June Glover (she/her)
After spending years pursuing a career as a physician, June was at a crossroads. She realized that providing direct healthcare services would not accomplish the systemic changed that she believed was necessary address health disparities. When exploring the backgrounds of leaders in the healthcare industry for inspiration, she saw two things: very few leaders of color and very little emphasis on the systemic impacts on health outcomes for black and brown people; most focused on individual behaviors. She couldn’t see a clear path towards meaningfully combating the inequities she saw in her community.
In search of a mentor to help reimagine her path forward, June found National Urban Fellows.
“NUF is a rare opportunity to be mentored by organizations and people that people of color don’t typically have access to,” said June Glover.
As a National Urban Fellow, June was placed at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation where her project on The Future of Nursing gave her insight into national healthcare workforce issues. Working with RWJF leaders, partners, and key stakeholders allowed her to contribute to an initiative shaping the future of U.S. healthcare in real-time.
“These institutions are designed to welcome a certain person, and it’s not us. Yet, these organizations are so involved in [shaping] our lives, it’s irresponsible for us not to be in them,” June reflected.
While serving as a National Urban Fellow at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, June formed deep relationships with people eager to support her on her path towards systemic change. That network paved the way to her career in health policy that will influence the lives of Black and Brown people for generations to come.
Participating in National Urban Fellows took June on a life changing journey “I didn’t [just] get what I was looking for, I got what I was meant for”.
If you’re committed to exploring how you can bridge the gap in systemic inequity, learn more about how to get involved with National Urban Fellows at www.nuf.org.