Health Care is a Right, Not a Privilege
The DC Hospital Association believes that to achieve health equity we must understand the challenges, aspirations, barriers, and realities of the community. It’s vital to share examples of innovative approaches to equity and shine a light on leaders across the District of Columbia. DCHA recognizes the importance of health equity and is working with its member hospitals to ensure that disparities in health care quality and access are eliminated.
In 2023, DCHA premiered the Health Equity Award to honor and recognize those who are making health equity a reality in their community and leveraging engagement to improve health outcomes for those most impacted.
The inaugural award was given to Vincent C. Gray for his demonstrated success in changing systems that impact health outcomes in access and equity, diversity, and inclusion. The award was given to recognize his decades of service to the District, history of dedication to eradicating health disparities, perseverance in ensuring that all residents have access to quality health care, and for being an instrumental force in making the Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health a reality.
The award is now called the Vincent C. Gray Health Equity Award to forever honor Vincent Gray’s legacy of being a voice for the voiceless and ensuring that health care is a right and not a privilege.
2023 Health Equity Awards
This inaugural award, created by the work of the DC Hospital Association and Board of Directors, was given to Chairman Vincent C. Gray for his contributions to reducing disparities in health care. Chairman Gray has shown demonstrated success in changing systems that impact health outcomes in access and equity, diversity, and inclusion. This much deserved recognition is in honor of his decades of service to the District and his perseverance in ensuring that all residents have access to quality health care. Councilmember Gray has a history of dedication to eradicating health disparities and was an instrumental force in making the Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health a reality.
2024 Health Equity Awards
DCHA is proud and excited to name the 2024 Vincent C. Gray Health Equity Award for their commitment, dedication and inspiring actions to advance health equity and eliminate health disparities.
Safe Babies, Safe Moms Program, MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Safe Babies Safe Moms is a partnership between MedStar Health, Community of Hope, and Mamatoto Village that addresses disparities in maternal and infant care in Washington, DC. The program puts each family at the center of their care before, during, and after pregnancy and until the child reaches age three. Safe Babies, Safe Moms combines the expertise of MedStar Health, evidence-based health care, and proven community-centric support services. The program brings together partners and the community to provide interdisciplinary, multigenerational health and support services for birthing people and their families.
Joy A. Lewis, MSW, MPH, American Hospital Association
The American Hospital Association’s Joy Lewis, Senior VP of Health Equity Strategies and Executive Director of the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity, has led efforts to address systemic racial and health disparities, including those in maternal health, structural racism, and disability inclusion. The Health Equity Roadmap is a cornerstone project that assists hospitals in embedding equity into their clinical and business operations. Key disparities addressed include inadequate maternal health care for vulnerable groups, specifically Black and Indigenous women, as well as improving access for minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ populations.
Dr. Kimberly Nettles, PharmD, RPh, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Health
Dr. Nettles led a transformative health equity project aimed at reducing disparities in cancer screening, treatment access, and outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities. The project addressed disparities in oncology care, where these vulnerable groups experience higher rates of late-stage cancer diagnoses and lower access to cutting-edge therapies. By including community-based education, partnerships with health care providers, targeted outreach, culturally competent care models and increasing diversity in clinical trials, the project resulted in an increase in cancer screening rates and a reduction in late-stage cancer diagnoses.
Thank you to our 2024 Vincent C. Gray Health Equity Award sponsors: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Sibley Memorial Hospital, ReedSmith, Vital Corporation, Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health, Cherrie Wanner Doggett, Howard University, Howard University Hospital, MedStar Health, Psychiatric Institute of Washington and Jason Wright.
2025 Health Equity Awards
DCHA is proud and excited to name this year’s recipients of the 2025 Vincent C. Gray Health Equity Award for their commitment, dedication and inspiring actions to advance health equity and eliminate health disparities.
