VIRTUAL PROGRAM | Courageous Conversations | Rising Tides Lift All Boats: The Impact of Race and History on Black People’s Health

As racial and ethnic populations continue to grow in our country, their health will be the baseline status for the health of our nation. Despite advances in civil rights over the years, the healthcare system is still entrenched with persistent discrimination and racism. These health disparities are the result of a long history of racism in medicine and an inaccurate societal belief that more for one person means less for another.

Join us to learn more about...

• How race and ethnicity impact healthcare.
• Unconscious bias and systematic racism.
• Reducing the hurdles BIPOC face when receiving or accessing healthcare.

Panelists

Thamara Subramanian is a born and bred Kansas Citian with a passion for intersection between health and social justice. She currently serves as the Equity Audit and Strategy Manager for The Winters Group, where she is responsible for uncovering insights in data to help organizations reimagine how their policies and practices either support or impede equity and justice. Thamara shares her insights and leadership throughout the community with involvement with Girls on the Run KC and Big Brothers Big Sisters KC. Thamara has a BS in Psychology and Anthropology from University of Michigan, and an MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Maria Morgan has spent most of her career reviewing, developing, and implementing programming and policy focused on equity and inclusion through her work in health care and education. She previously practiced law in Kansas City, where she focused on matters involving employment discrimination, harassment, and civil rights issues while serving as a labor and employment and education lawyer in law firms and corporations. Her employers leveraged her experience as a plaintiff’s attorney, defense attorney, and her work in civil rights compliance. She has significant experience training organizational leadership teams on equity and inclusion as well as employment issues. Maria worked as Staff Counsel for Health Midwest where she was responsible for all aspects of employment law for the 13-hospital system. While at Health Midwest, Maria led a team charged with developing a cultural competency program to improve health equity outcomes for marginalized patient populations. Maria holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City and an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia.

Dr. Kirby Randolph is an experienced faculty with a history of working in both hospital administration and medical education. She is skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Management, Policy Analysis, Administration, Advocacy, and Investigation. Dr. Randolph is a strong administrative professional with postdoctoral training in healthcare policy. 

Cecilia Belser-Patton

Dr. Rebecca Baumgartner, she/her/hers, is the Senior Diversity & Inclusion Manager for Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., an AMLaw 100 law firm. With a background in Human Performance Improvement and a Certified Diversity Executive, she works strategically with organizations to remove systemic barriers to equity and inclusion. Rebecca works to incorporate equity and inclusion in every aspect of the business and empowers leaders to create a culture of belonging.
Rebecca is skilled in professional and leadership development, coaching, and the strategic planning and implementation of diversity and inclusion programs, initiatives, and efforts. She is a faculty member for the Conscious Inclusion Company and has been a featured speaker for organizations such as National Association for Legal Professionals, Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, Practising Law Institute, Tulane School of Law, Central Exchange, and the Professional Development Consortium. Additionally, she has contributed to and written for publications such as Forbes, The American Lawyer, Working Mother Media, and The Good Men Project. Rebecca was featured by InsightsSuccess as one of the “10 Most Inspiring Business Women in 2021.”
Rebecca sits on the board of the Northland Symphony and Orchestra, dedicated to providing music and arts education to youth in the community, as well as the Racial Equity and Inclusion Kansas City organization.  She serves as a NALP Diversity Mentor and is the President of the Parents of Academically Gifted Students of the North Kansas City School District, one of the largest school districts in Missouri. Rebecca has also dedicated her time to national committees including the Law Firm Anti-Racism Alliance Planning Committee and the National Diversity Council.