CDM: Faculty
Our knowledgeable instructors in the CDM are active diversity practitioners with extensive experience in the field of health care diversity. They combine theory and practice to provide dynamic, interactive tools and strategies that can be applied immediately to students' health care organizations.
Faculty Listing
Click on a Program Title to view a detailed description of the Curriculum.
Jose Alvarez,
Diversity Officer
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
Jose Alvarez was a Vice President of commercial lending for various local South Bend, Indiana area banking institutions prior to joining Saint Joseph. He started his career in banking as a Community Reinvestment Officer. His experience in diversity and inclusion includes involvement as a presenter during his banking career on D&I matters to bank employees.
Alvarez holds a bachelor in business from Roosevelt University, Chicago and a master in business administration from Indiana University, South Bend, Indiana.
Recognition for his work includes the Trinity Health 2011 Courageous Leadership Diversity Champion Award and the 2011 Drum Major for Community Service Award from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation of St. Joseph County, Indiana.
A member of Trinity Health, Saint Joseph is a not-for-profit, multi-hospital health system located in North Central Indiana. Trinity Health is one of the largest Catholic health care systems and the 12th largest health system in the United States.
Mr. Alvarez teaches the Legal/Regulation and Ethical Issue curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Brenda Battle, RN, MBA,
Director of the Center for Diversity and Cultural Competence
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Brenda Battle oversees and implements programs to eliminate health disparities for diverse populations and to promote diversity and cultural competence within Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine and other BJC affiliated hospitals and health services.
Prior to joining Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Battle served as Vice President of Operations and later Vice President, Government Affairs for Medical Transportation Management, Inc., a national contractor of non-emergent transportation benefits for Medicaid beneficiaries. Battle has more than 28 years of health-care related experience.
Battle is a member of the Board of Directors of the Missouri Foundation for Health and serves on the Programs and Grants and Health Policy Committees. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Conference for Community and Justice, St. Louis and the American Heart Association. She serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Program to End Cancer Disparities (PeCAD) at Siteman Cancer Center and the African American Advisory Board for the Alzheimers Disease Research Center at Washington University School of Medicine.
Ms. Battle teaches the Strategy Development and Implementation curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Cheryl D. Bevel, CDM
Vice President of Diversity
Saint Luke's Health System
Cheryl Bevel, Vice President of Diversity has more than 25 years of experience working in healthcare. She joined Saint Luke's Health System (SLHS) in 2001. SLHS has 11 hospitals and provides other health related services in the Kansas City area and surrounding region.
In her role as Vice President of Diversity, Bevel has executive oversight in developing a cohesive infrastructure within the health system that ensures all diversity strategies are aligned and integrated to support the corporate vision and mission for the hospital system.
Under Bevel's leadership the System developed its business case for diversity and produced a diversity video, that includes a CLAS component, for new hire orientation. A diversity leadership course was developed for all managers. The organization instituted an ongoing comprehensive diversity component to its strategic plan in 2005.
In 2003 the System received the Business Journal's "Best Commitment to Diversity Award;" in 2007 the Urban League's "Working Toward Equality Award;" and the Missouri Historical Society's, "The Cultural Heritage Award." In 2004 and 2008 MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council's "Buyer of the Year Award."
Bevel holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Missouri and a Masters of Arts Degree in Communications from San Francisco State University.
Ms. Bevel coordinates the Cultural Competency and Healthcare Disparities curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Craig Blassingame
Consultant
Institute for Diversity in Health Management
A Consultant with the Institute for Diversity in Health Management. In this role Craig is responsible for developing and executing projects, quality initiatives, budget and finances, strategic planning, project consultant, and assignments that support the Institute's mission and organizational goals, with a focus on education, scholarship and fundraising programs. Conducts research and analysis as directed to support the Institutes activities.
With over 30 year's diverse experience in healthcare administration, Craig has a broad knowledge as a Diversity Officer, hospital operations, staff development, Project Management, Community Outreach, New Business Development, Budgeting, Foundation, Human Resources, and Community Development. Prior to coming to the Institute, Craig was the Director of Community Development/Diversity Officer for Metro Health Hospital in Grand Rapids Michigan. In this role, Craig was instrumental in developing a comprehensive system-wide diversity initiative to assist in the achievement of the hospitals diversity and cultural competency goals and objectives for 2,200 employees at Metro Health. He has also coordinated the hospital system-wide mandatory education program for 2,200 employees with 100% compliance.
