Virtual forum to address current climate of national and community-related uncertainty

On June 5 from 8-9 a.m., VUMC leaders will facilitate a virtual discussion addressing the current climate of national and community-related uncertainty. This is a stressful time in our nation as well as in the Nashville

community. Specifically, the recent death of George Floyd, closely following that of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, evoked a level of fear to the forefront of society, particularly for underrepresented minorities in America. We must acknowledge this anxiety and find a way to talk about it — as our own community is not immune to racism, anger and fear.

The discussion will be led by:

André Churchwell, MD, Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Vanderbilt University and Chief Diversity Officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Quianda Harris, EdD, Clinical Counselor, Work/Life Connecttions-Employee Assistance Program
Jim Kendall, LCSW, of Work/Life Connections-Employee Assistance Program
Kate Payne, JD, RN, NC-BC, associate professor in the Center for Biomedical Ethics
C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD, Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Meg Rush, MD, president of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Cordell E. Simpson, MDiv, DDiv, Chaplain, Pastoral Care
Kimberly N. Vinson, MD, assistant professor of Otolaryngology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and assistant dean for Diversity at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine