The STFM Podcast
April 2021: Addressing Health Equity and Caring for our Vulnerable Populations - Featuring STFM President Tricia Elliott, MD
In this episode, STFM President Tricia C. Elliott, MD, presents the fourth of her President's Podcasts, which will be periodically released over the course of her term. “Addressing Health Equity and Caring for our Vulnerable Populations” features interviews with, Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, MD, FAAFP, Evelyn Figueroa, MD and Alisahah J. Cole, MD.
This series of podcasts is sponsored by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), the academic home for family medicine educators.
Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, MD, FAAFP:
Viviana Martinez-Bianchi is a Family Physician. She is the Director For Health Equity and former director of the Duke Family Medicine Residency Program. She joined the faculty of the Duke Department of Family Medicine and Community Health in 2006. Prior to joining Duke University she was a fellow in Faculty Development with Emphasis in Caring for Minorities and Underserved Populations at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. She practiced full spectrum family medicine in Iowa from 1996 to 2005.
Evelyn Figueroa, MD:
As a Professor of Clinical Family Medicine, I divide my time between direct patient care, community activism, teaching, and residency administration. Although I love being in clinic with my patients, I believe that Family Medicine is the answer and I am thrilled.
A Chicago native, I have spent most of my life enchanted by the diversity of our city. Medical school extracurriculars helped solidify my desire to provide community-based health to women, children, and other vulnerable populations. After FM residency at Lutheran General Hospital, I worked for several years at an FQHC in Oakland, California expanding my knowledge of women’s health procedures, including reproductive health, ultrasound, and maternity care.
I returned to my UIC roots in 2005 and chose UIC because of its social mission, patient diversity, and opportunities for professional development. I became part of the residency quickly after joining UIC DFM; I spent 2007-2015 as the Maternity Care Director and have been the Residency Director since 2014. In 2018, I founded and continue to direct the UI Health Pilsen Food Pantry, an open access food pantry open five days a week in the nearby Pilsen neighborhood.
Alisahah J. Cole, MD:
System Vice President Population Health Innovation and Policy, CommonSpirit Health
A musician, a physician, a mother, a volunteer, and a leader are just a few words to describe Dr. Cole. Above all, she is highly passionate about health equity, advocating that everyone should have the ability to achieve great health, no matter what they look like, how much money they make, or where they come from. Since serving the underserved had always been a priority, she completed her residency in Family Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center, where she was part of the Urban Track program. During that time, she received the Bryant L. Galusha Intern of the Year Award and served as Co-Chief Resident her final year. Since completing medical school, Dr. Cole has held multiple leadership roles including Medical Director of a rural health clinic in SC, Residency Program Director, and Chair of the Department of Family Medicine. She was named the first ever Chief Community Impact Officer at Atrium Health where she created the first Community Health Department, establishing the first Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health strategies. Most recently, Dr. Cole joined CommonSpirit Health as its first System Vice President of Population Health Innovation and Policy, with responsibilities for strategy development regarding vulnerable populations, health equity, and innovative care delivery models.
