Filling in the Gaps: A Discussion about Professional Challenges with Race in Nursing

Date: September 14, 2020
Time: 5–6 p.m.
Submit questions for the panel here.

REGISTER here.

Questions? Email the SON Diversity & Inclusion Committee at nursingdiversity@buffalo.edu.

Willa Arnet is an adult health nurse practitioner and 2017 graduate of UB School of Nursing’s adult-gerontology DNP program. She also earned her MS from UB SON in 1998. Her career spans 22 years of experience in sub-acute, long-term and in-home care, with a focus on providing compassionate and holistic care in persons with medical and psychosocial needs. She began her military career  of 15 years started as a combat support medic and was later commissioned as a registered nurse in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps Reserves in Niagara Falls, NY. Willa is currently a nurse practitioner at IPC Healthcare/Teamhealth and Fallon Health and recently started a business, Adult NP House Calls, PC, providing medical care to patients who are housebound. Willa is a member of Black Nurses Rock.

Tineka Pace is a registered nurse and certified case manager who earned her BA in African-American/Black Studies from UB in 1997 and BS in Nursing from UB in 2002, where she received the Ruth T. McGorey Award for Excellence in Nursing. She has also earned a post-graduate certificate in Nursing Leadership and Executive Change from Daemen College. Tineka is currently a worker’s compensation medical team lead at Travelers. Previously, she was employed at ECMC as a renal medical surgical nurse and charge nurse and as a cardiac medical unit manager for Kaleida Health and Catholic Health. Tineka is an active member of the UB Alumni Association and The American Nurses Association. She serves as a professional nurse mentor for the Trocaire Nursing Pathways program, a leadership mentor for the Real Experience & Leadership Mentoring program at the University at Buffalo and as a professional mentor for the Travelers Black & African American Allies Diversity Network. She is the proud mother of two daughters, Trinity and Mya, and spends much of her free time supporting their extracurricular activities (cheerleading, track, theater and music lessons). Tineka loves to travel, enjoys family vacations and hopes to travel to every continent of the world.

Shadevia Marshall has worked in the ICU, Med/Surge, long term care and the insurance industry. Throughout her career she has served in the roles of supervisor, inservice coordinator and employee health nurse. Prior to moving to the insurance industry she was the director of nursing at Canterbury Woods Assisted Living Facility. Shadevia is an employee liaison for the Travelers Black & African American Allies Diversity Network as well as their Women’s Diversity Network. She connects the employees at Travelers with community-based organizations that serve marginalized groups through outreach activities, such as volunteering at The Buffalo City Mission and participation in The Buffalo Juneteenth Committee. 

Sophia L. Overton earned an associate degree in applied science in 2012, and she earned a bachelor of science in nursing and master of science in nursing education. Sophia has worked in many areas of nursing since 1992. During this time, she found her passion in educating underserved populations in health care maintenance and advocacy. Additionally recognizing the impact diabetes has on the African American population, Sophia joined Catholic Health System as a patient educator with a focus on diabetes. During this experience Sophia recognized the gap in communication between provider and clients and has recently transitioned to a clinical nurse educator with Catholic Medical Partners. Sophia identifies health trends, disparities, and gaps in care and uses this information to educate medical providers to reduce or fill in the gaps to the population they serve. She also is employed at the University of Buffalo as an adjunct clinical nursing instructor. Sophia has also found educating future nurses rewarding. This reward is in knowing she has encouraged students to be health care advocates and find their voice while providing a comfortable learning environment.

Tyree Smith, BS, RN 

Tyree Smith is a registered nurse in the emergency department at ECMC Hospital. Previously, he worked in the step-down unit at Roswell Park's ICU and the telemetry/med surg unit at the Buffalo Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Tyree’s goal is to become a nurse practitioner. He is currently a reservist in the U.S. Navy with five years of service as a gunner's mate and is in the process of commissioning as a officer in the military. Tyree is a member of both Black Nurses Rock and Sigma Theta Tau.

Presented by the UB School of Nursing Diversity & Inclusion Mentorship Sub-Committee (Amy Hequembourg, Meg Doerzbacher, Grace Gerass, Stephanie Comer, Sarah Goldthrite). Co-sponsored by Sigma Theta Tau International, Gamma Kappa Chapter.