Craig earned his Master's Degree in Management from Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids Michigan.
Mr. Blassingame teaches the Diversity and Change Leadership curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Wayne Boatwright, MHA, CDM
Vice President of Cultural Diversity
Meridian Health
With over 12,000 employees and having been named as one of Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For," Meridian Health has become one of New Jersey's premier not-for-profit health care providers. As Vice President of Cultural Diversity, Wayne Boatwright leads the company's diversity initiatives for 6 hospitals and Meridian Partner Companies, which include home health services; skilled nursing, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facilities; ambulance services, physician practice management and support services, and ambulatory care and services located throughout central New Jersey.
Boatwright has over 20 years of experience partnering with senior management in ensuring the most productive use of human assets. His areas of focus include diversity management, employee relations, strategic planning, and fostering a culture that makes growth possible. Because of this expertise, he is often called upon for speaking engagements and interviews. He has appeared as a keynote speaker at the National Leadership and Education Conference for the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, and as a guest speaker for the Massachusetts Hospital Associations' annual conference, the New Jersey State Association Medical Staff Services Education Conference, and the 2010 MedAssets Healthcare Business Summit. Wayne's interviews have appeared in various publications, including the 4th edition of Tyler's Guide: The Healthcare Executive's Job Search, Modern Healthcare, The Diversity Factor and Bridges, a newsletter published by the American Hospitals Association. In 2006, he appeared on the cover of the August issue of Shore African American.
Boatwright holds an Associate in Merchandising degree from Florence Darlington Technical College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Francis Marion University, and a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. He is also an adjunct professor at Georgian Court University, in Lakewood, N.J.
Boatwright is a Board member of the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, the United Way of Monmouth County and the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Mr. Boatwright teaches the Diversity and Talent Management curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
VeLois Bowers
Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion
CHRISTUS Health
CHRISTUS Health, an international Catholic, faith-based health system comprised of almost 350 services and facilities and 30,000 employees. VeLois Bowers leads the development and implementation of short and long-term strategies, plans and programs within CHRISTUS Health's Diversity and Inclusion work plan. As a change champion, she provides leadership in the development of a culture that celebrates and thrives with a diverse and inclusive group of associates, medical staff and business partners participating or serving in the healing ministry of CHRISTUS Health.
Bowers worked for the Kellogg Company in late 2004 as their Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion after spending five years at the Whirlpool Corporation, where she served as Vice President, Global Diversity.
In this role, she developed and implemented a wide range of diversity strategies and initiatives for employees and the community of Benton Harbor, MI. She formerly worked for Western Michigan University for 7 years in Kalamazoo MI in varying leadership roles also in Human Resources.
Bowers holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She has participated in numerous leadership development courses throughout her career, including the Aspen Institute for Young Executives. She's a member of several boards and professional organizations including the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, Lifetime member of NAACP, a member of the National Association of Health Service Executives, the Vice Chair of the American Leadership Council for Diversity and Inclusion, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and she's a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Ms. Bowers coordinates the Marketing Strategy and Communications and teaches the Diversity and Talent Management curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Roxia Boykin, MPA, RN, NEA-BC
Vice President Community Benefit & Diversity
Summa Health System
Roxia B. Boykin earned her Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree, from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio and her Master of Public Administration degree with emphasis in Health Care Administration from Cleveland State University, Cleveland Ohio. Boykin has over 30 years of comprehensive experience in varied hospital and health system environments, having served in many different capacities including Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operation Officer.
Boykin joined Summa Health System in August 2007. She serves as the Vice President Community Benefit and Diversity at Summa Health System. In this position, she oversees the development and implementation of the system's strategic objectives in the areas of Community Relations, Community Benefit, and Diversity. She is responsible for leading and providing strategic and operational direction to the system's community - based health prevention, education and promotion strategies; and for directing diversity initiatives across the organization and the community.
