Starting the Conversation: Episode 2
Over the last year, we’ve been reminded that systemic racism has had a devastating impact on our society. For centuries, health inequities have contributed to Black Americans and people of color suffering worse health outcomes than their white neighbors. This six-episode series, hosted by Michael Sneed, Executive Vice President, Johnson & Johnson, features conversations with Black doctors and nurses on the front lines of health equity with the hope that by Starting the Conversation and listening, we create empathy. Through empathy, we gain understanding. And, through understanding, we inspire change.
Baltimore: A perfect example of a flawed system
Baltimore is adjacent to the United States capitol, the center of policy and justice for arguably one of the most powerful and influential countries in the world. This city is also a case study in economic and racial health disparities among Blacks and whites. Michael Sneed, Executive Vice President, Johnson & Johnson, continues the conversation with two changemakers determined to achieve equity in healthcare for their community and to create a model of racial health equity for the country’s leaders to see.
Michael Sneed
Michael Sneed most recently served as Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs & Chief Communication Officer, and a member of the Executive Committee at Johnson & Johnson. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Thomas Jefferson Health System and a member of the Board of Directors of Wayfair. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Macalester College.
Joseph Nelson, M.D., MBA
Dr. Nelson has a B.S. in biomedical education from the CUNY School of Medicine, an M.D. from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business. He is currently completing a critical care fellowship at the University of Maryland and is set to graduate in 2023. Dr. Nelson grew up in a two-bedroom Brooklyn apartment with his mom and extended family. He is passionate about healthcare operations with the goal of creating protocols that may preclude disenfranchised patients from receiving equitable healthcare. He is also focused on the retention and matriculation of underrepresented communities into medical school and residency with the goals of providing mentorship and attaining a diverse healthcare workforce.
Patty R. Wilson, RN, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC
Dr. Wilson has a BSN and MSN from the University of Maryland School of Nursing, a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia School of Nursing and a PMHNP post-master’s certificate from the University of Virginia. She is an alum of the ANA/SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program. Dr. Wilson has dedicated her career to improving the lives of those who have experienced trauma and is working to create community-based interventions that address social determinants of health and promote health equity in underserved minority populations.
For nearly 20 years, both in our laboratories and on the ground in countries impacted by TB and MDR-TB, Johnson & Johnson has been supporting global efforts to end TB and combat AMR.