Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute
“Building Bridges: 25 Years of Connection, Community and Love”: Celebrating the contributions of the past and highlighting the voices of the present to inspire positive change, accountability and equity for all. It starts with us.
In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy, we recognize members from our community who are committed to serving communities in need.
Welcome to the Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.!
On behalf of UW Health Sciences and UW Medicine, we are deeply honored to welcome you to this year’s celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This is not just a day to remember one of the most transformative figures in American history, but also a time to recognize and celebrate the countless members of our own community who, inspired by Dr. King’s legacy, have dedicated themselves to lives of service, justice, and equity.
We understand that not everyone can join us in person, so we’ve created this website as a bridge to share the spirit of this celebration with the broader community. Inspiring stories of individuals and groups within UW Health Sciences and UW Medicine who are carrying the torch of Dr. King’s dream in their everyday work and lives. We hope you get a palpable sense of community that transcends physical distance and binds us together in a shared commitment to Dr. King’s ideals.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Committee, made up of dedicated staff and faculty from across the six health sciences schools and UW Medicine. Their tireless efforts have brought this dynamic and engaging website to life, providing a platform to amplify Dr. King’s message and inspire future generations to carry it forward.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. We invite you to explore the website, engage with the content, and let the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy guide us as we continue to build a more just and equitable world for all.
Dr. Paula Houston
Chief Equity Officer
Office of Healthcare Equity
Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs
Affiliate Professor, Department of Family Medicine
2024 MLK Planning Committee
Elaine Acacio
Kim Blakeley
Chantal Cayo
Priyanka Choudhury
Ada Cohen
Cher Espina
Priscilla Estrada
Robert M Gable
Aric Ho
Tami Horner
Doug Jackson
Bingqing Meng
Chiwendu Vernell Mengarpuan
Khalfani Mwamba
Carson S. Nibe
Adewunmi A. Nuga
Martine Pierre-Louis
Juanita M Ricks
Keondra Rustan
Chanira Reang Sperry
Daren Wade
Teri Ward
Kahlea Williams
2024 Distinguished Service Award
We proudly recognize and acknowledge Frankie Manning, MSN, RN a nurse devoted to public service with a nursing career in roles within the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, on professional boards, as a faculty member for several academic nursing programs and through her service in the U.S. Army. She has consistently developed programs to enhance services to patients and communities. In the early 1970s, prior to the many program initiatives for women veterans, she established basic procedures and procurement of equipment to support women veterans. In the 1980s, she chaired and guided the Women Veterans’ Program for Western Region of DVA. The standards of care, policies and procedures including the improvement in clinical guidelines, research and resources still remain in place today. Manning was selected as the first nurse to serve on the King County Board of Health in 2003. In 2004, she was appointed by Governor Locke to serve as board member for a three-year term on the Washington State Board of Health. She has been characterized by her nursing colleagues as a strong leader, visionary nurse, mentor, coach, and guide.
Below are some of her contributions:
- Developed pipeline project at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Seattle to expose and inspire young people of color about health professions and careers; an early example for our Nurse Camp.
- Long-standing board member of the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization, which provides scholarships to students of African heritage pursuing schooling in nursing; and mentorship to foster academic retention and cultivate career success.
- Partnered with Seattle Children’s Hospital to develop a program guiding new nursing school graduates to identify staff position openings and craft competitive employment applications.
- Serves on the Health Equity Research Community Advisory Council for the Institute of Translational Health Sciences (UW, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children’s) guiding research projects to identify communities’ research priorities, engage in community-partnered research, utilize equitable research practices, and increase access to participation in research studies by underrepresented groups.
- Served on UW School of Nursing faculty search committees to broaden diversity recruitment, and ensure that interviewing and evaluation processes reflected principles related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Counseled nursing students of color at University of Washington and Washington State University, and other institutions experiencing challenges with academic progression, and assist with retention and degree completion.
- Serves on Washington Center for Nursing’s Diversity Subcommittee to determine statewide strategies to diversify the nursing workforce through inclusive outreach, recruitment, admissions, and retention practices; including workshops to promote academic nursing careers to nurses of color.
- Volunteers in Public Health Reserve Medical Corp, developing and providing services to King and Pierce County homeless.
Most recently in 2020, she was awarded the Dr. C. June Strickland Distinguished Diversity & Transcultural Nursing Advocate Award and in 2018 she was selected as one of the 100 Most Influential Nurses, with ties to UW, who have demonstrated an undaunted commitment to improving the lives of others.