She is the recipient of the YWCA of Cleveland, Women of Professional Excellence Award, the Kent State University School of Nursing, Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Mahoning Valley Hospital, John Politis, M.D., Outstanding Service Award.
Ms. Boykin teaches the Data Analysis and Community Assessment curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Rosa M. Colon-Kolacko, Ph.D., M.B.A
Senior Vice President System Learning, Chief Diversity Officer
Christiana Care Health System
Rosa M. Colon-Kolacko, Ph.D., MBA, is the senior vice president of and executive director of the Learning Institute and Chief Diversity Officer, reporting to Dr. Robert J. Laskowski, president and CEO. In this position, Dr. Colon-Kolacko is responsible for planning, organizing and directing Christiana Care's learning and development, talent management, succession planning, coaching, career development, learning services, employee experience, language services, diversity/inclusion, cultural competency and "Great Place to Work" organization-development strategies that support the achievement of their mission, strategies and operating plans.
Dr. Colon-Kolacko has more than 20 years experience in organizational development, change management, talent management, leadership development, succession planning, and learning and development in global pharmaceutical businesses in a variety of roles in Puerto Rico, Europe, Asia and North America for SmithKline Beecham's (now Glaxo SmithKline). Before joining Christiana Care, she was the director, change management and learning, for global supply chain operations in Bristol Myers-Squibb.
Dr. Colon-Kolacko holds an MBA from Brunel University in England, a post-graduate marketing diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, London, a bachelor's degree in business from Columbia College, a professional certificate in human resources management from the Villanova University, and a Ph.D. in organizational development and change from Benedictine University. She is an active researcher and a professor of professional practice at Bowling Green State University, where she teaches the newly created MBA in organization development class "Implementing Process Improvements in HR and Operations." She is also a senior fellow (non-faculty affiliate) with the Jefferson School of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University.
Dr. Colon-Kolacko teaches the Marketing Strategy and Communications and the Diversity and Change Leadership curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Kinneil Coltman
Director of Diversity and Language Services
Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center (GHS)
Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center is South Carolina's largest health care provider made up of five campuses, 11 specialty hospitals, nearly 11,000 employees, and numerous academic programs including an emerging school of medicine. Dr. Kinneil Coltman holds a Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, a Masters in Cross Cultural Studies at The University of Houston - Clear Lake, and a doctorate in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. Coltman is a 2006-2007 Research Fellow in the Health Research and Educational Trust's Cross Cultural Leadership Fellowship, a program sponsored by the American Hospital Association and the Institute for Diversity in Health Management (IFD). She currently serves as President of the South Carolina Hospital Association's Society of Healthcare Diversity Professionals and is a member of IFD's American Leadership Council.
Coltman is a Certified Diversity Trainer through the Society for Human Resources Management and has lectured across the country on topics related to workforce diversity, supplier diversity, cross cultural health care, and health and health care disparities. She has extensive experience in applying unconventional methods to facilitate dialogues, trainings, and development experiences to create organizational and community transformation in areas of inclusion.
Dr. Coltman coordinates the 21st Century Healthcare curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Robert E. DeJournett
Director of Community Relations & Diversity
Summa
Robert DeJournett began his career as a temporary employee at Summa in 1988. He was hired as a part-time employee on Feb. 06, 1989 as a unit secretary. DeJournett has moved through the ranks at Summa. He was a page operator and later spent 9 years in Human Resources in the Compensation area where he wrote job descriptions and evaluated new and existing jobs. He has been in the Community services department for the past 10 years advancing from Community Outreach Coordinator to Manager to Director, the position he now holds. In is current role, he is responsible for strategic and community partnerships, advancing Summa Health System diversity and inclusion initiatives, and building and enhancing community relations throughout Summa's five county service area.
DeJournett is a graduate of Leadership Akron. He is a minister and he has successfully linked faith-based communities to the health fair initiative and other community endeavors. He was one of the 2009 Celebration of Excellence award recipients from Black Pages Ohio. Hewas the 2008 Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian award recipient in the category of business. In 2006, as one of 28 award recipients Robert received recognition from the Black Pages for Corporate and Community leaders positively affecting African American life in Summit County. In 1999, DeJournett was awarded the Summa Health System Caring Award, an award he received through nomination by his peers.
