SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF HEALTH EQUITY OFFICE
NOVANT HEALTH
WINSTON-SALEM
Dr. Chere Chase Gregory’s career has been paved with many firsts at Novant Health and beyond. She led the first team to build a Joint Commission-certified primary stroke center in the Carolinas, was the first Black woman to complete a neurocritical care fellowship at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and was the first Black woman in the United States to design and direct a neurocritical care unit.
At Novant, firsts include a neurosciences hospitalist team, a regional neurology clinic, a stroke research center and a multimillion-dollar federal stroke elimination grant.
In nearly 20 years with Novant, Gregory, 55, has held various leadership positions. Her current role affords her the opportunity to focus on addressing health care disparities and steer health equity efforts throughout the system, which includes a network of more than 1,800 advanced-practice providers, 1,800 physicians and more than 35,000 team members who provide care at more than 800 locations.
While the task may seem tall, Gregory, who is also a board-certified physician in neurology and vascular neurology, finds solace in her team.
“At Novant Health one of our core values is diversity, inclusion and equity. This is the foundation for health equity,” she says. “I have the opportunity to partner with stakeholders across the organization who strongly believe in our mission to improve the health of our communities. Novant Health affords me the opportunity to be a physician leader, as well as a change agent, innovator and originator.”
Gregory, who always wanted to be a doctor, has contributed to Novant’s status as a leader in providing patients with fair, just opportunities to achieve high levels of good health. The system is one of two nationally to receive two key “health equity” accreditations from the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that promotes health care standards.
“We will continue to advance health equity through listening to community voices, understanding the needs of our patients, engaging in partnerships to address health disparities, and exploring new and innovative ways to ensure all populations achieve the highest level of wellness.” ■
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