Aoife Cullen

My vision is to transform the U.S. healthcare system into a system that is accessible, equitable, and trusted by all communities.
From a role in healthcare leadership, I will leverage my privilege to center marginalized groups and advocate for those with less proximity to power to ensure that care delivery models prioritize patients over profits. I envision a healthcare delivery system where all patients, regardless of their background or circumstances, receive care that is reflective of their innate value and dignity as human beings. Impactful changes to our current systems will require paradigm-shifting innovations and community-centered strategies, but I am committed to contributing to these changes and creating a foundation for a healthcare system that prioritizes accessibility, equity, and trust.

My professional mission is to contribute to equitable practices and community-centered organizational leadership through my future professional roles in healthcare delivery systems.

I intend to apply my clinical background and foundational knowledge of public health principles to roles in healthcare organizations. As a leader, I will practice and proliferate diversity, equity, and inclusion standards at every organizational level, address systemic barriers, and collaborate with community partners to build community trust in healthcare delivery systems. I commit to continuously building on my knowledge, experience, and skills to find innovative solutions to uplift marginalized voices and center the wellbeing of patients in organizational objectives.

Compassion is a foundational value that guides every interaction with individuals and groups in my personal and professional life. It grounds me in empathy, humility, and respect for others, no matter how different or similar our backgrounds and lived experiences may be. It motivates me to center equity and inclusion in my work, whether or not it benefits me directly. Compassion informs my leadership and conflict resolution styles and I draw on it as a strength when collaborating with colleagues to find equitable solutions to problems.

Equity is central to my purpose as I advance towards a career in healthcare leadership. My observations of structural barriers and unevenly distributed resources throughout my work and volunteer experience in clinical roles motivates me to dedicate myself to correcting these inequities at every organizational level of healthcare systems. Remaining committed to equity in my practices and decision-making lends itself to both my vision and professional mission.

Centering inclusivity in my practices and decisions ensures that, beyond simply acknowledging diversity of perspectives and identities, these important elements should be integrated into organizational practices and program design. Reaffirming the innate dignity that each human possesses by valuing all voices contributes to accessible and trustworthy health systems.

Martin Luther King Jr.