10-24-2021 Women to Watch - Flipbook - Page 24
PHOTO BY LLOYD FOX
DR. SHERITA HILL GOLDEN
53, chief diversity officer for Johns Hopkins
Medicine
Dr. Sherita Hill Golden first noticed African
Americans had higher rates of heart disease and
diabetes while in medical school. The disparities
stuck with her through her career, which culminated in a position as vice president in Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Now it informs her work as Hopkins’ chief diversity officer, a role she added in 2019 as the world
faced a pandemic infecting minorities at disproportionate rates. Reducing barriers and improving outreach on and off campus became far more
urgent.
“It’s literally a matter of life and death, which
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is different from some other industries where it’s
maybe a revenue issue,” she said. “In health care
we need to do better so our patients don’t die.
That’s the lens from which I was coming into this
work.”
The push to make the system more equitable
and accessible continues through vaccine rollout.
Golden boosted partnerships with churches and
other trusted groups to ensure those in nearby
communities could get, and would want, a shot.
On campus she made sure support staff had the
same chance for vaccination as doctors and nurses.
“The people who served meals had just as much
contact with patients, and were putting their lives
at just as much risk,” she said.
Going forward, equity and diversity will remain
her challenge.
Kevin Sowers, president of the Johns Hopkins
Health System and executive vice president of
Johns Hopkins Medicine, had persuaded her to apply for the job.
“When you start thinking about diversity and
inclusion and the passion it takes to really address
systemic issues that have been in our community
for years, Sherita has that passion,” he said. “She
has the ability to take in all the pieces and gel them
into a plan to move the organization forward.”
Golden says the job has been more than full
time, but the pandemic has made her appreciate
time with her physician husband and son, who
is pursuing a career in journalism. She also finds
time to volunteer. But breaks from service also are
important. She said, “I really like a good book.”
— Meredith Cohn