Presented in partnership with Pacific Science Center
Join the Northwest African American Museum and the Pacific Science Center for an afternoon of family-focused discussion surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine.
NAAM and Pacific Science Center present this important conversation led by Dr. John Vassall, with Dr. Ben Danielson, Dr. Stephaun Wallace, and Dr. Tracy Hilliard.
The virtual program will focus on questions and concerns of the Black community related to getting the COVID-19 vaccine, and will delve into historical reasons for medical distrust, discussion of why getting a vaccine is so important, and the role that community can play.
This event is free and open to the public.
About the panelists:
Dr. John H. Vassall Jr, MD
John H. Vassall, MD, is Qualis Health’s Physician Executive for Quality and Safety. He provides strategic leadership, clinical insight, and technical expertise to help drive the organization’s diverse patient safety and quality improvement activities.
Dr. Vassall’s career spans more than three decades. Before joining Qualis Health, he was a Hospital MD Surveyor for The Joint Commission, evaluating U.S. hospitals for safety and quality of care. At Swedish Health Services, he was Chief Medical Officer, responsible for quality, safety, accreditation, research, medical staff services, and risk and compliance. He also served as Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief of Staff.
Currently, Dr. Vassall is a Trustee for the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), the American Hospital Association’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity, WSMA’s Foundation for Health Care Improvement, and Seattle University. He has held seats on the American Hospital Association board of trustees and the Washington State Hospital Association board of trustees. He is a member of the University of Washington School of Public Health’s Master of Health Administration Advisory Committee.
After earning a bachelor of science from the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Vassall earned master of science and doctor of medicine degrees from the University of Washington (UW). He is a graduate of the UW Medicine Certificate Program in Medical Management and the UW Foster School of Business Executive Development Program, as well as the Advanced Training Program in Health Care Delivery Improvement at the Intermountain Healthcare Institute for Healthcare Delivery Research.
Dr. Benjamin S. Danielson, MD
Dr. Danielson is a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington, where he received his medical degree in 1992, after completing undergraduate studies at Harvard University. He did his pediatric residency at Seattle Children’s Hospital and continues to see patients there. In early life he was rescued from the foster care system by a single mom who instilled in him and his sisters the value of education and community service.
Dr. Danielson also serves on various boards of health related organizations, philanthropic organizations, and community groups dedicated to health issues. The unifying thread in Dr. Danielson’s activities relates to promoting well-being and dignity, especially for communities who have been pushed aside. He has found opportunities within and outside of systems to advocate in partnership with groups and individuals who are dedicated and passionate about creating a better world. He realizes he is the least useful member of the circles he joins and he is inspired - every day - by the children, families, communities and organizations with whom he interacts.
Tracy Hilliard, PhD, MPH
She is a graduate of the inaugural cohort for Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) program designed to produce doctoral‐trained evaluators committed to advancing equity and social justice for children and families. She has led equity‐focused projects as a learning and evaluation partner for clients across the nation, including W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation, Seattle Foundation, King County Best Starts for Kids Initiative, University of Washington (UW) School of Public Health, the City of Seattle’s Information Technology‐Digital Equity Initiative and Office of Economic Development, and City of Lynnwood.
She enjoys leadership and service in national and local service organizations. She is Past‐Chair of American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Health Informatics Information Technology Section and is currently an APHA Governing Councilor. She was selected as an inaugural member of the US Department of Health and Human Services Regional Health Equity Council for Region 10. Tracy has a clinical faculty appointment in the UW Department of Psychosocial and Community Health. Dr. Hilliard has a BA with Distinction in sociology, a MPH in maternal and child health, and a PhD in health services all from University of Washington.
Stephaun Elite Wallace, Ph.D., M.S.
Dr. Stephaun Wallace is a research epidemiologist and an expert in developing, implementing and evaluating major public health and human service programs in the areas of prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases globally. He is the director of external relations of both the HIV Vaccine Trials Network and the COVID-19 Prevention Network. Dr. Wallace leads the networks’ external relations strategies and efforts globally, with a focus on building long-term relationships with key stakeholders. An internationally recognized leader and speaker in public health and social justice, Dr. Wallace has more than two decades of experience in sexual and public health, social justice, and community mobilization within diverse populations globally. He views public health work through a social justice lens to understand how population-level health is affected by structural and social factors like stigma, racism, sexism, historical trauma and inequalities in education and income.