Olivia Thomas: Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer

Olivia W. Thomas, MD, currently holds the position of Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Beginning her career with an internship, followed by her pediatric residency, Dr. Thomas has served over 40 years with the hospital. She began caring for patients in Primary Care and then serving as Section Chief of Ambulatory Pediatrics and a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Ambulatory Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She also served as the principal investigator of the Child and Family Health Services Grant, a title V program funded through the Ohio Department of Health.

Dr. Thomas is focused on staff diversification within areas where women, men and minorities are most under-represented compared to our patient population and community. The hospital goal is to identify and eliminate any health disparities in patient care due to socioeconomic class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or other social determinants.

Being an integral part of Nationwide Children's growth, she is very proud of the achievement to help build one of the largest primary care networks in the country for underserved children and families.