mayor in 2017. In his first four years in office, Mayor Carter has worked to pass progressive economic policies like a $15 minimum wage. However, concerns about housing security and public safety are among the chief priorities for his second term.  In Part 1 of our conversation with Mayor Carter, we discuss the lessons he's learned in...

Heart of Equity host Pleasant Radford, Jr. talks with NAHSE Heartland Chapter President Anthony Ashby about the organization's history and mission, and what listeners can expect from the show.