In 2007 DeJournett received Summa's 2007 Virgil E. Collins Diversity Award. he also served as a consultant for the Summit 2010 Project neighborhood strategic plan facilitating the Buchtel Cluster. He also was the 2006 Chairman for Citizens' for our Zoo's future which led to a successfully levy campaign for the Akron Zoo. He has served on several community-wide committees including the Inaugural Lebron James Bikeathon.
Mr. Dejournett teaches the 21st Century Healthcare curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Antoinette "Toni" Green, MA, PH
VP Diversity and Inclusion
Trinity Health
Antoinette "Toni" Green ensures the diversity and inclusion concepts are embedded and aligned with all of Trinity Health HR and business unit processes, practices, and systems. Green leads the Trinity Health diversity initiatives regarding communication, metrics, retention, talent management and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Since arriving at Trinity Health, Toni has partnered to design, develop and deliver diversity and inclusion demographic metrics report, the Trinity Health diversity brochure, diversity video, and the Diversity Journey publication, which highlights the annual diversity achievements for Trinity Health. In addition Green oversaw the Diversity and Inclusion Survey for the entire UEM.
Green is certified as a PHR through SHRM's HR Certification Institute and is an active member of the HR Houston Management Association where she was recognized as the organization's 2004 Diversity Committee Volunteer of the Year. She is also certified as a mediator for Alternative Dispute Resolution. She is presently a member of the HR Association of Greater Detroit. Green was an adjunct faculty member at Houston's San Jacinto Community College where she taught Sociology and formerly sat on the Board of Directors for Avance, a United Way agency that supports at risk Latino youth, family, and communities.
Green , a native of Detroit, Michigan holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from LeTourneau University and a Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural Studies from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Ms. Green coordinates the Legal/Regulation and Ethical Issue curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Cynthia Hines
Director of Employment and Diversity
Mercy Health Partners
Cynthia Hines is responsible for managing all employment activities for the local Health System. She is also responsible for the development and implementation of the Diversity and Inclusion strategy which has been integrated into the organization's strategy. The Language Services department which provides medical and sign language interpretation is also under her leadership. Mercy Health Partners is a part of Trinity Health System, the 4th largest Catholic health care system in the U.S. On a regional level Cynthia has led the Talent Acquisition redesign process for Trinity locations in West Michigan. Her current regional role is to develop community partnerships with education, workforce and economic development partners with the Health System.
Cynthia has been the project lead and a team member for several Robert Woods Johnson projects, Aligning Forces for Quality initiatives to reduce health disparities. She is a frequent panelist and presenter on Healthcare Reform and Healthcare Disparities. Cynthia holds a Master's degree in Administration with a HR concentration from Central Michigan University (CMU). She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Health Administration also from CMU. She is an adjunct faculty member at Cornerstone University providing instruction in the areas of Human Resource and Diversity Management.
Ms. Hines teaches the Legal/Regulation and Ethical Issue curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Frederick D. Hobby, CDM
President and CEO
Institute for Diversity in Health Management
Fred Hobby joined the Institute for Diversity in Health Management (Institute) as president and CEO in 2005 with more than 25 years of hospital experience in three states and six systems. Fred will lead the Institute into its second decade of service, developing tools and resources to enhance diversity in our nation's hospitals, and helping health care organizations with diversity activities.
Before joining the Institute, Fred spent 10 years with the Greenville (SC) Hospital System (GHS), a 1,086-bed acute care teaching hospital system. As vice president and chief diversity officer at GHS, he developed and implemented a system-wide diversity initiative that is nationally recognized for its comprehensiveness and success. Its components include diversity training and cultural competence education for the system's 7,200 employees as well as an extensive language interpretation department to better serve patients who speak a language other than English. The GHS Language Center was the first recipient of a letter from OCR recognizing its' compliance with the Federal LEP Guidelines.
Fred received a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY, and a master's degree in sociology from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to joining GHS, Fred served as a clinical administrator with Portsmouth (VA) General Hospital and is a former CEO of the Newport News General Hospital.
