The Healthcare Connector: Deann Butler is Amplifying the Voices of Women and People of Color in Healthcare
“I knew that helping people to recognize their voice and expertise is one thing, but what if I coached them on how to monetize that expertise?” Today’s woman dreamer, Deann Butler, is on a mission to empower women to reach their healthcare dreams. With over 15 years in the industry, Deann helps women in the healthcare profession start their own businesses. She is also a leader in DEI, and brings her expertise on addressing racism in healthcare institutions, and how healthcare workers can help address this in their own organizations. Enjoy her story!
1. Tell us your story. You are on a mission to empower women in healthcare to achieve their dreams. What inspires you and made you the leader you are today?
You have two options in this world. You can sit back and wish for change or you can be the change you want to see. I have chosen the latter.
Ive been in healthcare for over 15 years. During this time I have worked in nonprofit, health insurance, and healthcare startups. And in each of those experiences, I found that I was not always using my voice and this was true for many of the women/people of color around me.
I wanted to change that.
In 2019 I decided to start Connected Consultants with the mission to amplify the voices of women and people of color in healthcare. I knew that if I could figure out the business logistics then I would be able to bring together a network of individuals ready to make a change in healthcare. Our initial goal was to collaboratively seek consulting contracts within healthcare. This work took off, but I realized there was more I was willing to do.
Next up, I knew that helping people to recognize their voice and expertise is one thing, but what if I coached them on how to monetize that expertise? This birthed the coaching program Becoming the Consulting Connect, through this program, we coach women healthcare professionals on how to launch their own consulting business. From there we moved into podcasting providing a platform for these women in healthcare to share their stories.
There was still something telling me I could do more. So I decided to attain my doctoral degree with the purpose of researching structural racism in healthcare and the possible ways to train healthcare professionals on this topic. In April 2022 I successfully defended my doctoral project entitled, “Let's Get R.E.A.L.: Developing a Shared Definition of Structural Racism is the First Step Towards Health Equity.” My next steps are to develop evidence-based training for healthcare professionals and work to create a central repository for information on health equity initatives in the US.
I often think about what has led me to this point in my life and made me a leader. Here is what I know. My parents were born, raised, educated, served in the military, went to college, dated, and got married in the very rural, segregated, and mean South. They taught that most things in this world can be taken from one year, however, no one can take your education and intellect. Your goal is to learn all you can and then share that with your communities. That is how we change the world.
So in essence that is what I am doing and what inspires me to keep going. I am out here trying to be an example and share my knowledge.
2. You coach healthcare professionals in building their businesses. What was the most rewarding project you got to be a part of? Further, What are your top tips for women in building their healthcare businesses?
Within my coaching program, there isn't one specific rewarding moment. Every time a woman completes the program with a solid foundation and business launch I am immensely grateful. We have been conditioned to go to school, get a degree, climb the corporate ladder, and retire. This program breaks that mold. It shows women and people of color that there isn't a limit to the innovation and change they can spur when they capitalize on their expertise. I am helping women to change healthcare and create a legacy. That is my reward.
3. You are a leader in DEI and addressing racism in healthcare. Tell us more about your learnings here. You provide DEI training specifically on racism in healthcare. What are some common issues and misconceptions you have seen in your work, and how can healthcare workers better address them in their own workplaces?
I recently completed my doctoral project that developed a shared definition of structural racism in healthcare. What I found in my learnings is we’ve gotten more comfortable with talking about racism, but there is still confusion around the terminology. The words we use matter and until we are all using a shared language on this topic we are stifling our efforts to address this issue. My research concluded with a new shared definition of structural racism. That I’ll include here and it also included recommendations for addressing structural racism in healthcare. Specifically, we recommend implementing a senior-level role within healthcare organizations whose sole purpose is to review every policy, process, and workflow through the lens of health equity. We are also calling for mandatory training for all healthcare professionals, and increasing access to care for marginalized populations. One of the most common misconceptions that occurs when you discuss racism people automatically get defensive. No one wants to be thought of as racist. We have to shift the conversation away from thinking about racism from the individual perspective to one focused on the policies/processes that are perpetuating racism within institutions. The most important way healthcare workers can address racism is to advocate for training within the workplace. Being anti-racist and coming from a place of cultural humility is a lifelong journey. It doesnt happen after one conversation.
4. Outside of your busy career, what do you do for fun? how do you relax and find your work-life balance?
I think the concept of work-life balance doesnt exist. I am a mom, partner, sister, student, business owner, professional, and so much more. The intersectionality of my being doesn’t lend itself to complete balance. There are times when I am a better mom than a business owner. And the reverse is also true. What I try to always remember is to give myself some grace. We are all out here just trying to do the best we can. Now, I do love to travel. I need a minimum of four trips per year, one with my family, one with my partner, one with my girlfriends, and one for me. If I can do that I am a happy lady.
5. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
My next big dream is to keep pushing forward the work on structural racism in healthcare. Specifically, my goal is to create and advocate for mandatory training on racism in healthcare for all healthcare professionals. If you are employed in an organization within the healthcare institution it is mandatory-you are trained on racism. The second part of this dream is to push for more transparency on all the work being done around health equity. I am hoping to build a repository of information on current initiatives within healthcare. It is imperative we stop recreating the wheel. In order to address this phenomenon, we need transparency and a mechanism for sharing our knowledge.
Thank You Gayatri for Sharing Your Inspiring Story With Us. We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
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