Heart of Equity
Helping health care professionals improve health equity efforts for Black Americans
All Episodes
Using Storytelling in Accessible Language to Fight Health Inequities in Black Communities With Tiffany Onyejiaka (Pt. 1)
This episode of Heart of Equity features Tiffany Onyejiaka, a second-year medical student at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine and independent health and medicine journalist focusing on health inequities and disparities. She discusses how storytelling can be used to improve health inequities and create a healthier future for all.
May 2, 2024
Understanding Inequities in Aging in the Black Community With Dr. Shekinah Fashaw-Walters (Pt. 2)
We continue our discussion on health inequities in aging in the Black community with Dr. Shekinah Fashaw-Walters. She is a health equity and aging tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Policy & Management at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. Listen to learn about some possible solutions to these health inequities.
April 11, 2024
Understanding Inequities in Aging in the Black Community With Dr. Shekinah Fashaw-Walters (Pt. 1)
In this episode, we're talking with Dr. Shekinah Fashaw-Walters, health equity and aging tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Policy & Management at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. We're discussing the causes and impacts of health inequities in aging in the Black community.
April 4, 2024
It’s Not Your Father’s Minnesota Public Radio: Public Radio as a Tool for Equity With Duchesne Drew (Pt. 2)
The conversation continues with Duchesne Drew, Senior Vice President of American Public Media Group and President of Minnesota Public Radio. We explore the powerful impact of public radio in bridging health disparities and promoting equitable healthcare access.
March 14, 2024
It’s Not Your Father’s Minnesota Public Radio: Public Radio as a Tool for Equity With Duchesne Drew (Pt. 1)
Public radio is a public platform that has a constantly growing reach. In this episode, we're talking to Duchesne Drew, Senior Vice President of American Public Media Group and President of Minnesota Public Radio, about how public radio is relevant to Black audiences and how it can be used as a tool for health equity.
February 29, 2024
The Role HBCUs Play Toward Achieving Health Equity With Dr. Kenneth Poole (Pt. 2)
The conversation continues with Dr. Kenneth Poole, Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealth Group, about how historically Black colleges and universities play a role in advancing health equity — and how healthcare professionals can leverage them as a resource.
February 15, 2024
The Role HBCUs Play Toward Achieving Health Equity With Dr. Kenneth Poole (Pt. 1)
Historically Black colleges and universities play a significant role in educating young healthcare professionals, advancing health equity, and shaping the healthcare system as a whole. This episode features Dr. Kenneth Poole, Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealth Group, who is discussing how HBCUs play a role in advancing health equity and how healthcare professionals can leverage them as a resource.
February 1, 2024
Advancing Black Health Equity With Earned Trust Through Community-Led Engagement With Kelsey Joson (Pt. 2)
The discussion continues with Kelsey Joson, Founder of InControl, a company on a mission to improve the lives of adults with disabilities in the United States. She shares how others can help advance health equity among adults with disabilities through collaboration and other untapped resources.
January 18, 2024
Advancing Black Health Equity With Earned Trust Through Community-Led Engagement With Kelsey Joson (Pt. 1)
In this episode, we're talking to Kelsey Joson, Founder of InControl, a company on a mission to improve the lives of adults with disabilities in the United States through physical, nutritional, social, and emotional engagement at home. We're discussing how InControl uses community engagement to advance health equity among adults with disabilities.
January 4, 2024
Black Collective Foundation MN: Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps With Chanda Baker (Pt. 2)
Part 2 of our conversation with Chanda Smith Baker, Co-Founder of the Black Collective Foundation MN. She offers insight into the power philanthropy has in Black communities, the challenges that this work faces, and what she hopes her organization will achieve in years to come.
December 21, 2023
Black Collective Foundation MN: Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps With Chanda Baker (Pt. 1)
Philanthropy has the power to improve the lives of Black communities and inspire philanthropy among everyone. This episode features Chanda Smith Baker, Co-Founder of the Black Collective Foundation MN, discussing the challenges, successes, lessons learned, and next steps for the Foundation. Listen to learn more about how Chanda is taking part in Black-led change in Minnesota and beyond.
