Unmasked: Healthcare in the Black Community Beyond the Virus

Join the discussion with Atrium Health on the state of health in Charlotte's Black Community.

As we continue our Unmasked series, we dive deeper into discussing how healthcare has specifically played a role in the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on the Black community. Key members of Atrium Health's leadership team and Mecklenburg County's Public Health Director will weigh in on how structural issues in the healthcare system have fostered a deeper disadvantage for Black people, specifically during this time of crisis. The conversation will be guided by questions around bias and lack of access, and will culminate with actionable steps healthcare providers like Atrium Health can enact for a sustainable and equitable future.

We will stream the discussion live on our YouTube page. Audience members can join the chat throughout the evening with relevant questions for the moderator and panelists.

Viewing this program is free and open to the public. To chat during the program and contribute your perspective to the conversation, please create a YouTube account with a Gmail email address prior to the program. Click here for a step-by-step tutorial on creating a YouTube account.

To further add to the discussion, please take the time to complete our 2-minute audience survey here. We will review the results at the end of the program.

Gary Little, MD, MBA
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Atrium Health Metro Division

Since June 2018, Dr. Little has served as the Chief Medical Officer of Atrium Health’s Metro Division. In this role, Dr. Little leads and coordinates initiatives in Quality, Patient Safety, Physician and APP engagement, Clinical Operations, and System Integration for the Charlotte area acute care hospitals.

Fernando G. Little, MSL
Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer, Atrium Health

Fernando leads broad, collaborative efforts throughout Atrium Health’s operations and academic programs to foster diversity, inclusion, culturally competent care, inclusive purchasing, language access, and health equity for diverse and underserved populations. He also develops, implements and monitors programs and processes that sustain Atrium Health’s inclusive organizational culture.

Gibbie Harris, MSPH, BSN
Public Health Director, Mecklenburg County

Gibbie Harris was named director of the Mecklenburg County of Health Department in October 2017, after serving as the Interim Health Director for three and a half months. Ms. Harris is responsible for managing the Department of over 800 public health professionals and a budget of $72,000,000. The work encompasses clinical services, preventive health, case management, health partnerships and population health. Harris was the health director in Buncombe County for six years and in Wake County, serving as the Health Director for 10 years and in other leadership roles in the Department for the previous 7 years.