Gertrude F. Jones,
Vice President of Community Relations
Lifespan
Rhode Island's top health system, Lifespan, is comprised of four hospitals. In her role, Jones provides staff support to the community affairs committee of the Lifespan board of directors. In addition, she continues to lead Lifespan's diversity and inclusion initiatives. As Vice President of Community Relations, Jones has responsibility for assessing the needs of the neighborhoods surrounding Lifespan's four affiliate hospitals as well as other communities served by Lifespan. She continuously focuses on creating strategic relationships to support Lifespan's goal of being both the provider and employer of choice.
Jones currently sits on the boards of organizations such as the National Coalition of 100 Black Women: president, RI Chapter; The United Way of Rhode Island: chair, Women's Leadership Council Executive Committee, the American Hospital Association Institute for Diversity's American Leadership Council; Dorcas Place, Roger Williams Day Care Center; The Rhode Island Foundation's Black Philanthropy Initiative; PWCVB (Providence Warwick Convention Visitors Bureau) Advisory Board; the Rhode Island Audubon Society Councils of Advisors.
Jones is involved in many community groups studying issues on education, civil rights, healthcare disparities, etc. Jones has held positions in the financial field including the former Old Stone Bank, Citizens Bank, Metropolitan Insurance Company and Brown University. Jones received her B.S. degree in Business Management from Johnson and Wales University.
Ms. Jones coordinates the Data Analysis and Community Assessment curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Cynthia R. Stewart, CDM
Diversity Officer & Manager of Language Services
Columbia St. Mary's Inc.
Cynthia Stewart is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. She has over 24 years of leadership experience in the areas of communications, human resources, and diversity and language services. She has applied her writing and communications training to nonprofit publication work for religious institutions for 20 years and has also worked in the health care field since 1986. She serves as the Diversity Officer and Manager of Language Services for Columbia St. Mary's Inc. a Health System of 3 hospitals, over 60 clinics and the Columbia College of Nursing in the Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Washington county areas of Wisconsin. The organization is a ministry of Ascension Health, one of the largest not for profit health care systems in the U.S.
Stewart holds her certificate in diversity management in health care from the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, is the Vice Chair for the American Leadership Council for Diversity in Health, is a member of the Wisconsin Advisory Board of Directors for Inroads Great Lakes Region, the Milwaukee Area Technical College Medical Interpreter Advisory Committee, the Milwaukee Area Workforce Funding Alliance, the Milwaukee Area Healthcare Alliance (MAHA), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the SHRM Diversity and Inclusion Standards Task Force.
Ms. Stewart teaches the Language Services and Quality and the Legal/Regulation and Ethical Issue curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Donna M. Skurzak,
MA, LSW, CDP Director, Diversity and Inclusion,
Regional Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic
An extensive background in healthcare practice and management as a social worker in long-term care, hospital - oncology social work, and Home Health Care/Hospice. Donna has worked as a private practitioner and consultant and was Director of the Visiting Nurse Association of Cleveland Hospice. She is currently in the Office of Diversity as Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Regional Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic. Her areas of interests and specialties are end of life care, health care disparities, bioethics and promoting cultural competency across the health care continuum to improve patient care.
Skurzak has presented on various topics including Healthcare Reform, Equality in Healthcare, Patient Safety, Healthcare Ethics, Cultural Competency and an array of other topics.
Skurzak was on the Board of Directors, Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (OHPCO) from 2002 - 2008 and presently on the OHPCO Public Policy and Marketing and Membership committees. Donna most recently joined the Board of Trustees for Malachi House, in Cleveland, Ohio, a home for terminally ill cared for by volunteers and area hospice providers. She has provided consulting services with D.L. Plummer & Assoc. for the Alcoa Cleveland Works plant and the United Church of Christ headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.
Skurzak most recently has presented Cultural Competency and Diversity programs that include "Communicating Across Differences" for the NASA Lewis Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio; "National Patient Safety Standards and Cultural Competency" at the Health Professionals Network in Baltimore, Md. and Michigan Nurses Summit, National American Arab Nurses Association's inaugural conference, Detroit, Michigan, 2008 and 2009 - 69th Annual Ohio Society of Radiologic Technologists Meeting.