Community Service Awards
School of Dentistry
Jennifer Tang
Jennifer Tang was selected by the UW School of Dentistry (UWSOD) to receive this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award because of her commitment to creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, valued, and respected. As a leader, Jennifer ensures open and transparent communication, and as a mentor she fosters feelings of belonging and self-empowerment among the students and members of the community with whom she interacts. Addressing the oral health needs of underserved communities has been a focal point of Jennifer’s service since before she started dental school. As a dental hygienist she volunteered her professional services at Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission and the Seattle Center Foundation’s Annual Seattle/King County Clinic. As a dental student, Jennifer has played an active role in developing Husky Health Bridge, a student organization with the mission of providing poor and underserved communities with access to comprehensive healthcare through interprofessional relief efforts, education, and advocacy. Afghan refugees, survivors of sexual assault, and community elders are among the marginalized communities Jennifer and her Husky Health Bridge student colleagues and faculty serve. Jennifer’s nomination for this award highlighted the depth of her commitment to this aspect of service delivery which often includes finding meaningful interventions that address the unique needs and challenges of each community served by Husky Health Bridge. In her advocacy role, Jennifer is always encouraging others to get involved in these purposeful acts of service, a guarantee that it will continue.
School of Medicine
Brian Cedeño
Mr. Brian Cedeño is a fourth-year medical student who entered the UW School of Medicine in 2020 after earning a bachelor’s degree in social work here at UW. Brian is the quintessential student the school strives to admit and transition into a physician.
My colleague and friend, Leo Morales states, “I’ve known Brian since he was an undergraduate at UW and working with his dad in construction. He sought me out because of his interest in Latino health and he wanted to know more about becoming a physician; medical school looked like an unreachable goal. Brian knows what it’s like to have limited access to medical care, to struggle financially, and to have uncertainty about the future as an immigrant to this country.”
Informed by his lived experience, Brian has maintained a steadfast commitment to helping his community, be it working at Sea Mar Community Health Center as a health educator after completing his undergraduate degree, volunteering at community health fairs during medical school or mentoring the next generation of URM (underrepresented in medicine) medical students.
Through serving the disenfranchised he came to further appreciate the health disparities in our system and became an agent for change. This is evidenced by what he wrote in his residency application, “The family physicians at Sea Mar and I continued to help one patient at a time. Together, we wrote letters of support for families affected by our immigration system, connected patients to community resources that addressed social determinants of health, and we engaged in conversations with elected officials to create systemic changes needed to tackle root causes of health disparities.”
In medical school Brian joined the Community Underserved Scholars Program (CUSP Scholars) that focuses on underserved health, and he has continued with his focus on the Latino and disenfranchised communities. He is also a member of the UWSOM Cascade College Leadership Team aimed at improving our medical school’s student support network. Given his commitment to serving communities, it’s not surprising he was chosen as one of the 2022 Husky 100, a prestigious award honoring 100 undergraduate and graduate students (out of 46,000 students) for making a difference on campus, in their communities and for the future.
In short, Brian Cedeño manifests himself as the type of student we strive to transition into physicians to improve the health of all of us. He has been a mentor for many of us in supportive ways and in challenging situations. As my colleagues have repeated to me, it is a privilege to know him.
School of Nursing
Sharon Laing, PhD
Dr. Sharon Laing is a nationally recognized faculty member who has expertise in community-engaged and partnered work, specific to cancer control and prevention. She was recently acknowledged for her leadership by the American Public Health Association at the 2023 annual meeting. She has been an active catalyst for equity, diversity, and inclusion at the University of Washington and is a founding advisory board member for the Manning Price Spratlen Center for Anti-Racism and Equity. Her deep expertise in issues of equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism and the tireless work she does to transform our institution into a more equitable and just organization more than qualifies her for this prestigious award. All of her efforts have been specific to service and connecting our efforts to impacted communities for optimal impact and to maintain authenticity in our work. She has stepped up to ensure disparity populations are equal partners in the co-creation of both opportunities and interventions that should have lasting impact because they have been designed in real world contexts – centering their unique expertise. She does all of this will completing the mission of tenured faculty, namely teaching, research, and institutional service.
School of Social Work
Khalfani Mwamba MSW, SUDPII
Khalfani Mwamba is a son, husband, father, grandfather, and brother who weds his consciousness of culture and social justice priority into his Social Work praxis. On the Field Ed. faculty at UW School of Social Work since 2016, he’s proposed the “signature Pedagogy” improvement project of i.Mu.R.g. (pronounced “emerge,” or Interprofessional-Multicultural Reflective Groupwork); its written practice of WOKE Reflection-for-Action, and its (De)Carceral #WELLBEING praxis of Anti-Racist Social Work (DWSW). The latter’s goal intends the dismantling Carcerality, he suggests is the prime performance of contemporary racism. Spanning the School’s program spectrum, he teaches Social Work practice from Bachelor’s seniors to Masters specialists supporting both the Clinical and Community practice Specializations.
