Black Health Care Heroes Honored for their Hard Work
These real-world superheroes wear stethoscopes, scrubs and even suits. For the past two years as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on, Black health care workers and leaders have served on the front lines to advocate for equitable health care to keep communities safe. In honor of Black History Month, Stay Well Community Health Fairs and the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign are recognizing six outstanding individuals for their dedication to protecting the health of Black Americans.
Dr. Samira Brown
Dr. Samira Brown is a board-certified primary care pediatrician. Her philosophy is that every child and family should receive high-quality, equitable care. Dr. Brown is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the National Medical Association. She is listed as one of the Best Doctors in America® and serves as a medical expert on local and national media outlets including the TODAY show and NBC Nightly News. Over the course of the pandemic, Dr. Brown co-founded Little Lives PPE to provide children and families with essentials such as face masks and shields. Dr. Brown advocates for children’s mental health and supports local Stay Well Community Health Fair events.
Dr. Nina Ford Johnson
Dr. Nina Ford Johnson is vice president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. She was featured in a national advertisement as part of the We Can Do This, public education campaign run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to strengthen COVID vaccine confidence in Black communities and increase vaccinations among Black children. Dr. Johnson has a passion for educating Black communities and ensuring they have the knowledge and tools they need to make smart health decisions.
Dr. Eric Griggs
Dr. Eric Griggs is a New Orleans-based community medicine doctor and health educator who has dedicated his professional life to raising health and wellness awareness in Black communities around the world. He is an active participant in several organizations that promote positive community change like the 100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans and the 100 Black Men International Health and Wellness Committee. Dr. Griggs plays an instrumental role in educating and addressing youth vaccination guidelines and recommendations and common COVID misconceptions through online conversations and youth-friendly cartoon videos on his social media.
Travis Jackson
Travis Jackson is the CEO and founder of HBCU Pride Nation, LLC. For more than a decade, HBCU Pride Nation has been a positive social media platform to increase awareness of and enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country. Throughout the pandemic, Jackson has used his platform to share why he chose to get vaccinated while also encouraging the HBCU community to protect themselves as they resume activities and events.
Russ Parr
Russ Parr’s career has evolved from stand-up comedian, to recording artist, to filmmaker, to top-rated, nationally-syndicated radio host. The Russ Parr Morning Show heard weekdays by more than 3.2 million people in 45 cities nationwide is nationally syndicated by Reach Media. Parr uses his platform to provide educational and timely information about COVID vaccines to Black communities and amplify the voices of trusted Black health care professionals. Parr recently hosted the Stay Well Facebook Live series, discussing updates on COVID, flu season, how to stay safe and how to continue making vaccines accessible to Black communities.
Antrell Tyson, Esq.
Antrell Tyson was appointed to serve as regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Region IV in March 2022. As a presidential appointee and the primary representative for the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tyson has been at the forefront of educating communities on the updated COVID vaccines and ensuring that vaccines and health resources are accessible to Black communities. He’s also is tasked with providing executive leadership regarding intergovernmental and external affairs, which brings together federal, state, local and tribal governments, organizations and private sector businesses. He’s for eight Southeast regions including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as the those regions’ six federally-recognized Tribes.
To learn more about the Black Health Care Heroes and upcoming Stay Well events, visit the Stay Well Health Hub.
