Mamie Williams, PhD, senior director for Nurse Diversity and Inclusion, recently won awards from the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) and Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS).
The THA honored Williams with the Diversity Champion Award, which recognizes “leaders who have made outstanding contributions in leadership and workplace diversity, equity and inclusion, and demonstrated commitment to a diverse workforce.”
Williams was lauded for supporting numerous initiatives to support underrepresented groups, co-chairing the Racial Equity Task Force, and helping establish the Academy for Emerging Diverse Nurse Leaders, a joint effort of VUMC and the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.
“Williams’ efforts have created lasting, positive impacts on health care leadership and workforce diversity,” the THA said.
Williams also recently received the Experiential Learning Innovator of the Year Award at MNPS’ annual Academies of Nashville Awards. She was nominated by Pearl-Cohn High School in North Nashville for her involvement with the Academy of Health Science & Personal Care, specifically the Therapeutic Services pathway.
Williams helped start a program at Pearl-Cohn in which VUMC nurse mentors meet weekly with students considering careers in health care. She helped organize a career fair in March that attracted more than 100 students.
“These awards are testaments to the commitment of each Vanderbilt nurse in upholding the ideals of the nursing profession,” Williams said. “The dedication to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion within the profession, by engaging and mentoring the next generation of nurses, exemplifies VUMC nurses’ dedication to making the profession accessible to all.”
VUMC System Chief Nursing Officer Karen Keady, PhD, RN, said, “We are incredibly proud of Mamie Williams for receiving these well-deserved honors. She is a highly effective advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within VUMC, our community and in the field of nursing. Her contributions embody our organizational values, and we are fortunate to have her championing this critical work.”
