Honoring our Black achievers

Each year, Boston Children’s Hospital honors exceptional Black achievers who have progressed in their careers and demonstrated a commitment to youth development and community. Recipients of the 2021 Boston Children’s Black Achievers Award bring a wide range of experience to their roles at the hospital. And all four of this year’s awardees are going above and beyond to nurture the next generation of health leaders.

Annette Correia emphatically pursues equity for all patients. She has been a leading voice within the Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy for identifying and eliminating race-based disparities in patient care. She is currently working with the Boston Children’s Office of Health Equity and Inclusion to develop tools that will help do just that.

As a mentor, Annette volunteers for Boston Children’s pipeline programs that encourage diverse students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Specifically, she introduces kids to the key role occupational therapy plays in many patients’ recovery from injury or illness.

Keshaunda (Shaunda) Chinn works with confidence and compassion in a highly dynamic environment within the Department of Cardiology. Her colleagues describe her as caring and thoughtful with both patients and colleagues.

Shaunda is well versed in radiation safety and generously shares her knowledge with others. She teaches a Bioimaging course, which includes radiation safety and MRI safety, at Boston University. She has shared this expertise with the Radiation Safety Committee at Boston Children’s and takes time to train clinicians in her own department.

In addition to her work with the busy Cardiac Catheterization Department, Lanessia Lane has been part of the COACH program for many years. COACH (Community Opportunities Advancement at Children’s Hospital) is a community-based summer jobs development program that gives local students a chance to explore health careers.

Thanks to her involvement, local high school students get to experience a side of health care they may not have known about and possibly see a career path for themselves.

Tyonne Hinson is nationally recognized leader in advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity. At Boston Children’s, she promotes diverse clinical teams at both a personal and policy level.

Tyonne is the first-ever nurse leader of the Boston Children’s Nursing Lattice Career Mentorship Program. The Lattice program encourages and supports education and career development for racially diverse nurses by offering supplemental tuition remission and ongoing mentorship. In addition to providing academic guidance, she advocates for the ongoing professional development of Lattice graduates and dozens of other Black and brown nurses at Boston Children’s and around the country.

Learn more about health equity at Boston Children’s Hospital.