The Department of Medicine has named Lauren Nephew, MD, and Ashley Gilmore, MD, to important new leadership roles, establishing the department's position on the forefront of health equity, said Sylk Sotto, EdD, MBA, MS,.
Nephew will serve as the Associate Vice Chair for Health Equity. Gilmore will serve as Assistant Vice Chair for Health Equity.
In their new roles, Nephew and Gilmore will contribute to departmental efforts to advance equity in healthcare for all patients and communities served by IU Health hospitals and providers. They will represent our clinical health equity efforts across the organization, along with Sotto and Brad Sutter, MD, who is Interim Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and Wellness.
Nephew, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology and a health services researcher, said she is looking forward to working with this team of "health equity champions."
"I am a physician and scientist who is passionate about health equity," Nephew said. "I am delighted to be using those skills to develop and implement custom tools for vulnerable and minoritized populations of Indiana to achieve good health."
Gilmore, also an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, said that her work in gastroenterology and obesity has highlighted the disparities that make it difficult to provide optimal and appropriate care to patients.
"I am thrilled to be in a position to both bring attention to and develop an effective strategy to address health inequities in our community. This work is a reminder of why I began a career in medicine," she said.
"I look forward to working with Drs. Nephew and Gilmore in charting a strategic direction; implementing department-wide programs aimed at measuring and detecting disparities; and examining structural and social determinants of health that impact equitable patient-centered care within the department of medicine," Sotto said.