December 7, 2023
Tugging Heartstrings: Leveraging Virtual Technology to Generate Radically Empathetic Clinicians With Dr. Aubrey Grant (Pt. 2)
Part 2 of our discussion with Dr. Aubrey Grant, Founder and Chief Equity Officer at Equity Commons, about how his company is using virtual technology to combat implicit bias and improve empathy among clinicians. Listen to learn about how virtual reality can provide an immersive experience in empathy training that traditional approaches cannot.
November 22, 2023
Tugging Heartstrings: Leveraging Virtual Technology to Generate Radically Empathetic Clinicians With Dr. Aubrey Grant (Pt. 1)
Empathy is a key part of the patient-provider relationship, but recently, it's been waning. In this episode, we're talking to Dr. Aubrey Grant, Founder and Chief Equity Officer at Equity Commons, about how his company is using virtual technology to combat implicit bias and improve empathy among clinicians. Listen to learn about how virtual reality can provide an immersive experience in empathy training that traditional approaches cannot.
November 9, 2023
Health Equity and Voting: Bill to Restore Felon Voting Rights With Rep. Cedrick Frazier (Pt. 2)
Part 2 of our conversation with Minnesota State Representative Cedrick Frazier about the Restore the Vote law, which restores the right to vote for those convicted of a felony once they complete their incarceration. Listen in as we discuss how voting rights play a role in health equity and why this matters for healthcare professionals.
October 26, 2023
Health Equity and Voting: Bill to Restore Felon Voting Rights With Rep. Cedrick Frazier (Pt. 1)
In this episode of Heart of Equity, we're talking to Minnesota State Representative Cedrick Frazier about the Restore the Vote law, which restores the right to vote for those convicted of a felony once they complete their incarceration. Listen in as we discuss how voting rights play a role in health equity and why this matters for healthcare professionals.
October 12, 2023
In Case You Missed It: A Recap of Health Equity on Heart of Equity
In the final episode of the season, host Pleasant Radford is joined by Kadesha Thomas Smith, CEO of CareContent, to discuss this season of Heart of Equity and the state of health equity today. We revisit episodes that discuss everything from hiring Black talent to using Black health care providers in your family to who plays a role in advancing health equity.
June 22, 2023
Who Your Health Equity Team Should Report to With Renee Hardman
Health equity teams can be elevated to high visibility positions in the C-Suite or stuck in the basement and only consulted when something goes wrong.
In this episode, we're talking to Renee Hardman, Chief Diversity Equity Inclusion Officer & Vice President of Human Resources at Broadlawns Medical Center, on how health systems should best position their DEI teams to meet their goals.
June 8, 2023
Energizing Health Equity: Creating Commitment for Healthcare Organizations to Improve Health Equity With James Burroughs
Health equity has become a focus among healthcare organizations. But due to cost-saving solutions, some of these efforts are being scaled back.
In this episode, host Pleasant Radford is joined by James Burroughs, Senior Vice President of Government and Community Relations and Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Children's Minnesota, to discuss how health care organizations should be improving their health equity efforts.
May 25, 2023
How to Have an Employee Resource Group That Actually Does Something With Janis Yergan
Employee resource groups (or ERGs) are becoming more popular in healthcare organizations. Some are effective, some ... not so much. If you've been tapped to participate in an ERG, you want to make it worth your time.
In this episode, we’re talking to Janis Yergan, VP of Network Development at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, on how to do that.
May 11, 2023
Black Hair at Work and Respectability Politics With Ashlei Spivey
Respectability politics are when marginalized groups are expected to adhere to appearance or behavior expectations set by the majority, one example being expectations around Black hair at work.
In this episode, we're talking to Ashlei Spivey — who is a social entrepreneur, philanthropist, and ecosystem builder — about the dangers of respectability politics and what employees and companies can do about them.
April 27, 2023
Is Failure Too Big of a Burden to Bear for Black Entrepreneurs With Cameron Carter
When it comes to building your own health startup or company, the fear of failure can be a heavy weight to carry — and this is especially true for Black health care leaders and entrepreneurs.
To talk about failure and its potential impact on a company's success, CEO and co-founder of home accessibility company, Rose, Cameron Carter joins the podcast to share his own experiences and advice.