Nancy Mellon, Founder and Head of School for the River School
Nancy Mellon is a fierce champion for equity. In 2023, she launched the Community Outreach Fund to eliminate barriers to early diagnosis and care for children most at risk of falling through the cracks. In the U.S., about 25% of babies who fail their initial hearing screening do not receive follow-up care. In the District, that number is a shocking 80%. Studies have attributed this to the lack of access to and the high cost of care in underserved communities, long wait times, logistical difficulties and problems with insurance coverage or reimbursement. The Fund breaks down these barriers by offering no-cost speech-language/ hearing screenings and diagnostic testing to children in the community. Nancy Mellon is more than a visionary — she’s a leader, advocate, and change-maker whose work has reshaped education and care for children with hearing loss. Nancy has created a national model where education, diagnostics, intervention, advocacy and equity come together to give every child a voice.
Adrian Jordan, President, Wellpoint District of Columbia
Under Adrian’s leadership Wellpoint DC exemplifies a powerful commitment to advancing health equity by embedding health-related social needs into its core strategy. Through intentional community engagement, provider collaboration, and data-driven program design, Wellpoint DC is transforming the health landscape for District residents disproportionately impacted by health disparities. Its approach ensures that equity is not a separate goal—it is the foundation of how care is delivered, measured, and improved. At the heart of Wellpoint DC’s success is its local engagement model. The team partners with trusted Certified Business Enterprises and Community Based Organizations to enhance resource access and build trust. Wellpoint DC meets members where they live—offering education, connection, and empowerment.
Dr. Christopher J. King, Dean, School of Health, Georgetown University
Dr. King is a visionary leader and tireless champion for health equity — both in his professional work and in his personal mission. He is a respected leader, educator, advocate, author, and mentor whose influence continues to shape the future of equitable health care. Dr. King played a pivotal role in creating the DCHA Building Healthy Communities Committee and co-led the creation of a groundbreaking conceptual framework that empowers hospitals to embrace and overcome the challenge of ensuring equal access to care for all. His commitment, intellect, and compassion remind us that achieving health equity is not just a professional goal — it’s a moral imperative.
Food & Friends
Since its’ founding in 1988, Food & Friends has been tackling health equity through nutrition and food access by providing medically tailored meals for individuals living with serious or chronic illnesses. Over the last several years, Food & Friends has advanced a systems change model that embeds food as medicine within health care delivery. Through partnerships with health care providers, insurers, and hospital systems, Food & Friends helps patients with complex health needs stabilize the progression of their illness, improve health outcomes, reduce hospitalizations, and save on health care costs. A new independent evaluation confirms what Food & Friends has long known: meals tailored to a person’s medical needs can transform health outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, reduce hospitalizations, and lower cost of care.
Infinite Legacy
Infinite Legacy is the nonprofit organ procurement organization that serves 10 million people in the DMV region. The team facilitates organ, eye and tissue donation and works with hospitals and transplant centers to decrease the number of people waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Their health equity projects and the disparities they address are trifold: First, they educate Washingtonians about the critical importance of registering to be an organ donor. Nearly 4,000 people in our region are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant and 64% of them are from multicultural communities. Second, Infinite Legacy focuses on providing communities with education about disease prevention and how to lead healthy lifestyles. And lastly, they provide a STEM curriculum to middle school students so they can learn about disease prevention, how to keep their organs healthy, what being an organ donor means and inspire them to consider careers in the field.
Centro hospitalario MedStar Washington
Transitional Care Coordinator and Community Health Advocate Program
Every year, MWHC cares for more than 40,000 patients with complex medical and social needs. The team supporting these patients beyond the bedside are three transitional care coordinators and five community health advocates. Despite their small numbers, their impact is large. They built trust with patients and communities by helping to connect them with the support and resources they need to heal and thrive. Through their commitment and coordinated effort, the team achieved significant outcomes for patients, including a 40% reduction in hospital readmission and a 25.6% decrease in emergency department utilization, thereby improving the lives of our patients. Thanks to their dedication, MedStar is not just treating illness but helping people rebuild their lives. This program goes beyond the health issues patients face, rather, it supports the community by helping them navigate challenges like housing, food, and other critical needs.
Thank you to our Vincent C. Gray Health Equity Award sponsors: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Howard University Hospital, Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health, AmeriHealth Caritas DC, Food & Friends, Georgetown Public Affairs, Infinite Legacy, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Wellpoint District of Columbia and in memory of Edward W. Webster, MD.
