Creating Equity in STEMM is a podcast by the CPASS Foundation, dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEMM fields. We highlight the journeys of remarkable individuals breaking barriers in healthcare, engineering, veterinary medicine, and more. Our mission is to support underrepresented students in Illinois pursuing careers in STEMM through our programs. Learn more and support our work by visiting cpassfoundation.org, where you can donate and get involved.
CPASS on WVON: Building Pathways to Health Equity and Spotlighting *Listen To Me*
Dr. Stephen Martin, CPASS Foundation Executive Director, joins Dr. Terry Mason on WVON 1690 AM’s Dr. in the House to preview the 4th Annual S.T.E.M.M. Pathways to Health Equity Symposium (https://cpassfoundation.org/symposium/) and its theme, Educating the Future of Health: Building Bold Pathways from Campus to Career.
The conversation also spotlights Listen To Me (www.listentomedoc.com), the powerful health documentary featured during the symposium’s Special Joint Program with National Medical Fellowships. Special guest Stephanie Etienne, Co-Director and Producer of Listen To Me, shares insights into the film’s portrayal of three Black women’s journeys to motherhood and the urgent conversations it raises about maternal health, lived experience, and health equity.
1 Nov 2025
Access, Advocacy, and Action: José R. Sánchez on Equity in Healthcare
In this inspiring episode, host Jinja Birkenbeuel of Birk Creative talks with José R. Sánchez, a visionary healthcare leader whose life’s work is grounded in equity, compassion, and community impact. As President and CEO of Humboldt Park Health in Chicago, Mr. Sánchez has led one of the most transformative turnarounds in safety-net hospital history—redefining what equitable care can look like for all.
With more than four decades of experience in healthcare leadership, Mr. Sánchez has championed access and innovation at every level. Under his direction, Humboldt Park Health became the first hospital in the Midwest to receive Health Equity Certification from The Joint Commission and opened a state-of-the-art Wellness Center serving the heart of its community. A two-time honorary doctorate recipient, Mr. Sánchez continues to be a powerful voice for advocacy, access, and action in healthcare.
🎧 Production: CPASS Foundation
🎬 Post-Production & Music: Brittany Nuñez, Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist, CPASS Foundation
Opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not reflect those of any corporation or brand.
1 Nov 2025
The Power of Representation: Dr. Tina Bobo on Building a Diverse Nursing Workforce
In this inspiring episode, host Jinja Birkenbeuel of Birk Creative talks with Dr. Tina Bobo, a passionate nursing leader, educator, and advocate for equity who is transforming the future of healthcare through representation and mentorship. As Director and Assistant Professor of the Traditional Undergraduate Nursing Program and Nursing Workforce Diversity Program Coordinator at Lewis University, Dr. Bobo is dedicated to preparing the next generation of nurses to lead with excellence, empathy, and purpose.
From her early studies at UNC-Chapel Hill to her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Lewis University, Dr. Bobo’s journey reflects a lifelong commitment to access and advancement for underrepresented students. Her work ensures that nursing remains not just a profession—but a powerful pathway to equity and belonging in healthcare.
🎧 Production: CPASS Foundation
🎬 Post-Production & Music: Brittany Nuñez, Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist, CPASS Foundation
Opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not reflect those of any corporation or brand.
1 Nov 2025
Barbershops, Churches, and the Healthy Built Environment — featuring Dr. Monte Oyd Harris
In this thought-provoking episode, host Jinja Birkenbeuel of Birk Creative talks with Dr. Monte Oyd Harris, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, healthcare executive, and visionary whose work bridges medicine, architecture, and culture. As Corporate Medical Denials Director at HCA Healthcare and Adjunct Lecturer in Architecture at Howard University, Dr. Harris explores how the spaces we live, learn, and heal in impact our collective well-being.
With a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University and fellowship training from the University of Michigan, Dr. Harris brings over two decades of clinical experience to his mission of advancing health equity through innovative design and cultural connection. From barbershops to churches, he’s redefining what it means to build healthier, more inclusive communities.
🎧 Production: CPASS Foundation🎬 Post-Production & Music: Brittany Nuñez, Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist, CPASS Foundation
Opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not reflect those of any corporation or brand.
1 Nov 2025
Healing Over Hate: Dr. Frederick Beavers on Legacy, Leadership, and Equity in Surgery
In this powerful episode, host Jinja Birkenbeuel of Birk Creative talks with Dr. Frederick P. Beavers, a distinguished vascular surgeon, educator, and equity advocate whose career embodies both medical excellence and moral courage. As Chief of Vascular Surgery in Washington, D.C., and Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery at Georgetown University, Dr. Beavers mentors future surgeons with a focus on skill, empathy, and integrity.
From his roots on Chicago’s South Side to his defining moment caring for a patient with a swastika tattoo, Dr. Beavers’ story reveals how compassion, legacy, and justice can guide a life in medicine. This is an unforgettable conversation about healing over hate—and leading with humanity.
🎧 Production: CPASS Foundation
🎬 Post-Production & Music: Brittany Nuñez, Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist, CPASS Foundation
Opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not reflect those of any corporation or brand.
