Meet
Dr. Portia
Meet Dr. Portia (she/her/hers), an accomplished leader, consultant and facilitator dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion through people and impact across industries. Her unwavering commitment lies in transforming the organizations she serves and, most importantly, the individuals involved.
Born and raised in Wilson, NC, Dr. Portia takes great pride in representing Eastern North Carolina, a place that holds special significance for her despite having lived and worked in various cities. Among these places, New Orleans (NOLA) has left an indelible mark on her life.The 504 is a reminder of the deep sense and value in community, making home wherever she can find solace and empowerment in the rich tapestry of music, food, history, and people.
Dr. Portia's educational journey began during her time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (Go Heels!) where she made a profound decision to dedicate her life to serving students and families through education. Fueling her passion for advocacy and social justice, she went on to earn her M.Ed in Instructional Leadership with a concentration in Education Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Understanding the role education played in the opportunities she earned Ph.D. in Education Leadership, Policy, and Justice with thesis honors.
In her quest to make a profound difference, Dr. Portia welcomes the opportunity to shape a brighter future through her work, creativity and with equity in mind!
What does Dr. Portia do day -to-day?
I lead transformative projects focused on advancing health equity and belonging within healthcare. As Associate Partner and AVP of Education and Engagement at Chartis, I work closely with healthcare systems, clinical organizations and associations. More specicially, I engage board leaders to create learning programs that build capacity and drive meaningful change. My role involves designing and managing multiple, data-informed projects that empower clinicians to improve cultural humility and recognize bias, while also strengthening board leadership to prioritize equity in governance and strategy.
I also serve as the Health Equity Business Partner to our Digital Transformation and Technology team, where I ensure our technology solutions are built with an equity lens to support fair, inclusive healthcare experiences. In addition, I oversee our digital network community, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among health professionals, and I facilitate our practice’s social and community impact initiatives while supporting the Chartis Foundation.
Every day, I’m focused on creating spaces—whether digital, strategic, or community-oriented—that bring people together to advance health equity, both within organizations and in the communities they serve.