AMA X AFROPUNK Put the Spotlight on Frontline Workers during COVID-19

Afropunk in partnership with the National Medical Association and the American Medical Association illuminates the narratives of physicians and nurses who are intimately impacted and integrally engaged in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. This series is centered around the intersection of health and racial justice celebrating four influential Black Front-Line workers Dr. Rachel Villanueva, Dr. Kimberly Manning, Dr. Justin Key, and Sean Treadvance.

We held COVID-19 compliant interviews at the exclusive and black owned ZuCot Gallery in Atlanta. The series of interviews will show the physical, mental, and spiritual strength required to get up every day and tackle the harsher realities of the world as we celebrate and honor their hard work within the black community while facing the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dr. Justin Key:

Dr. Key was born and raised in Washington, DC. before venturing off the east coast. He received a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University and earned his MD from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Key had an early passion of bridging the gap between medicine and communities of color. His love of narrative and ability to connect patients to their personal stories led him to Psychiatry and he continued his training at UCLA’s Semel Neuropsychiatric Institute.

Dr. Kimberly D. Manning:

Kimberly D. Manning, MD is a general internist/hospitalist who serves as Associate Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Manning is Professor of Medicine and has maintained ABIM board certification since 2001. Beyond her roles in the Department of Medicine, she has been a society small group advisor at the Emory School of Medicine since their curriculum reform in 2007. Her clinical work is at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta’s safety net facility, where she has been for the last two decades. Manning’s academic achievements include numerous institutional, regional and national teaching awards.

Dr. Rachel Villanueva:

Rachel Villanueva, MD FACOG is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She earned a BS Degree in Biology at Yale University and MD Degree, cum laude, from the Yale School of Medicine. She is board certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology and practices in New York City. Dr. Villanueva is a woman’s health expert and advocate, who is committed to reproductive justice, health equity, workforce diversity, and disease prevention.

Sean E. Treadvance:

Sean E. Treadvance, RN, BSN, CCRN is an experienced professional with vast experience in private and public healthcare systems. He earned his BSN from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has served communities in the New York/ New Jersey area, including Washington Heights, Lower Manhattan, Newark and Paterson. A proud veteran, he served in the United States Airforce before deciding to pursue a career in nursing, which was inspired by his late grandmother who was in the profession for over 20 years. 

You can watch the entire video series HERE .