At the beginning of 2023, NAHSE and the VCU Department of Health Administration announced a three-part webinar series offered in partnership to advance the department’s inclusive leadership education initiative. After receiving positive evaluations of the three-part webinar series from students, faculty, and early careerists across the nation, Lisa Mallory, PhD., chief executive officer of NAHSE and Stephan Davis, DNP, MHSA, FACHE, FAAN, executive director of inclusive leadership education for the Department of Health Administration, and the NAHSE education committee decided to offer an “encore” webinar tackling a topic that has never been addressed through the leading professional associations for healthcare leadership. 

On June 28, NAHSE and VCU will offer a National Pride Month webinar addressing the Black experience in healthcare management entitled “The Black Rainbow: The Intersection of Black and LGBTQ+ Identities in Healthcare Leadership.” The webinar will feature Black healthcare leaders who also identify as belonging to the LGBTQ+ community.

“The message from our membership and even non-members who joined the NAHSE-VCU webinars has been clear – students and early careerists are yearning for educational content that tackles hard issues that aren’t being discussed anywhere else,” said Mallory. “Their evaluation comments also reflect that they are grateful to have access to educational sessions that prioritize and center the experiences of Black healthcare leaders.”

Davis, who serves on the NAHSE education committee and previously chaired the American College of Healthcare Executives LGBTQ+ Healthcare Leaders Community said “rewinding back to my first exposure to NAHSE as a graduate student in 2008, I do not believe the organization was ready to talk about the intersections of race and LGBTQ+ identity at that time. It has been amazing to watch the progress over the years that has led to this moment. To have NAHSE’s support in addressing this important topic for the future of healthcare leadership as well as the Black LGBTQ+ patient population means the world to me – and I know it will be impactful for students and early careerists who share these identities.”

As an approved provider of American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) qualified education credit, the VCU Department of Health Administration will offer one qualified ACHE education credit to participants who attend the webinar for the full hour. Qualified education credits are one of the requirements to achieve and maintain the prestigious Fellow credential with ACHE. Increasing the diversity of healthcare leaders holding the Fellow credential is a strategic priority for both ACHE and NAHSE.

“If this webinar is anything like the first three, participants are in for an amazing hour filled with sharing of knowledge and deeply profound personal experiences”, said Paula Song, PhD., Richard M. Bracken chair and professor of the Department of Health Administration. “What Drs. Mallory and Davis, and the NAHSE education committee have created has reached thousands of students and early careerists across the nation. If even one Black LGBTQ+ student or early careerist is positively impacted by this webinar and feels more seen, more heard, and more valued – we will have achieved our goal with offering this encore session.”

The webinar will be held on June 28 from noon to 1p.m. Eastern.

Click here to register for the session

About NAHSE:

The National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE) is a non-profit association of Black health care executives founded in 1968 for the purpose of promoting the advancement and development of Black health care leaders and elevating the quality of health care services rendered to minority and underserved communities. NAHSE’s vision is to be recognized globally as the premier professional membership society for Black people in health care management. NAHSE strives to improve the health status, economic opportunities, and educational advancement of the communities they serve. NAHSE is committed to the Association goals by providing: Professional Programs, Workshops, Job Bank and Mentoring, Scholarships, Community Service Projects, Health Policy and Advocacy, and Entrepreneurship opportunities.

About the VCU Department of Health Administration and College of Health Professions:

The VCU Department of Health Administration is a premiere research department geared toward creating the most innovative, compassionate, and business-savvy leaders to reimagine healthcare. With access to the amenities of a large institution in a small and student-centric atmosphere, the Department of Health Administration teaches students the executive and technical skills needed to be well-rounded leaders The department's master's degree program, the residential Master of Health Administration and the online-hybrid Master of Science in Health Administration for experienced professionals, is rated in the top three among its peers in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Also offered by the department is the highly regarded PhD Program in Health Services Organization and Research. For more, visit the Department of Health Administration's website.

The VCU College of Health Professions is a nationally recognized leader in the education of health providers and leaders, and cultivates an interprofessional approach to training. The College offers curricula at the baccalaureate, master's, post-graduate and doctoral levels designed to prepare health care professionals for roles in a variety of clinical, teaching, and community health and wellness settings. For more, visit the College of Health Profession's website.