Elevating Health Together | Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity [Video]

Despite advancements in healthcare, Black communities continue to face significant barriers in accessing quality kidney care and transplantation services. This panel aims to shed light on the root causes of these disparities and explore actionable strategies to promote equity and improve outcomes for Black individuals living with kidney disease.

Moderator

Akeia Blue, MPH, MS
Health Communications Director, Public Affairs and Communications
National Minority Quality Forum

Akeia Blue is a public health communicator with over six years of experience in delivering multicultural marketing, health literacy and culturally competent communications for non-profit and government organizations.

Prior to joining NMQF, Akeia’s work at health-focused public relations and marketing agencies gave her the opportunity to support several non-profit organizations, government organizations and pharmaceutical companies across a variety of health topics including sexual/reproductive health, mental health, diabetes, COVID-19 vaccination, general adult vaccination and several types of cancers.

Akeia was named an Emerging Leaders Award finalist by the Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) in 2021 for her contributions to her organization, community and the public relations field. She has been quoted on topics including health literacy and health equity in point of care marketing.

Panelists

Shawn Powe Williams, MSN, R.R.T, CRNP-BC
CEO
eCure Health & Wellness Practice

Shawn Powe Williams is a highly accomplished board-certified nurse practitioner with a remarkable educational journey. She is a three-time graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She holds a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy, with a subspecialty certification in Polysomnography, in addition she holds a bachelor’s and master’s in nursing. She has also acquired an associate degree in pre-med from Faulkner State and an associate degree in nursing from Jeff State. Currently, Shawn is pursuing a doctoral of nurse practice.

From 2006 to 2023, Shawn dedicated herself to the world-renowned UAB Hospital, specializing in emergency medicine. Her contributions were invaluable as she fulfilled various roles, including critical care transport, transferring patients by air from all over the country back to UAB, and ensuring they received the best possible care. In addition to her clinical expertise, Shawn is a serial entrepreneur with businesses ranging from healthcare and real estate investing. In 2020, she founded eCure, which began as a virtual telehealth practice and has since grown to include a brick-and-mortar location. Her medical practice specializes in medical weight loss management, preventative care, and sick visits, providing comprehensive healthcare solutions to her patients.

Shawn is dedicated to excellence in healthcare and has a clear mission to educate the public and enhance lives. She accomplishes this by actively listening, supporting, and cultivating their capacity to advocate for themselves; she feels this will empower individuals to take charge of their well-being through preventative care.

Reverend LaChaune Nicole Slater
Lead Pastor
Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church

LaChaune Nicole Slater is a native of the Magic City – Birmingham, Alabama. Blessed with a servant’s heart, Nicole is an ordained minister serving as Lead Pastor at Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

With 15 years of experience in the death care industry at Davenport & Harris Funeral Homes, Inc, Nicole is credentialed with the International Conference of Funeral Service, is a Licensed Funeral Director, Cremationist, and Pre-Need Salesperson.

Driven by service and making a difference, Nicole volunteers with several civic organizations, and is a distinguished member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for F.I.R.E., Inc. and Davenport & Harris Funeral Homes, Inc.

Coretta Collins, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC
UAB Medicine
Confessions of a Nurse Practitioner

Dr. Coretta Collins is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She serves patients with cancer and blood conditions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Additionally, she is a writer who emphasizes health and wellness through her blog Confessions of a Nurse Practitioner and helps busy women achieve their goals through the Busy Bee Writing Retreat. She has authored the CANspiration Journal, an inspirational journal specifically for people fighting cancer as well as Mine for a Time, a book dealing with pregnancy and early infant loss.

With her experience in oncology, primary care, and women’s health she enjoys imparting knowledge in an engaging and practical way. Moreover, she is a wife and mother of 3 who enjoys family time, music, movies, traveling, speaking, reading, and writing. For more information, visit her website at ccthenp.com.