Mamie Williams, MPH, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, has been named senior director of Nurse Diversity and Inclusion at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Williams will report to Executive Chief Nursing Officer Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, NE-BC.
In her new role, Williams will build on efforts to create a sustainable system for diversity, equity and inclusion in nursing at VUMC, working within VUMC and engaging the wider community.
She will collaborate and partner with internal and external stakeholders to analyze, establish and implement diversity initiatives and programs to improve systems for recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce.
Her community-facing role will include engaging with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to promote Vanderbilt as an employer of choice where diversity is intentional. Her goal is not only to create a more diverse workforce, but to create a better environment of care for patients.
“Evidence around patient outcomes has shown time and time again that if you have a diverse workforce, one that mirrors what your community looks like, your patient outcomes are improved on a system level,” Williams said. “When patients receive more culturally competent care, it translates into better outcomes for them. That certainly is what VUMC is committed to doing.”
Williams has more than 25 years of nursing experience and has held progressive nursing roles at VUMC over the last decade, most recently as director of Nurse Safety and Well-being. Her initiatives have included addressing workplace violence, ensuring nurses have proper equipment for safe patient handling, and organizing and promoting well-being training for nurses.
She has also been a leader in Vanderbilt’s efforts to make diversity and inclusion intentional in nursing as co-chair of the Racial Equity Task Force. The group assessed, surveyed and interviewed staff and also reviewed institutional data to identify barriers to diversity system wide.
The co-chairs submitted final recommendations to VUMC and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) executive leadership in December 2020 and included 62 primary recommendations and 152 subrecommendations.
“Mamie is an outstanding choice to take on this new leadership role for nursing diversity and inclusion,” said Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI, Senior Vice President for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence at VUMC and Senior Associate Dean for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence at VUSM. “She has the vision, skills and commitment required for this pivotal position. I’m looking forward to working with Mamie to achieve our shared goals, and I congratulate Marilyn Dubree for elevating this work and establishing this role.”
Williams is also co-chair of the VUMC African American Employee Resource Group, which aims to foster a feeling of inclusion, promote professional development, raise awareness of relevant issues and is open to all employees.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Mamie to this vital new position,” Dubree said. “Mamie has valuable institutional experience and a deep understanding of the opportunities for making diversity and inclusion intentional at Vanderbilt. I am excited to partner with her on this important work.”
Williams holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Tennessee State University and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois.
