COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nationwide Children’s Office of Diversity and Health Equity expanded its team to include two additional physician-leaders, Dr. Valencia P. Walker and Dr. Ray Bignall. They join Dr. Olivia Thomas, Chief Diversity and Equity Officer.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion are cornerstone values at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and advancing them is an essential part of our work,” said Tim Robinson, CEO of Nationwide Children’s. “Dr. Walker and Dr. Bignall are widely respected both for the ways they care for the families we serve, and for their leadership in fostering an inclusive, supportive environment for our staff. These new institution-wide roles will enable them to do even more.”
In their roles, Dr. Walker and Dr. Bignall will survey and examine the hospital’s current efforts in inclusion and equity, both externally and internally, to determine the next steps needed to advance the best outcomes for children everywhere.
Valencia P. Walker, MD, MPH, FAAP joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2020 as Associate Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer. She holds joint positions as Associate Division Chief for Health Equity and Inclusion in the Division of Neonatology and Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. Walker also represents the Central Region as a Steering Committee member for the AAMC’s Group on Diversity and Inclusion. Additionally, she serves as an Executive Committee member for the AAP’s Section on Minority Health Equity and Inclusion as well as the Section’s Program Chair. A practicing neonatologist, she champions the elimination of maternal-infant health inequities and actively works on local efforts at CelebrateOne and Ohio Better Birth Outcomes. Prior to joining Nationwide Children’s, Dr. Walker served as an Assistant Dean of Equity and Diversity Inclusion for the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She received her undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University, medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and MPH degree from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She completed her Pediatrics residency at UT-Memphis/Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Neonatology fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
“We know that with our One Team philosophy, every single one of us can make a valuable contribution to achieving equitable health outcomes and supporting a culture of inclusion and belonging,” said Dr. Walker. “I appreciate the opportunity to support our staff in recognizing their unique roles for providing the best care to all children and each other.”
O.N. Ray Bignall II, MD, FAAP, FASN recently accepted the role of Assistant Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer at Nationwide Children’s. He also serves as Director of Kidney Health Advocacy and Community Engagement (KHACE) for the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. A graduate of Howard University and Meharry Medical College, Dr. Bignall completed his residency, and clinical and research fellowships at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
As a physician-advocate, Dr. Bignall’s work addresses social drivers of child and kidney health through community-based scholarship, engagement, and advocacy. He serves as the Inaugural Chair of the American Society of Nephrology’s Health Care Justice Committee, and as a member of the Council on Medical Legislation for the National Medical Association. The National Minority Quality Forum and the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust have both recognized Dr. Bignall as a 40 Under 40 Leader in Minority Health. In October, Dr. Bignall was among a select group of clinicians selected to participate in a Health Equity Leaders Roundtable Series by the White House Office of Public Engagement. The roundtable provides the White House with perspectives on ensuring all patients receive equitable access to care.
“I’m incredibly proud to be a part of an organization so ahead of the curve in many domains,” said Dr. Bignall. “The hospital’s community engagement, reach to rural parts of the state, and recruitment of staff, physicians and residents representing a range of diverse backgrounds is a testament to our leadership.”
Since Nationwide Children’s founding more than 120 years ago, the hospital has operated with the understanding that each family, patient and employee is essential to its success and each individual deserves equitable treatment, opportunity and care. Learn more on our website about the hospital’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, as well as our Stand Against Racism and for Stand for Health Equity pledge.