Jacksonville, Fla.-As a part of Black History Month, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Department of Health have identified individuals as being Florida’s Unsung Heroes in Health as a way of recognizing positive healthcare contributions in the African-American community.
Shands Jacksonville employees Liz Means, vice president of community relations, and Willie Roberts, RN, MSH, infectious disease nurse coordinator, were recently selected as a result of their daily work to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. Dr. Rhonda Medows, AHCA Secretary, will present Means and Roberts the first Unsung Heroes award in the state on Friday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. in the Coleman Room, 10th floor, Tower II (across the street from the main hospital).
Means has impacted racial and ethnic health discrepancies by making healthcare accessible to the uninsured and underinsured. Collaborating with the Duval County Health Department, Jacksonville Housing Authority, local and state officials, the faith-based community and other agencies, Means works to provide healthcare services to African-Americans in zip codes identified with high incidents of health disparities.
Means was also instrumental in developing the Shands Wellness and Education Centers at Durkeeville and St. Matthew Baptist Church. Additionally, she initiated an educational program, Shoptalk: the Touch of Life, sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Shoptalk provides a mechanism to take early breast detection, awareness and education to women primarily in the beauty salon setting.
Founder of the Christian Women Coalition, Roberts is known extensively for her work with individuals infected with HIV. Through her efforts, members of the Coalition’s support group are spokespersons for HIV prevention and travel extensively educating youth and adults alike about the disease. Roberts has presented abstracts at two international HIV conferences in Geneva, Switzerland and Durban, South Africa.
The nurse coordinator currently serves as a member of the National Board for HIV/AIDS Women Initiative, Adolescent and Children HIV Committee, Interfaith HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee, Minority AIDS Network of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Ryan White Planning Committee. The State Bureau of HIV/AIDS also recently nominated Roberts as the AIDS Nurse of the Month.