ALUMNI PROFILES
ATALAH DILLARD
MERVYN M . DYMALLY COLLEGE OF NURSING
Atalah Dillard , Ph . D ( c ), MSN , RN , CMSRN , ' 16 is a graduate of the Mervyn M . Dymally College of Nursing ( MMDCON ). She currently serves as a Professor in the MMDCON and as the Assistant Director of the Simulation Center . She ' s also a nursing research doctoral student . In her role as a faculty member , Dillard advocates for diversity and inclusion within healthcare education , emphasizing the importance of addressing unconscious biases and ensuring equitable treatment for all patients .
Dillard ’ s deep interest in science and medicine was acquired at a young age . " I always knew I wanted to go into that profession and initially when I left high school , I thought maybe I ' d go the pre-Med route and become a physician ,” shared Dillard . “ I think once I became a student in college , I realized that nursing was much more of a field that suited my personality as well as my interest ."
She completed her undergraduate studies at San Francisco State University , where she majored in Community Based Health and Women ' s Health Issues . She joined CDU in 2014 to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing degree .
One of the aspects Dillard enjoyed most while in the nursing program was the number of opportunities to be involved with the community . " Being able to be engaged and doing volunteer opportunities such as health screenings in the community , was really aligned to my values , passions , and desire to adjust health inequities ," explained Dillard . " So , I knew Drew was setting me up for something that I can continue to do and see myself doing once I became a nurse ."
While in the nursing program , Dillard ’ s dedication and impact was recognized by her receipt of the Mission Maker Mini-Grant Award . Dillard continues to champion diversity and inclusion in healthcare education , stressing the need to confront unconscious biases and uphold equitable treatment for every patient .
The message she sends to aspiring healthcare professionals is to simply " just go for it ." " There will always be some adversity . You may not see someone who looks like you in the role that you envision , or you may not have the mentorship right away , but what ' s for you is going to be for you ,” said Dillard . “ Despite what the challenges are , know that they are temporary and in the end you will succeed .”
DR . ALICIA MOREHEAD-GEE
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Alicia Morehead-Gee , MD ‘ 15 is a graduate of the Charles R . Drew / UCLA Medical Education program . She is currently the Medical Director of HIV Prevention at AltaMed Institute for Health Equity where she leads projects to integrate HIV prevention / pre-exposure prophylaxis healthcare into primary care settings , aims to increase awareness of the different tools for HIV prevention to those in marginalized communities , and works to decrease disparities in HIV incidence by providing compassionate care and addressing social determinants of health .
Morehead-Gee was raised in Inglewood , California . She was drawn to the sciences at a young age and her mother fostered her passion by enrolling her in summer programs focused on medicine from middle school onwards . Morehead-Gee , a first-generation college student , completed her undergraduate studies at Stanford University where she majored in Human Biology .
She has an aptitude for combining scientific inquiry with genuine patient care and her passion for addressing health disparities became even more pronounced during her time at CDU . " The university ' s mission resonated deeply with my own values , particularly its emphasis on eradicating health disparities ," said Moorehead-Gee . " CDU provided a supportive environment where I felt at home and empowered to succeed ."
Morehead-Gee ' s focus on health equity , especially within the African American community , led her to pursue an impactful career in HIV prevention . Her early interest in HIV research was rekindled during her time at CDU . " A significant turning point was my collaboration with Professor Cynthia Davis on HIV-related research ," shared Morehead-Gee . " It deepened my commitment to the cause ."
Drawing from her own experiences and the support she received from influential mentors at CDU , like Dr . Daphne Calmes , Morehead-Gee has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentorship and community service . Her words of encouragement for current and future female Mighty Lions are : Women are the best at what we do , whatever we put our mind to , we do it the best . When pursuing careers in medicine there are many barriers , but research shows that we are fully capable despite what people may say .
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OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Charles R . Drew University of Medicine and Science