Who We Are

The Augustus A. White III Institute for Healthcare Equity was founded in honor of Dr. Augustus A. White III, one of the first Black orthopedic surgeons in the United States, a Harvard Medical School professor, a Vietnam veteran, and a lifelong advocate for equity in medicine. Dr. White’s work was guided by a simple belief: that quality healthcare is something every person deserves, regardless of who they are or where they come from. This Institute was built to carry that belief forward.

OUR FOUNDER

Augustus A. White, III, MD

Surgeon. Scholar. Soldier. Pioneer.

Dr. White trained and practiced medicine during the civil rights movement, at a time when Black physicians faced barriers at nearly every level of the profession. He broke through them anyway, becoming a pioneering orthopedic surgeon, joining the Harvard Medical School faculty, publishing landmark research in spine surgery, and mentoring generations of physicians who went on to do the same for others.

He also served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, and throughout his career he remained committed to something beyond clinical excellence: the belief that medicine has a responsibility to the people it most often fails to reach. He advocated for dignity and representation in healthcare long before those words became common in the field.

The Institute carries that legacy forward. We believe mental health equity for Black and Brown young adults is not a trend or a program. It is the next chapter in the unfinished work of health justice. Just as previous generations fought for access to hospitals and desegregated care, today we are confronting stigma, exclusion, and systems that still do not reflect the lived experience of the communities they serve.

What previous generations fought to access, too many still cannot reach. We are not backing down from that responsibility.

Our Board of Directors

The Board of the Augustus A. White III Institute for Healthcare Equity brings together leaders from healthcare, law, finance, academic research, clinical practice, and community health. They come from different professional backgrounds and bring extensive networks, but what connects them runs deeper than credentials. Many know firsthand what it means to grow up in communities where access to quality care was not a given. They have built careers, stayed connected to where they came from, and chosen to put that success in service of something larger.

They share a belief that the mental health crisis facing Black and Brown young adults is solvable, and that addressing it seriously requires people willing to work across the sectors and silos that have kept this problem in place for too long. The Board helps guide the Institute in alignment with its core values and with the example set by Dr. White, whose commitment to equity continues to shape the direction of this work.

Macey Russell, JD

Chair | Retired Partner, Choate Hall & Stewart

J. Jacques Carter, MD

Board Member | Beth Israel Lahey Health

David Chanoff, PhD

Board Member | Professional Writer

Michael Douvadjian

Board Member | Senior Vice President, Morgan Stanley

Mark C. Gebhardt, MD

Board Member | Beth Israel Lahey Health

Dave Newhouse, MD

Board Member | Permanente Medical Group (Retired)

Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, PhD

Board Member | Director, McLean College Mental Health Program

Lisa Sussman, PhD

Board Member | Clinician, Health Wellness Program at Boston Arts

Kirk Taylor, MD

Board Member | President & CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center

Alicia Whittington, PhD, MPH

Board Member | Assistant Director of Engagement and Health Equity Research, Harvard University

The National Advisory Board

The National Advisory Board serves as a convergence point to gather ideas and amplify voices of nationally recognized medical professionals, medical institutions, and nationally recognized community stakeholders, with a focus on healthcare equity, DE&I best practices in Medicine, and DE&I more broadly in cross industry inclusive leadership. The National Advisory Board advances the vision set out by the Institute’s Board of Directors by creating a framework to provide information nationally that is readily shared among all the communities identified and supported by the Institute.

Louis W. Sullivan, MD

President Emeritus,
Morehouse School of Medicine

Theresa Moore, MD

President/Founder of T-Time
Productions

Susan Leggett-Johnson, MD

Healthcare Executive, D&I
Strategist, Physician

Edward K. Rodriquez, MD

Chief of Orthopedic, Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center

Medical Advisory Board

The Medical Advisory Board brings together recognized medical professionals, to gather and share medical information pertinent to the issue of healthcare equity. In collaboration with the Board of Directors, the Medical Advisory Board ensures that the The Institute is up-to-date on the latest clinical trials and medical research that would impact healthcare disparities and improve patient engagement. Further, the Medical Advisory Board has a platform for medical professionals, pharma, biotech and hospitals to share their innovative perspectives on healthcare equity broadly and based upon ethnic identifiers.

Dallas Reed, MD

Chief of Genetics, OB/GYN,
Tufts Medical Center

Harris Gibson, MD

Cardiothoracic Surgeon (Former),
Winchester Hospital

Community Advisory Board

The Community Advisory Board works collaboratively with members of varied communities' stakeholder groups including, but not limited to, sports, arts, entertainment, government (local, state, and federal), religious organizations, fraternal organizations, businesses, and other non-profit organizations, to bring forth content and programming that drives Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across varied industries and communities. The Community Advisory Board, also collaborates with the Board of Directors to execute on The Institute’s broader vision and mission. Ultimately, the Community Advisory Board leverages their reach to amplify the voices of community members supported by The Institute to drive engagement with businesses, payers and providers.

Gordon Thompson

Founder & CEO,
Westnet Inc.

Annica MacDonald

AVP, TJX Companies