To my HHS and Commissioned Corps family, thank you for your support. I want to extend a special welcome to my pastor and assistant pastor. I know I would not be standing here if it were not for grace and mercy, the love, support, and guidance of my family, friends, mentors, and colleagues.

There are also many who supported me that are no longer with us. I know their spirit is here with me tonight. To the best mom in the world, thank you for your support, love, persistence, and faith in me. My husband, Dennis, and daughters, Nadira and Alexa, you are amazing. Girls, you are our greatest accomplishment and I am so proud of the caring and intelligent young ladies you have become. You inspire me to do my best and challenge me to work harder—to pay for study abroad programs, tutus, and pointe shoes. Dennis, I thank you for your support and encouragement to pursue my goals in life. Thank you for all you do to take care of us every day. We love and appreciate you.

I am so proud to be among a growing group of individuals who are having a positive impact on the world through their passion for science and technology while fulfilling their calling to make a difference in the world by caring for man- and woman-kind.

Women of Color in STEM are changing the world. We are part of a movement that is using knowledge, training, and opportunity to shape innovation and technology in all sectors of science right now and in years to come. We bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the world that can have a positive impact on the lives of many.

This award means a lot to me. I feel honored to have been selected. It renews my obligation to continue the much-needed work in STEM and pay it forward to inspire, motivate, and mentor the next generation of technologists and scientists—whatever their gender or color.

This is not something I could have ever imagined growing up in rural, Appomattox, Virginia while volunteering as a candy striper at Lynchburg General Hospital. For us, technology was not a word I recalled in our vocabulary, and being a scientist was a stretch for those of us who grew up on a farm.

In Appomattox, there were only three doctors for the entire county. Most people traveled outside the local area for a hospital, specialty care, and certain treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, cardiac care, and some surgeries. Long story short, we lived in a rural underserved area with barriers to accessing health care.

I did not understand it at the time, but growing up rural helped prepare me for the opportunities I have had throughout my entire career, working with underserved marginalized populations.

Early in life, I observed many people delaying to see doctors because they could not afford care or did not have transportation to access a provider. In some cases by the time they were able to see one, their condition had progressed to a point that available treatments were not effective. Unfortunately, over time this situation has only become more commonplace across our country.

It is estimated that in 2019 there were 29.2 million Americans who were uninsured. This was pre-COVID-19. Today, in the midst of a pandemic we know that there are even more individuals struggling to obtain and retain health insurance and access to care. For those who are insured and those who qualify for insurance coverage, many cannot afford the premiums, copays, and deductibles.

In many places just like Appomattox, there are significant health disparities among the poor and in minority communities. As we have seen in the COVID-19 Pandemic, disparities in quality of care and access to care are very common. This is a longstanding trend among minority communities and the poor. This is unacceptable and requires that we continue to work to improve access and quality of care for everyone.

Looking back on my candy striper days, I now see how that experience helped prepare me for my career as a nurse and public health professional. It exposed me to the sights and sounds of the clinical environment and the possibilities of a career in STEM. Early exposure to individuals in the science and medical field helped me see myself having a career in health, science, and technology…a career where I could help others.

It also allowed me to see individuals from my community had to wait too long to be admitted to the hospital, only to learn they had a chronic condition or terminal illness that could have been prevented or treated much earlier. At times in my career I have been asked, Why did I become a nurse? Or, Why do I do what I do? My answer was often that I like to help people and I love learning about health and the science of disease.

But at this point in my career, I answer that question by saying I want to make a difference. I want to do everything I can to improve access to care for everyone, but especially vulnerable populations. I freely share my interest in health disparities with others and emphasize that it is absolutely unacceptable for gaps in quality or coverage because of where you live, what you look like, or how much money you make.

Much has helped shape my view of the world. At some point, we learn to take on the challenges as they come…facing each one as a new adventure. This has been the case for me in my nursing career and my work in the field of HIV, Ebola, Zika, emergency response, COVID-19, and public health in general. Our work is not always easy and it is not always fun, but at the end of the day, it is rewarding.

It is through our own personal experiences that we learn the importance of community, service, innovation, technology transfer, and using every possible tool and resource to address needs and solve problems. Each day we have the opportunity—and the humane obligation—to make a difference. I believe one person can affect change, but we are much stronger if we work together. If our efforts are leveraged with others who are dedicated to the same mission, we can achieve much success.

This is a unique time in the history of our Nation and the world. We are fortunate to be able to use our skills and knowledge to contribute to sustainable solutions for our communities, especially those that are underserved. Our job is to mount a response to help those in greatest need. It is often said, that to whom much is given, much is required.

It is up to us to decide what we will do to help our world become healthier, more prepared, and less burdened by preventable conditions and diseases. We must recognize that racial and ethnic disparities exist and take a stand for the social and economic justice required to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to live a healthy life. There will be challenges and obstacles to achieve real change, but it is possible. I look forward to continuing efforts to address these challenges.

In the words of Booker T. Washington: “Success is not to be measured by the position someone has reached in life, but the obstacles he has overcome while trying to succeed.”

We have and will continue to face obstacles, but we must keep moving forward. Keep overcoming those obstacles and never give up! Thank you all for your contributions to STEM and support for Women of Color in STEM. It is an honor to receive this award tonight. Thank you. God speed.