Barrier Breakers

"Black History Month is so important to not only people of color, but for all. There have been so many people who have paved the way for us to be where we are today. Our culture has produced so many men and women who have helped change the course of healthcare. Those of the past helped invent and develop innovative surgical procedures, helped improve patient access to quality care and raised awareness about quality of life. Healthcare has been stained with racial injustices, such as limited access, segregation, and a lot of unethical practices. We owe immense gratitude to the innovators who have helped advance the medical knowledge that has saved countless lives.

Throughout my time at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (7 years), I’ve had the honor of having great dialogue with awesome leaders like Dr. Brenda Latham-Sadler and Dr. Holly Pinson – two amazing women of color, who are trailblazers for our organization and this community. I’ve had the opportunity to sit across from Dr. Jim Dunn (an amazing HR Healthcare Executive) when he visited High Point Medical Center. Hearing his thoughts and perspectives was so inspiring to a guy like me – a kid from Lexington, NC, where segregation, racism and hatred was deeply rooted. Guys like me didn’t see people of color in positions like this!

Representation matters, and these leaders, along with many others not mentioned, are great examples and role models to so many. It’s an honor to work with this organization and engage with many leaders who are progressive and thoughtful in their pursuit of a better tomorrow, through the lenses of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, for ALL. We are not there yet, but we are light years ahead of where we’ve been!

As the great Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: 'If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.'

I’m proud that we are moving forward!"