In this special episode of The Home Health Care Today Show, we honor the life, legacy, and memory of the late, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sheryl Garland, MHA, FACHE, Chief of Health Impact for Virginia Commonwealth University's Health System and Executive Director of VCU Office of Health Equity joins us in this tribute episode to address hopes, challenges, and realities of today's level of access to quality health care for black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations. The show revisits Dr. King's vision while articulating clear steps and calls to action to realize health care equity for all, while mitigating various social determinants of health (SDOH). Sheryl is a native of Richmond, Virginia who received an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University in 1982 and a Masters in Health Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1988. Since joining the VCU Health System in 1987 as an administrative resident, she has served in various leadership roles including Vice President for Health Policy and Community Relations, Vice President for Community Outreach, Director of Ambulatory Care Services, and Director of Planning. In her current role as Chief of Health Impact, Sheryl is responsible for building programs and partnerships to improve the health of populations and communities served by VCU Health System. In this position, she provides leadership for the health system’s Division of Community Health that focuses on advancing health equity and addressing health disparities for patients. Projects to date have included initiatives to identify and address social determinants of health such as housing instability, food insecurity, employment, and transportation needs. Sheryl is the recipient of several awards including the American College of Health Care Executives Regent’s Early Career Healthcare Executive Award, the VCU Presidential Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment (Administrator Award), VCU/MCV School of Medicine Dean’s Award for Community Service, YWCA of Richmond Outstanding Woman of the Year Award in the field of Health/Science, the VCU Department of Health Administration Alumni of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards, the First African Baptist Church Community Leader’s Award, and the MCV Foundation’s Jerome F. Strauss III Award. Sheryl is a fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives and a member of SisterFund, an African American Women’s Giving Circle. She currently serves on the Virginia Board of Social Services as well as the boards of the MCV Foundation, Virginia Center for Health Innovation, American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, and the Institute for Public Health Innovation (Board Chair). Sheryl is also a Trustee Emeritus of the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation. The show's goal ultimate goal is to inform, inspire, influence, and educate the homebound communities around the nation about the importance of home health care services for themselves, their families, caregivers, communities, and the greater society at large. However, this episode is special in it's intent to honor the late, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and address the glaring need to enable equitable pathways to health care, access, and favorable outcomes for all. Hosted by Dr. Cleamon Moorer Sponsored by: American Advantage Home Care, Inc.
