How long have you been a member of the Black Health Network, and what drew you to CBHN?

I am a recent member of the Black Health Network, and was drawn to CBHN because of its clear commitment to advancing health equity for Black communities across California. I wanted to be part of a network that not only recognizes the structural and historical drivers of inequity, but also actively works to create solutions through advocacy, collaboration, education, and community-centered leadership. What especially resonated with me was the organization’s focus on combining passion with action.

What is your current profession?

I am a Senior National Oncology Account Director in Market Access at AstraZeneca Oncology. In this role, I work at the intersection of oncology, access, and healthcare systems, helping to navigate how patients receive access to important treatments. My work involves collaborating with key stakeholders across the healthcare landscape to support access strategies, address barriers within the system, and help ensure that therapies can reach the patients who need them.  Working in Market Access has given me a close view of how coverage, affordability, policy, and system-level decision making can directly affect patient outcomes, which is one reason I care so deeply about advancing health equity.  My work centers on helping connect people, ideas, and resources in ways that support more equitable systems of care and better community health.

From your perspective, what barriers exist in achieving health equity for Black Californians?

Many barriers operate at both the systemic and community levels. Some of the most significant include unequal access to quality care, underinvestment in Black communities, lack of culturally responsive services, mistrust rooted in historical and ongoing harms, and the social determinants of health such as housing, education, transportation, food access, and economic opportunity. Health equity cannot be achieved by focusing only on healthcare delivery. It requires addressing the broader systems and policies that shape people’s lives and health outcomes.

Through your work and involvement with CBHN, how have you been able to prioritize the health of Black Californians?

Through my work and my involvement with CBHN, I continue to prioritize the health of Black Californians by helping elevate community voices, support education and awareness, encourage partnership across sectors, and advocate for solutions that are rooted in equity and accountability. I try to approach this work by listening first, understanding what communities are asking for, and then helping push for strategies that are responsive to those needs. CBHN contributes to collective efforts to ensure that Black health is recognized not as a side issue, but as a priority.

What inspires you to continue doing this work?

What inspires me most is the resilience, brilliance, and leadership within Black communities. I am motivated by the belief that equity is possible when people are willing to be intentional, courageous, and collaborative. I am also inspired by the opportunity to contribute to work that can have a lasting impact for future generations. Even when progress feels slow, I keep going because I know this work matters, and because healthier communities are worth fighting for.

What is the bravest thing you have ever done?

The bravest thing I have ever done is choosing to speak up, even when it would have been easier to stay silent. Whether that meant challenging assumptions, naming inequities, or advocating for what I knew was right, I have learned that courage is often not about one dramatic moment, but about consistently showing up with honesty and conviction. For me, bravery has meant being willing to stand in truth and push for change, even when that comes with discomfort.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

The best advice I have ever received is: “Do the work with integrity and let your values lead you.” That advice has stayed with me because it reminds me that meaningful change is rarely quick or easy, but when you stay grounded in purpose and remain accountable to the people you serve, your work has deeper impact. It has helped me stay focused on both the mission and the way I pursue it.

What does real progress in Black health equity look like to you?

Real progress looks like measurable improvements in health outcomes, but it also looks like something deeper. It means Black communities are being heard, respected, invested in, and included in decisions that affect their lives. It means having systems that are not only accessible, but also trustworthy, culturally responsive, and designed to help people thrive. Real progress is when equity is no longer treated as an aspiration, but as a standard.