Pathways for Addressing Structural Racism
In this episode of Centering Health Equity, our distinguished guests Dr. Somava Saha and Dr. Danica Sumpter speak about why healthcare organizations must look beyond individual bias training to tackle systemic racism. We discuss how operational practices—from billing and algorithms to resource distribution—drive health disparities, and they urge leaders to move from blame to “critical love” by sharing power with marginalized communities to build truly restorative healthcare systems.
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About Our Guests
Dr. Somava Saha
Somava Saha, MD, MS has spent over 25 years advancing health, wellbeing, and equity as a physician, global public health practitioner, and systems leader, witnessing sustainable transformation in communities worldwide. She is currently President and CEO of Well-being and Equity in the World (WE in the World) and Executive Lead of the Well Being In the Nation (WIN) Network, advancing intergenerational wellbeing and equity. Previously, as Vice President at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, she founded and led the 100 Million Healthier Lives initiative, engaging over 1,850 partners in 30+ countries and reaching more than 500 million people. Earlier in her career, she led major patient-centered care transformations at Cambridge Health Alliance, significantly improving outcomes, workforce wellbeing, access, quality, and costs for safety net populations. Recognized as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Young Leader in 2012, Dr. Saha has advised global leaders, spoken internationally, and shared platforms with influential figures while her work has been widely featured
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Dr. Danica Sumpter
Dr. Danica Sumpter is a consultant, health equity advocate, and former academic dedicated to empowering educators and institutions to create transformative learning experiences that prioritize equity and social justice. She currently serves as the Chief Education & Wellness Officer at Contract Service Innovations, LLC (CSI Compliance) and as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Consultant for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). In her work with the AACN, she provides specialized technical assistance, workshops, and individualized consultations to nursing schools nationwide, helping them dismantle systemic barriers and integrate antiracist principles into their curricula.
With over 12 years of experience in nursing education, Dr. Sumpter brings a profound understanding of the complexities of academic environments. She spent more than a decade at The University of Texas at Austin, serving as a Clinical Assistant and Clinical Associate Professor. During her academic tenure, she led initiatives that bridged the gap between theory and practice, crafted innovative curriculum designs, and mentored the next generation of nurse educators. Her robust foundation in clinical practice and research includes roles as an RN at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin and a Research RN at the University of Pennsylvania.
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