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Join us today for the fourth episode in a series of conversations with Dr. Marcelle Davis, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at VCU Health, and team members throughout our health care system on their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and its impact on health. Today, we are sitting down with Dr. Vanessa Sheppard, Interim Founding Dean, School of Population Health to discuss how the School of Population Health’s commitment to this work has a positive influence on our patients, workforce and community.

Dr. Dhiren Kumar discusses kidney transplants, the benefits of receiving a kidney from a living donor, the Hume-Lee Transplant Center, and more.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, and most of the maternal deaths are preventable. This heightened risk spans all income and education levels. While multiple factors contribute to this disparity, the bottom line remains the same — we must act now to reduce this inequity.

Black Maternal Health week takes place every year from April 11-17. It is an observance that strives to bring awareness to the disparity and amplify the voices and experiencers of Black pregnant individuals.

Dr. Tashima Lambert Giles, an OB/GYN at VCU Health, discuss the importance of Black maternal health and what the health system — and its patients — can do to improve outcomes.

Of the more than 6 million Americans living with heart failure, about 10% have advanced heart failure and when conventional heart therapies and symptom management strategies are no longer working, you may need more advanced options. Dr. Keyur Shah discusses the options available to treat advanced heart failure.

For patients with a brain tumor diagnosis, it's important to know that there is effective individualized medical care and support focused on you. Dr. Mariza Daras discusses specializing and holistic care for people with brain tumors at the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.

This series is designed to offer team member views on VCU Health’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as it relates to patient care, team member experience and community engagement. The series will feature guests from various departments throughout VCU Health. Guests will share their commitment to making our organization the best it can be and offer an in-depth view into our mutual human connection and how these commonalities improve successful outcomes of diversity, equity and inclusion for everyone.