1 Nov 2025
Championing the Underserved: Dr. Keith Ferdinand on Health, Heart, and Hope
In this inspiring episode, host Jinja Birkenbeuel of Birk Creative talks with Dr. Keith C. Ferdinand, a nationally renowned cardiologist, educator, and public health advocate whose life’s work centers on equity, access, and compassion in care. As the Gerald S. Berenson Endowed Chair in Preventive Cardiology and Professor of Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Ferdinand has dedicated his career to improving cardiovascular outcomes in underserved communities.
From his early days at Howard University College of Medicine to his leadership as former Chair and Chief Science Officer of the Association of Black Cardiologists, Dr. Ferdinand has shaped national dialogue around preventive cardiology and health justice. Recently honored with the 2025 Distinguished Service Award from the American College of Cardiology, his story is one of heart, hope, and healing for all.
🎧 Production: CPASS Foundation🎬
Post-Production & Music: Brittany Nuñez, Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist, CPASS Foundation
Opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not reflect those of any corporation or brand.
1 Nov 2025
Dr. Nathan Gause – Bridging Surgery, Strategy & Equity in Healthcare
In this inspiring episode, host Jinja Birkenbeuel of Birk Creative sits down with Dr. Nathan Gause, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, physician executive, and educator dedicated to advancing excellence and equity in healthcare. As an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Missouri-Columbia and UMKC, Dr. Gause is shaping the next generation of surgeons while leading change beyond the operating room through Gause Consulting, his firm specializing in clinical operations and physician engagement.
Join us as Dr. Gause shares his journey—from medical school to the C-suite—and reflects on mentorship, leadership, and creating pathways for underrepresented students in STEMM.
🎧 Production: CPASS Foundation
🎬 Post-Production & Music: Brittany Nuñez, Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist, CPASS Foundation
Opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not reflect those of any corporation or brand.
19 Feb 2025
Pioneering Diversity in Veterinary Medicine with Dr. Coretta Patterson
In this episode of Equity in STEMM, host Jinja Birkenbeuel sits down with Dr. Coretta Patterson, a trailblazing veterinarian who has broken barriers in the field of animal medicine. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Dr. Patterson’s journey began at Whitney Young High School, where she was a member of the CPASS Foundation’s Chicago Area Health and Medical Careers Program (CAHMCP)—a transformative initiative that has supported underrepresented students pursuing careers in healthcare. She later earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and two Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, building a career that now spans multiple states.
Joined by CPASS Foundation Executive Director Dr. Stephen Martin, this episode explores the importance of representation in veterinary medicine, overcoming systemic barriers, and how aspiring students from underrepresented backgrounds can follow in Dr. Patterson’s footsteps. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about mentorship, perseverance, and expanding diversity in STEMM fields.
Opinions expressed on CPASS Foundation represent the personal views of our guests and do not reflect those of any respective corporation or brand.
Production Company: CPASS Foundation
Post-Production Company: Birk Creative
Music Composer: Grant Birkenbeuel
19 Feb 2025
Advancing Diversity in Medicine with Dr. Wendi Wills El-Amin
In this episode of Equity in STEMM, host Jinja Birkenbeuel welcomes Dr. Wendi Wills El-Amin, Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Professor of Family Medicine and Medical Education at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Joined by CPASS Foundation Executive Director Dr. Stephen Martin, this conversation delves into the urgent need for diversity in medical education and healthcare leadership. Dr. El-Amin shares her personal journey, the challenges of underrepresentation in medicine, and the steps universities can take to create more inclusive learning environments. Tune in for a powerful discussion on equity, mentorship, and systemic change in health professions.
Opinions expressed on CPASS Foundation represent the personal views of our guests and do not reflect those of any respective corporation or brand.
Production Company: CPASS Foundation
Post-Production Company: Birk Creative
Music Composer: Grant Birkenbeuel
19 Feb 2025
Reaching for the Stars with NASA Engineer Todd Jackson Jr.
In this episode of Equity in STEMM, host Jinja Birkenbeuel sits down with NASA Engineer Todd Jackson Jr. to explore his inspiring journey into the world of aerospace engineering. From his early passion for science and technology to working at one of the most prestigious space organizations in the world, Todd shares insights on breaking barriers, overcoming challenges, and creating pathways for underrepresented students in STEMM. Tune in to hear how others like him can pursue careers in engineering and beyond—because the sky is not the limit, it's just the beginning!
Opinions expressed on CPASS Foundation represent the personal views of our guests and do not reflect those of any respective corporation or brand.
Production Company: CPASS Foundation
Post-Production Company: Birk Creative
Music Composer: Grant Birkenbeuel
19 Feb 2025
Dr. Derek Robinson’s Journey from the Bayou to the Boardroom
In the premiere episode of Equity in STEMM, host Jinja Birkenbeuel sits down with Dr. Derek Robinson, MD, MBA, Vice President & Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Dr. Robinson shares his remarkable journey as a young Black doctor navigating the medical field, overcoming challenges, and rising to executive leadership. He also discusses his brand-new book, Improbable MD: From the Bayou to the Boardroom, offering powerful insights on resilience, representation, and the future of diversity in healthcare. Listen for an inspiring conversation on breaking barriers, building equity in STEMM, and the importance of mentorship in shaping the next generation of medical leaders.
Production Company: CPASS FoundationPost-Production Company: Birk CreativeMusic Composer: Grant BirkenbeuelAnimator: Rebecca BerdelInterviewer: Micae Brown*Opinions expressed on CPASS Foundation represent the personal views of our guests and don't represent the views of any respective corporation or brand.
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
241,237
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 46 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
61
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
0
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