aboutus
For more than 25 years, the Greater Nashville Health Disparities Coalition, also known as the "GNHDC," has worked tirelessly to empower community members in priority population groups to seek better health, help change local healthcare practices, and mobilize communities to implement evidence-based public health programs to reduce health disparities across a broad range of conditions.
Meet The Team
Jacquelyn Dalton, MPH, CPH
GNHDC Co-Chair
Jacquelyn S. Dalton is an experienced public health professional and social change agent with expertise in social determinants of health, health equity, health & well-being, community engagement, and community health. As the director of the Health Equity Cooperative at the national nonprofit Health Leads, Jacquelyn and her colleagues aim to work with local and national communities and health systems to address systemic causes of inequity and disease by removing barriers that keep people from identifying, accessing, and choosing resources everyone needs to be healthy. Jacquelyn graduated magna cum laude from Fisk University and received her Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree at Tennessee State University.
Claudia Barajas, BA
GNHDC Co-Chair
Claudia Barajas is a Manager of Community Engagement for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). In this role, Claudia works to enhance the use of evidence-based strategies to increase knowledge and engagement in cancer prevention activities (e.g., screening) and clinical trial participation to reduce cancer risk and cancer disparities among African American, Rural populations and Latinos in the VICC catchment area. In this role, Claudia uses her wealth of knowledge in community engagement to establish and leverage partnerships that serve the needs of minority populations in Tennessee to address this goal. Claudia also earned her B.S. in Computer Science.
Autumn Montgomery-Hayes, MSPH
GNHDC Secretary
Autumn serves as a Community Health Manager in the Office of Health Equity at VUMC where she collaborates with the Community Health Equity Team on various health equity projects and initiatives including the Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy. She is an Alumni of Hampton University and Meharry Medical College School of Graduate Studies and Research where she earned her Master of Science in Public Health. While pursuing her MSPH, Autumn’s work within the community fueled her passion for health equity and health disparities elimination. These experiences led her to dedicate her efforts to bridging the gaps between minority communities and their access to quality healthcare and other community assets.
Amber Eaton
GNHDC Treasurer
As the Treasurer for the Nashville Health Disparities Coalition, Ms. Eaton hopes to help create opportunities for the Nashville community to gain information on better healthcare practices that are available to them. Ms. Eaton has a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience from the University of Kentucky. She currently serves as the Behavioral Health Care Coordinator at Mathew Walker Comprehensive Health Center.
Dr. Cynthia Jackson
GNHDC Former Chair
As the Chair of the Nashville Health Disparities Coalition, Dr. Jackson worked to branch our community together and make a difference for the health and welfare of those that we service. Dr. Jackson currently serves as the Behavioral Program Director at Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center. She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy from Tennessee State University.
Samuel McCullough
GNHDC Former Co-Chair
As the Co-Chair of the Nashville Health Disparities Coalition, Mr. McCullough worked to identify the health needs and various housing situations of our communities and to bridge a myriad of health disparities.
Mr. McCullough currently serves as The Meharry Wellness Center Community Navigator at Meharry Medical College. Additionally, he serves on Metro Council's Ad Hoc Committee for Affordable Housing in Nashville and is representative for Nashville Organized for Action & Hope (NOAH) for First Baptist Church of East Nashville. He is, also, responsible for P/R in their Community Outreach.
​
Katina Beard, MSPH
GNHDC Former Chair , MWCHC CEO
For more than 25 years, Mrs. Beard served as the Chair of the Nashville Health Disparities Coalition. Throughout the duration of her service, Mrs. Beard worked tirelessly to improve the health and wellness of the North Nashville community. Under her leadership, the Nashville Health Disparities Coalition formed various alliances with entities throughout Nashville.
​
Mrs. Beard currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center. She holds a Master of Science in Public Health from Tennessee State University.
Monthly GNHDC Meeting
Every Third Friday of the Month
Bridging Leaders Across Communities Achieving Health Equity and Population health Disparity Elimination.
The GNHDC believes health equity is vital for the survival of humans, specifically in communities of color. By working with communities, researchers, providers, legislators, and policymakers, we propose to eliminate health inequities and health disparities.
The Greater Nashville Health Disparities Coalition meets on every 3rd Friday of each month. Meetings are held virtually or at Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center, located at 1035 14th Avenue North, Nashville, TN, 37208. Please email thenhdc@gmail.com to subscribe to the GNHDC mailing list for definite times, as meeting dates and times are subject to change.