Ms. Skurzak coordinates the Strategy Development and Implementation curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Juana S. Slade, CDM
Director, Diversity & Language Services
AnMed Health
Juana Spears Slade is the director of Diversity and Language Services for AnMed Health in Anderson, SC, serving the residents of northwest South Carolina and northeast Georgia. AnMed Health, the state's largest private, not-for-profit health system, was one of the first in South Carolina to dedicate full?time resources to diversity management. Under her leadership AnMed Health has developed a comprehensive, integrated diversity program to better manage the organization's increasingly diverse patient population and workforce.
Juana is actively involved in her community serving on numerous non?profit boards and committees. In July 2009, she completed a two-year term as chairperson of the board of directors for the United Way of Anderson County, the first African American to serve in this capacity. She is vice chair of the United Way Worldwide's National Women's Leadership Council and was the 2006 recipient of the ATHENA Award presented by the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce.
Juana is a graduate of Claflin University in Orangeburg, where she earned her bachelor of arts in Social Science and Political Science. She completed diversity studies through the American Society for Human Resource Management; the American Institute for Managing Diversity in Atlanta, GA; and the Upstate Diversity Leadership Academy of Furman University in Greenville, SC. Juana is a Cultural Competence Fellow of the Health Research Education Trust, an affiliate of the American Hospital Association; a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives; and a founding member of the American Leadership Council of the Institute for Diversity in Health Management, also an AHA affiliate. Juana is President of the South Carolina Society of Healthcare Diversity Professionals, an affiliated personal membership group of the South Carolina Hospital Association.
Ms. Slade coordinates the Language Services and Quality curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Rhonda Taylor Parris M.S.
Director of Workforce Planning
Aurora Health Care
Rhonda Taylor Parris has dual, but integrated roles at Aurora Health Care, where she has worked for the past eleven years. Ms. Taylor-Parris is responsible for planning, integrating and evaluating the diversity/inclusion and cultural competency goals into the strategic plan of the organization and is a member of a team responsible for assisting the organization in developing proactive strategies to ensure that it has the appropriate workforce with the appropriate skills and training to meet our business and customer needs.
Rhonda holds an undergraduate degree in Community Health from Western Kentucky University and a Master's of Science degree in Cultural Foundations of Education from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Rhonda is on the board of directors for the Planning Council of Greater Milwaukee, both the local and regional boards of directors for INROADS, is involved with the Black Achiever's Program for the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee and with 100 Black Women.
Ms. Taylor-Parris teaches the Diversity and Talent Management curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
Michael L. Weaver, MD FACEP, FCC
Emergency Physician,
Saint Luke's Health System
Dr. Michael Weaver is an Emergency Physician at Saint Luke's Health System that has been involved in diversity efforts as VP of Clinical Diversity since 2006. In 2007 he participated in the Health Research Educational Trust (HRET), American Hospital Association and Institute for Diversity, Fellowship program in Cultural Competency Leadership. As part of that program he did research on cultural aspects in healthcare delivery via the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Service (CLAS) Standards. His specific focus project included the creation of a crosswalk between the CLAS Standards and the Baldrige classification process for delivery of quality healthcare within hospital organizations. Together with the VP of Diversity, the CLAS Standards were adopted as part of his 11 hospital system's strategic plan and deployed throughout the following years. He is also involved in the CLAS Enhancement initiative.
In 2008 he had the opportunity to participate in Massachusetts General Hospital's First 'Disparities Leadership Program.' As part of that training he began an ongoing study to look at the influence of socioeconomic status upon myocardial outcomes in black and white patients. He has also had been involved in three Robert Wood Johnson, Hospital Quality Network (HQN) projects, e g. reducing hospital readmissions, increasing ED throughput, and improving language services collaborative's.
Dr. Weaver teaches the Cultural Competency and Healthcare Disparities curriculum for the Certificate for Diversity in Management Program.
For more information, contact Administrative Consultant, Craig Blassingame at 312-422-2693 or at cblassingame@aha.org.
Updated: Oct. 02, 2012