Dr. Sheryl Heron receives Emory University's Thomas Jefferson Award
Congratulations to Dr. Sheryl Heron on her Emory University Thomas Jefferson Award. This award honors faculty and staff who have significantly enriched the intellectual and civic life of the Emory community.
Dr. Heron has focused her life's work in three areas: cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion, and intimate partner violence. After coming to Atlanta as an Injury Prevention Fellow in 1996, she became Emory’s first Black female faculty member in Emergency Medicine. Now, as a leader on the Emergency Medicine team and in the School of Medicine, she serves as the Vice Chair for Faculty Equity, Engagement and Empowerment in the Department of Emergency Medicine, and she is the Emory School of Medicine's Associate Dean for Community and Engagement.
Dr. Heron is also involved in professional organizations and has shared her expertise in over 100 national, regional and Emory University committees. At Emory, Dr. Heron co-chaired the Intimate Partner Violence Working Group. Additionally, she is a mentor, faculty advocate and still works shifts at the Grady Memorial Hospital Emergency Care Center. “I continue to hold on to shifts because it reminds me of my purpose, my visibility and my intentionality to lead by example,” she says. “To care for people with kindness and love.”
Dr. Sheryl Heron's words of wisdom:
- “More than awards, it is the fundamental kindness and empathy that we must have, because the emergency medicine department is the entryway now for many people.”
- “The equitable care which we try to give to people tells me that the systems can do better.”
- “Where are you with your heart and soul in the profession?”
- “If you’re called to do this work, grounded in purposeful learning and engagement, the rest will work itself out."
- “Is the journey one in which you are enjoying it, living it and making decisions through it that will help you be your best self, so that others can be their best self also? Those questions are ones we should all be willing to answer.”
- “Patients don’t know you, but you walk into a room and they trust you. That is sacred.”
- “Emergency medicine is really the failure of public health.” “Public health is prevention, so if you’re seeing me in the emergency department, something has gone wrong.”
- “Every single human being deserves the best possible care.”
Dr. Jada Bussey-Jones, in the Department of Medicine, nominated Dr. Heron for the Thomas Jefferson Award. “Dr. Heron has been a passionate, tireless and innovative advocate for social justice in medicine and in the community,” said Dr. Bussey-Jones. “Genuinely committed, caring, fearless and persuasive, she can bring people together in effective and empowering ways," continued Dr. Bussey-Jones.
“A true champion and compassionate individual who fights for the underdog, she has a great ability to inspire others to give back to the community and partner in collaborative and supportive ways to ensure they are successful in their efforts,” adds Bussey-Jones.
Read more about Dr. Heron and her accomplishments in this Emory News Center story.