As a respected cultural worker, Khalfani is a Co-founder of the NW Kwanzaa Network, and has studied African rhythm systems world-wide, with a focus on South, West, and Oceanic African music’s utility in our lives as vehicles for both selves and communal care. Co-Founder of Mshenga a Babu (Message from the Ancestors) rhythm ensemble which produced the only national, musical centennial celebration of African America’s Anthem: “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” in Y2K, he is also a member of the Zambuko (Bridges) marimba music ensemble.
School of Pharmacy
Jasmine Mangrum, PharmD, MPH
Dr. Mangrum provides critical attention to diversity and related service within the School of Pharmacy and UW, and impactful engagement with communities of need with health care screening, education, and engagement. Dr. Mangrum is the faculty lead for the UW School of Pharmacy Community Engagement program providing organizational leadership support to our student organizations in their community engagement efforts. She works regularly on the HMC Mobile Health Van as a clinician and preceptor for interprofessional efforts to support tiny house communities and other communities in need of health care services support. She precepts at the Othello Commons project, an interprofessional UW health sciences community-engaged clinic, and continues to share her effort and leadership on the UWSOP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, with an interprofessional UW course on race and equity, and is engaged in our recruitment and admissions processes to promote diversity of our efforts and inclusion.
School of Public Health
Rabi Yunusa, MPH
Rabi Yunusa, MPH is Assistant Teaching Professor in the Departments of Global Health and Health Systems and Population Health in the School of Public Health and is the School’s Community Service Awardee this year.
Rabi is deeply committed to addressing the needs of communities of color and low-income communities. We are lucky to have her at SPH as a faculty and colleague.
She is a hard worker, a person full of positive energy and always ready to unselfishly help others and improve the human condition. She highly trustworthy and resourceful and she does not hesitate to go the extra mile to help and uplift others. In doing so, she empowers not only the individuals involved but also the community as a whole.
During the height of Covid, she was actively involved in her faith community to help acquire supplies to share with community members. Rabi would take time out and drive long distances to be a support to a person in need and also deliver food to them. She is described as “a cornerstone of our community, a source of inspiration and strength for all of us.”
She supports and connects new faculty of color, connecting them with more experienced faculty to ensure that their questions are addressed and that they know they are supported. She contributes to the community of support and affinity groups in the School that support the success of other faculty, staff and students.
When a group of SPH students wanted to create a system to welcome MPH students coming from abroad, especially from communities of color, they reached out to some faculty to support them. Without hesitation, Rabi embraced the project and became a mentor to them, working side by side to get the International Student Survival (or Success) Program created. Her guidance has been instrumental in shaping the initiative. She is actively involved in the meetings, offers insightful advice, and generously shares her resources and connections. Her participation is not just a formality; she is the heart and soul of gatherings, often enriching our events with her advice and resourcefulness.
Whenever students of color in the SPH program have needs, words get to Rabi and she jumps in to network with others to help meet the need. She gracefully steps in with homemade Nigerian dishes, to accompany students to healthcare provider appointments, and walking successful professionals navigating the complexity of student life in the midst of demanding academic programs in a new cultural context and country, far from home and family. Dr. Rabi’s mentorship is a guiding light for many students grappling with the complexities of academic life. Her empathy, enriched by her own experiences, enables her to help students navigate challenging situations with grace and understanding.
Valley Medical Center
Sarah Davis, MA-MCHS
Sarah Davis is an exceptional equity leader. She exemplifies the growth mindset that is crucial to moving equity work forward, and consistently strives to amplify diverse voices and perspectives. Sarah started her journey as a doula and as a patient service representative before quickly working her way up to a community health facilitator. In that role, she exceled at connecting patients to community services and breaking down barriers that would have otherwise prevented patients from receiving needed care. Her ability to advocate for others was further recognized, earning her a supervisor role. She then decided to go back to school to follow her passion for caring for birthing patients, rooted in her early experiences as a doula, and achieved a master’s degree in Maternal Health Systems. Sarah is now a Patient Relations manager at Valley, and a champion for our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work. In these roles, she passionately fights and advocates for mistreatment experienced by our Black patients, helping to repair and build back trust within our community. Not only does she advocate for our patients and community, but for our staff, as well. She endeavors to make sure each individual not only feels a sense of belonging, but also like their voices and identities matter. So much of the equity work we do succeeds as a result of her hard work and dedication, and we are so proud to have her advocating for our amazing community.
UW Medical Center
Claire Oduwo, MD
Dr. Claire Oduwo currently serves as the President of RFPU-NW at the University of Washington. In the spirit of Dr. King’s ideals, Dr. Oduwo has tirelessly advocated for improved working conditions for residents and fellows, acknowledging that the struggle for civil rights is intricately tied to the pursuit of fair labor practices. Through championing improved working conditions and diversity within the resident workforce, she contributes significantly to UW Medicine’s mission to recruit a diverse and representative workforce to serve the needs of the greater Seattle community. Her leadership resonates profoundly with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision, recognizing the inseparable link between the civil rights and labor movements.
