Center for Sustainable Healthcare Quality and Equity

Dr. Laura Lee Hall brings 30 years of executive experience leading health advocacy, research, education, and quality improvement efforts. Dr. Hall founded the Center for Sustainable Health Care Quality and Equity (SHC) in 2017 as part of the National Minority Quality Forum to help translate data, geomaps, and educational efforts into improved health in underserved communities, through provider and community education and practice improvement. SHC has launched national initiatives in flu and COVID-19 vaccination, diabetes, heart failure, and cancer screenings, working with FQHCs, other clinics, pharmacists, churches, and other community leaders. The work has led to freely available toolkits for clinicians and communications, including DRIVE QI modules (SHCDrive.org) and the health champions program (see: http://www.healthequitychampions.org/).

Prior to joining SHC, Dr. Hall founded and led the Center for Quality and Office of Grants at the American College of Physicians (ACP), creating a network of more than 2000 primary care physicians in 19 states engaged in quality improvement (QI) activities along with the largest federally qualified registry for Medicare reporting. Before her tenure at ACP, Dr. Hall led Strategic Educational Initiatives at the American College of Cardiology (ACC), linking educational and performance improvement programming with the ACC clinical registries. Among her accomplishments at the ACC was the development and launch of CREDO – Coalition to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities in CV Outcomes; award-winning in situ simulation programs aimed at reducing door-to-balloon time especially in the treatment of STEMI with a hospital transfer; and atrial fibrillation QI initiatives that resulted in increased evidence-based stroke prevention efforts.

Dr. Hall had previously served as the deputy director of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), leading advocacy, communications, and research activities. Dr. Hall began her post-graduate career as a senior scientific analyst at the U.S. Congress’ Office of Technology Assessment.

Dr. Hall graduated summa cum laude from St. Francis University in Pennsylvania in 1983 and received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the Naval Medical School, U.S.U.H.S. in 1988. Her post-doctoral work was conducted at the National Institutes of Health and Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hall is the proud mother of Henry and Isabella Pazaryna, and wife of the Rev. Dr. John Randolph Price, whom she resides with in Annapolis, Maryland.

Akeia Blue, MPH, MS is a public health practitioner with over seven years of experience in delivering multicultural marketing, health literate and culturally competent communications for non-profit and government organizations.

Prior to joining NMQF, Akeia’s work at health-focused public relations and marketing agencies gave her the opportunity to support several non-profit organizations, government organizations and pharmaceutical companies across a variety of health topics including sexual/reproductive health, mental health, diabetes, COVID-19 vaccination, general adult vaccination and several types of cancers. Akeia has advised on health equity topics, including word choice, campaign design and research and outreach plans. 

As President of SHC, Akeia provides strategic oversight to SHC’s diabetes and lupus work, while also seeking new opportunities for growth and development of signature programs.

Akeia was named an Emerging Leaders Award finalist by the Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) in 2021 for her contributions to her organization, community and the public relations field. She has been quoted on topics including health literacy and health equity in point of care marketing. Akeia graduated with her Master’s in Public Health degree from The George Washington University.

Chinnie is a passionate Public Health Specialist with almost 2 decades of progressive leadership experience in healthcare. She comes with a proven track record of accomplishments in health education, health promotion, community health and health equity.

In her role, she ensures the engagement and implementation of education projects for clinical teams and community leaders to address health disparities in diverse and underserved populations among other duties. Her programs include the Faith Health Alliance, Community Pharmacist Ambassadors program and the DRIVE program which she co-leads.

Prior to joining the SHC team, she was the chronic disease manager at MetroHealth clinic where she coordinated health activities to close care gaps for patients in different disease states including diabetes, HIV, hypertension, asthma etc. She also created the Let’s Get Moving program: an evidence-based lifestyle change program focused on reducing adult obesity in partnership with the DC Department of health where 60% of participants lost at least 10 lbs in 12 months.

When she is not working, Chinnie enjoys spending time with and traveling with her husband and three children- Ryan, Nuria and Dinachi.

Leslie Zuniga-Rivas, MPH, is a dynamic and results-driven public health professional passionate about health equity and addressing racial/ethnic disparities. She has a proven track record of spearheading and managing impactful Quality Improvement and Equity (QIE) initiatives, particularly in type 2 diabetes, vaccines, lupus, and colorectal cancer. Leslie is skilled in coordinating community-based projects in minority communities to enhance public health outcomes and address prevalent health concerns and medical mistrust.

In her role at NMQF, Leslie implements multi-city QIE, education, and health equity programs through evidence-based practices. She also manages relationships with community leaders and partners, cultivating and fortifying partnerships to facilitate nationwide health education initiatives. Leslie has developed and executed inclusive quality improvement initiatives addressing social determinants of health within health systems.

Additionally, Leslie aids in translating content such as DRIVE, media, and communications to Spanish, enhancing accessibility and reach within Spanish-speaking communities.

Leslie holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL, and a Master of Public Health with a focus in Epidemiology from the University of New England.