Novant Health Mosaic

Here at Novant Health, we're focusing on an important aspect of care through an area of work known as health equity – that is, ensuring that everyone receives the type of care they need.

By focusing on health equity, our long-term goal is to raise up everyone's health status. When we analyzed the breast screening mammography data using a standard health equity lens, we noticed an opportunity with two of our fastest growing patient populations – our Asian and Latina patients. We established a goal, simply stated, to increase the percentage of breast cancer screening mammograms among women of all ethnicities who get mammograms.

In part two of Sherri's reflection, she shares her thoughts on diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

In the first episode of this two-part series, we will hear from Sherri Cheeseboro, chaplin serving Novant Health Huntersville & Presbyterian Medical Centers. She shares her personal reflection on the value of embracing diversity and inclusion.

In this episode we will hear from Sharon Harrington, Senior Director of Principle Leadership Gifts with the Novant Health Foundation. Sharon reflects on her past work with philanthropic and non-profit organizations and how she translates these experiences into her leadership role with the Foundation. Her insight emphasizes the impact that diversity and inclusion has on shaping the future of Novant Health in order to better serve our patients, team members and communities. 

In this episode we hear from Kelli Sadler, Vice President of Nursing and Market Chief Nursing Officer for the Greater Charlotte Market at Novant Health. Kelli shares her experiences that have impacted her understanding of diversity & inclusion and shaped her leadership philosophy. Kelli is passionate about supporting and developing our team members. 

Physician, community clinic founder, diversity, inclusion and equity advocate, minister and inspiration. These are all roles that describe, Ophelia Garmon-Brown, MD. In this episode, she explores the "why" behind the work and leadership she has provided to the Charlotte community.

As of July 30th, we are pleased to share the launch of a new book, The Unexpected Gift: Profiles in Courage from Cancer Survivorship.  Through her own battle with cancer, Ophelia Garmon-Brown serves as the inspiration for the book along with nineteen other Novant Health patients that poignantly share their stories of survivorship.  *The Unexpected Gift is available today for purchase at Amazon.com or any Novant Health Gift Shop. For more information about this project, please visit the book's website HERE.

*All proceeds go to the Novant Health Foundation.

Novant Health's chief community and wellness officer shares her reflections. In this candid conversation Ashleigh Hargrave and Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown talk diversity, inclusion and health equity as Brown reflects on her many years of groundbreaking service to the Charlotte and Novant Health communities.

In this episode we hear from Frank Emory, Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer at Novant Health. Frank's reflection highlights his own experiences with dimensions of diversity and inclusion and how that shaped his leadership philosophy. He shares how Novant Health is leveraging diversity & inclusion as a core value to attract, develop, and retain a talented & resilient workforce that is equipped to face the challenges of an evolving industry. 

In this episode we talk to Latazia Harris, Assistant Nurse Manager at Forsyth Medical Center. As a leader, Latazia embraces the need  to have a plan and strong support system at home.

In this second episode with Dr. Brown, family physician at Novant Health's Midtown Family Medicine, he chronicles the professional experiences and diversity, inclusion and equity work he has influenced at Novant Health. This includes their newest project, SOGI (sexual orientation gender identity) aimed to provide respect and safe clinical care to members of the LGBTQ+ and transgender communities.

Dr. Rhett Brown, family medicine provider from Novant Health Midtown Family Medicine shares an inside perspective on one of the biggest influences in his life informing how he chooses to live and care for his patients.

In this episode we will hear from Dr. Trang Vuong, Novant Health physician and Pat Campbell, vice president of the women's and children's institute at Novant Health. Their reflections paint a clear picture of the importance and relevance  of diversity across the vast, team member landscape at Novant Health.

Tanya Blackmon, Chief Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Officer, does a deep dive and defines what diversity, inclusion and equity are for Novant Health and our community. 

Dr. Chere Gregory, Novant Health senior vice president and chief health equity officer, breaks down the concept of health equity and what Novant Health is doing to promote it. A must listen for anyone working in the industry or utilizing healthcare --- that's pretty much all of us!

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black History Month, we wanted to take a moment to examine the progress toward social justice from a healthcare perspective. You will hear candid conversation from Novant Health director of health equity, Yvonne Dixon, as she links key quotes from Dr. King to the work Novant Health is doing in 2020 and beyond. Stick around for an awesome glimpse into Yvonne's childhood as she describes an encounter with a less famous but perhaps more influential leader close to Dr. King.

Listen in as we hear snippets from Cullen Jones' conversation with Brandi Edwards. He shares details of his experience as he matriculated through the sport of swimming as a minority in the sport. Jones is a two-time medal winner and American record holder. He is also a new team member at the Novant Health Foundation.

Rebekah Ramsey, manager of chaplaincy at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, shares insight into how we can honor and celebrate end of year traditions that may differ from ours. 

Living with a disability can be  difficult in a word made for fully able people. Novant Health is encouraging its team member to seek to understand exactly what it is like to live with a communication barrier. The "Different, Different World" exhibit offers participants an opportunity to experience a world with communication barriers for those that are deaf, deaf-blind and heard of hearing. Hear from a Novant Health leader that is profoundly hard of hearing and some of her personal struggles through the her lifetime, as well as participants who experienced the simulation and its impact.

Differences are what make us unique. In this episode you will hear the story of a Novant Health executive, Melissa Parker, as she recounts her early years with the organization and how she learned to embrace her differences and juggle life as an attorney, wife and new mother. Today, she serves as a model for working parents on her team and how to ensure that their unique life and personal experiences are valued and accommodated.

In this episode we talk to Joy Greear, president and COO of Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center. As one of the newest facilities of Novant Health, Joy discusses the focus on diversity and inclusion as they prepared to open its doors to the Mint Hill community. 

As a bonus, we invite you to hear more about each of Novant Health's 12 Business Resource Groups (BRGs). You'll also hear from some of our BRG leaders sharing who they are and why they joined as well as examples of some of the remarkable work happening within these groups. For more information on BRGs at Novant Health, email us at diversityandinclusion@novanthealth.org.

Novant Health has a robust diversity, inclusion and health equity program. At the core are our BRGs or Business Resource Groups. These groups, comprised of Novant Health team members, are highly engaged across the health system and within our communities. They are doing critical work that benefits us all from patients to team members to the community. We invite you to learn more in this podcast!

You'll learn more about the mosaic of similarities and differences that make us stronger. Piece by piece we are telling the stories of the beautiful mosaic of Novant Health.