National Women’s Wellbeing Through Equity and Leadership (WEL) Alliance – NMA Cohort 2023-2025

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National Women’s Wellbeing Through Equity and Leadership (WEL) Alliance

NMA Cohort 2023-2025

The Women’s Wellness through Equity and Leadership (WEL) Alliance is a national collaborative effort between 10 leading US medical associations. WEL recruits a cohort of early- to mid-career women physicians from each association who will engage in networking, mentorship, and training around leadership, equity, and wellness. Funded by The Physicians Foundation, WEL aims to foster meaningful, long-term change for women physicians at the individual and organizational levels, and to develop the next wave of women physician leaders to build a healthier, more equitable work experience and environment.

NMA Scholars

Uchenna E. Anani, MD, FAAP

Location:  Nashville, TN

Specialty: Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine/Pediatrics

Institution: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

NMA Region: III

I am privileged to have been selected as one of the NMA representatives for the Women’s Wellness through Equity and Leadership Program. As an early-to-mid career black woman physician as well as a busy wife and mother, I am passionate about advocating for medical careers that prioritize wellness and equity in every fabric of our lives – both professional and personal. Ultimately, I aim to give back to my institution and affiliate organizations such as the National Medical Association (NMA) and Neonatal Justice Collaborative (NJC) through the development of mentorship programs and forums with the mission to revitalize cultures of equity, belonging, and wellness.

Ashanda Saint Jean MD, FACOG

Location: Kingston, NY

Specialty: OB/GYN

Organization: Health Alliance Hospital/ Westchester Medical Center Health Network

NMA Region: I

I am truly grateful for this opportunity and proud to represent NMA in the WEL Alliance. My selection has provided insight into the essential tools needed for professional growth, fulfillment, and balance. I have cultivated my indelible mark, to be a birth champion that uplifts families to experience joy along the maternal journey, especially during the present landscape of increased maternal mortality that disproportionately impacts Black women and birthing people. I am eager to share newfound skills with fellow NMA members to foster purpose, presence, agency and above all improve our service to our patients.

Nancy Joseph, DO

Location: Massachusetts

Specialty: Pediatrics and Allergy/Immunology

Company: Independent consultant

NMA Region: I

Message: WEL interested me because I have never been part of a program that specifically focused on wellness. Like a lot of physicians, wellness has taken a back seat in my life for a long time. Being part of a program that not only helps further my career goals, but promotes my overall wellness would be very helpful, and an overall asset to my life. I plan on using new skills and an expanded network to increase awareness and extend the reach of the National Medical Association.  With the recent attacks on DEI, it is evident more than ever that we need all hands on deck in this fight for equity and diversifying the face of medicine.

 

NMA Partner Learning Lab Liaison

Erica Sutton, MD, FACS

Location: Atlanta, GA

Specialty: General Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery

Institution: Morehouse School of Medicine

NMA Region: III

As the NMA Liaison for the WEL Partner Learning Lab, Dr. Sutton will collaborate with senior leaders across the WEL Alliance to develop mechanisms to achieve organizational change that will create more equitable environments for women physicians. They will work to develop metrics to measure progress and identify goals to drive meaningful advancement of women in medicine. She brings expertise as the inaugural Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Affiliation and in advocating for women in leadership roles. She is most proud of having successfully mentored five women in decanal roles in the last three years.

 

NMA Steering Committee Representative

Priscilla Mpasi, MD, FAAP

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Specialty: Pediatrics

Institution: ChristianaCare Health System

NMA Region: II

As the NMA Representative on the WEL Steering Committee, Dr. Mpasi joins the representative members from each of the ten national healthcare organizations and Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine to provide strategic vision and direct program initiatives. Appointed in 2020 by NMA 121st President Dr. Leon McDougle, she contributes to curriculum development, faculty recruitment, mentor engagement, and program evaluation. She leads the NMA Scholars cohort recruitment with CCWP collaboration, provides cohort and program updates to NMA leadership, and serves as a WEL faculty presenter and mentor.

NMA WEL Representative/Credentials:  Priscilla Michelle Mpasi, M.D., FAAP

Current Location: Philadelphia, PA

Specialty: Pediatrics

Institution/Company: ChristianaCare Health System

NMA Region: II