April 13, 2023
The Limited Black Talent Pool in Corporate America: Why This Lie Still Persists With Joelle Allen
There is no lack of skilled Black professionals in the talent pool, yet some companies say there simply aren't enough people to hire to meet their DEI goals. In this episode, Director of Client Engagement at kp companies Joelle Allen joins the Heart of Equity podcast to break down why this myth persists — and how good companies are recruiting and retaining top Black talent in spite of it.
March 30, 2023
Dismantling the Strong Black Woman Archetype With Alexis Yeboah
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.
March 16, 2023
Bloody Waters: The Failure of the U.S. Health System to Support Black Maternal Health With Mohamed Kamara
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.
March 2, 2023
The Long Road Ahead to Advancing Health Equity With John Bluford
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.
February 16, 2023
Equity in Grantmaking: Aligning Corporate, Civic, and Philanthropic Interests With Olivia Jefferson
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 equity lens to fund, develop, and evaluate health initiatives.
February 2, 2023
Deconstructing the Social Work Profession With Deseria Galloway (Pt. 2)
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.
January 19, 2023
Deconstructing the Social Work Profession With Deseria Galloway (Pt. 1)
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.
January 5, 2023
Lessons Learned as a Hospital CEO With Dr. Anthony Coleman
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 care professionals might rise to meet the challenge of health inequity in Iowa.
December 22, 2022
Should You Just Quit? Fixing Health Equity Through Entrepreneurship With André Blackman
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.
December 8, 2022
How the John Henry Complex Is Impacting Black Professionals’ Mental Health With Dr. Lisa Mallory
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 self-reflect on whether they are living examples of John Henryism and how to overcome it.
November 24, 2022
The Impact of Police Brutality on Health Equity With Jazz Hampton
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 to health equity, and how technology solutions can address it.
November 10, 2022
The Role of the DEI Officer: Avoiding the Glass Cliff With Dr. Ron Wyatt (Pt. 2)
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."
October 27, 2022
The Role of the DEI Officer: Avoiding the Glass Cliff With Dr. Ron Wyatt (Pt. 1)
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.
October 13, 2022
How to Bring Equity to Young Black Marriages With Toni Newborn Radford
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's time to make a choice.
September 29, 2022
Centering Equity: Disparities Within Disparities, Black Men Need Not Apply With Dr. Vabren Watts
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 perpetuate racial bias in scholarly publishing of health policy and health services research. Previously, he served as Deputy Director of Diversity and Health Equity of the American Psychiatric Association.
September 15, 2022
Stay On Top of Health Equity Research With Health Affairs Director Vabren Watts, PhD
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 research. Previously, he served as Deputy Director of Diversity and Health Equity of the American Psychiatric Association. He joins us to discuss his insights on health equity research and what it could look like moving forward.
September 1, 2022
What It Means to Be a Black Healthcare Professional in a Post George Floyd Society With Mayor Melvin Carter (Pt. 2)
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 and how he hopes to grow that partnership moving forward.
August 18, 2022
What It Means to Be a Black Healthcare Professional in a Post George Floyd Society With Mayor Melvin Carter (Pt. 1)
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 two years since the tragic death of George Floyd, how he plans on growing the city's partnership with Black healthcare professionals, and what true health equity looks like in St. Paul.
August 4, 2022
Welcome to Heart of Equity, NAHSE Heartland’s Chapter Health Equity Podcast
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.
May 26, 2022
About Heart of Equity
The National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) Heartland Chapter brings you Heart of Equity, a podcast that equips health care professionals to turn health equity efforts for Black Americans into sustainable solutions rather than check-the-box tactics.
Host
Pleasant Radford Jr.
Pleasant Radford Jr., MBA, is a results-driven, humble, and committed healthcare leader with 15+ years of challenging roles in the not-for-profit, academic and health sectors. He is passionate about partnering with local communities to co-create, implement, and sustain equity-centered, community-led solutions that restores human trust in a broken healthcare system and improves health and wellbeing.
Currently, he serves as the Health Equity Officer at UCare, a local health plan that serves more than 600,000 Medicaid and Medicare members across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Prior to UCare, he worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, UnitedHealth Group, University of Chicago, Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health and the Peace Corps.
Outside of work, he hosts the Heart of Equity podcast, a national podcast that talks with Black healthcare professionals to learn what they are doing to advance health equity in the Black community. Additionally, he volunteers on local and national boards and enjoys traveling, biking, and spending time with family and friends.
