Elevating Excellence & Transforming
Institutional Culture.
Core Leaders

The V-FIRST program consists of several key personnel across the institution who serve as core leaders within the program.

Sarah Suiter, PhD, MS, Associate Professor of Human & Organizational Development at Vanderbilt University. (V-FIRST, Evaluation Core Director)

Walter Clair, MD, MPH is a Professor and Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. (Co-investigator, Faculty Development Core)

Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH is J.C. Peterson Endowed Chair Professor in Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine. (Leader of the Breakfast Club for V-FIRST Faculty)

Katherine E. Hartmann, MD, PhD, Vice President for Research Integration, Associate Dean for Clinical & Translational Scientist Development, Burch Professor of Reproductive Physiology, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine. (Co-investigator, Evaluation Core)

David Diehl, PhD, MA, Assistant Professor in Human and Organizational Development. (Co-investigator, Evaluation Core)

Felysha Jenkins, PhD, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Manager, Basic Sciences. (Inclusive Excellence Programming)

Jessica Ganzie, MD, Senior Program Manager, VUMC Office of Diversity and Inclusion. (Inclusive Excellence Programming)

Linda Sealy, PhD, former Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Basic Sciences. (Recruiting and American Indian and Pacific Islander Faculty Support)