Dr. Claire Oduwo leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the principles embodied by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. make her an exceptionally deserving candidate for the 2024 MLK Community Service Award. Her work not only reflects MLK’s ideals but also actively contributes to the interconnected progress of civil rights and labor rights in creating a more just and equitable society. In the spirit of Dr. King’s ideals, Dr. Oduwo has tirelessly advocated for improved working conditions for residents and fellows, acknowledging that the struggle for civil rights is intricately tied to the pursuit of fair labor practices. Her commitment to creating an empowering environment aligns seamlessly with Dr. King’s vision of a society where individuals can assert their rights and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Sam C Doyle, ARNP
Sam Doyle, ARNP is a dedicated nurse practitioner at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and UW Medical Center, where she currently cares for patients in Infusion, Acute Clinical Evaluation (ACE Clinic) and as a member of the Rapid Response team. Within the workforce, Sam uses her knowledge and advocacy around equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice to educate and bring awareness to issues that can be easily missed or brushed under the rug. She does this with grace, honesty, and humor. Beyond her professional role, Sam actively contributes to her community and served as a DEI Commissioner for the City of Mountlake Terrace from 2020 until 2023. She passionately volunteers for the Lift Every Voice Legacy Foundation, organizing annual Juneteenth and MLK Day celebrations in Edmonds, and extends her impact through volunteering at the Concern for Neighbors food bank in Mountlake Terrace. Since 2019 she has also served as a board member for Cancer Pathways (formerly Gilda’s Club).
Harborview Medical Center
Brandi Mitchell
Brandi has worked at Harborview for nearly 18 years and has served as Business Operations Supervisor for Pioneer Square and the other Downtown programs for the last 7 years. She was nominated by four of her colleagues for this award. They described her as ‘selfless’, ‘kind’, ‘compassionate’, ‘welcoming’, ‘tireless’. They spoke of Brandi’s ability to take time with patients who need extra help; to create community among coworkers in multiple locations; to ‘put out fires literally and figuratively every day’; and to create a welcoming environment for her staff and patients. She is said to know all by name and to be counted on and trusted by all.
Brandi’s colleagues praised her ability to calm and decelerate patients. She cares for vulnerable individuals at the margins. She understands that they may not be their best selves when she sees them. Colleagues see her compassion with patients. They also add that she sets boundaries and provides opportunities for them to help themselves. In addition, every year, Brandi shares and participates in the “Wheel Women in Black” Candlelight Vigil to remember all outdoor/ public/ violent homeless deaths.
From one of her colleagues: ‘It Starts with Me – to me, this phrase conjures someone who leads by example. Brandi embodies a leader who leads by example and does not expect accolades in return, which I think makes her a worthy candidate for the HMC Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award.’
Lyn Flowers
Evelyn ‘Lyn’ Flowers has been an employee at Harborview IT over 16 years and exemplifies the principles laid out by Martin Luther King Jr Community Service award.
Lyn is openly and passionately transgender, having transitioned over 7 years ago. Despite not knowing anyone else who had done this, she transitioned while working at HMC. Transitioning can often threaten a trans person’s social circles, but Lyn shares that she was supported by her family, department, and peers at HMC.
She feels that sharing her positive story with others, especially young LGBTQ people is important. Through her work with organizations like Bainbridge Island’s Transfriending, the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center Queer Elders Family group, and Transgender Alliance North Kitsap (TANK), she’s been able to share that they can live their true lives with success and support. She believes it’s important for them to hear that being out and proud doesn’t have to be horrible, as is too often shared in the media. She’s also been able to give advice and guidance to many parents of transgender people.
In recent years, her pride and passion have turned to action right here at Harborview. In addition to expanding her involvement in community-based Pride Organizations, like Jefferson Country Transgender Support Group and Rainbow Crew NW (in which she is their interim Board President), she’s a co-facilitator of the LBGTQ+ Caucus group at HMC.
Lyn lives the award’s theme of ‘It Starts with Me’ and empowers others to embody this message.
UW Primary Care
Nkem Akinsoto, MSc.
Nkem Akinsoto, our Assistant Director of Population Health at UWM Primary Care and Population Health has been a champion for equity. She has successfully brought a DEI lens into all of our population health quality programs in both cancer screening and chronic disease management. She has arranged for translation of patient educational materials to better reach patients who are Amharic, Oromo or Somali speaking. She has built a team of navigators who are committed to equitable outreach and navigation . This past year Nkem’s work on the UW Medicine SDOH committee has successfully driven the work forward to build our UWMPC program for screening for and providing resources to our patients with SDOH challenges. Nkem has gone above and beyond in creating a culture of EDI at UW Medicine.
