What Inspires Your Work?

Black History Month gives us the opportunity to celebrate and discover more about Black history.  At Adventist Health, we also recognize the talented providers, nurses and staff within the Black community who make lifesaving impacts every day across our 440+ sites of care. As part of our commemoration, we’re delighted to share voices from a handful of our staff about what inspires their work.

Read More: Faces of Black History Month: Health and Wellness Pioneers

Meet Eric Cooper, MBA, BSN, NE-BC, CV-BC, AACC

Where do you work, and what is your role?
I am the Director of Cardiovascular Services at Adventist Health and Rideout, responsible for the cath lab, IV therapy, and Pre-/Post-Interventional Services PACU departments.

How would you describe what you and your coworkers do every day in one sentence?
My teams and I provide evidenced based, high-quality, diagnostic and interventional cardiology services to the community.

What initially drew you to this field, and how has that passion evolved over time?
Initially, I was drawn to the challenge of working and performing competently in critical care areas of the hospital. In that role I wanted to ensure patients received consistently excellent nursing care with every patient encounter. As my career evolved, I used my passion for patient advocacy and worked with stakeholders to develop service lines which positively impact patient populations instead of one or two patients per shift.

The theme of Black History Month 2025 is African Americans and Labor. When you think about your own work, what do you find most fulfilling?
The most fulfilling part about my work is being part of a nationally recognized program that was built from the ground up. It is humbling to see our designation as a HeartCare National Distinction of Excellence and STEMI program performance directly impact the community. Our STEMI program gives 80 – 90 patients a year a second chance at life.

Adventist Health’s Be Values describe our commitment to how we treat ourselves and others. Which of value are you most motivated by, and why?
I am most motivated by the Be Brilliant value. Throughout my career I have leveraged my ability to utilize data, intelligence and empathy to achieve predictable, high-quality outcomes. I believe the best way to validate brilliance and professional accountability is through obtaining national board certification in a specialty area.

Black History Month is meant to inspire celebration and help people discover more about Black history and culture across time. Is there a Black American you’d invite us to learn more about?
I feel Black history is simply American history performed by individuals who identify racially as Black Americans and, thankfully, we all benefit from contributors from the past irrespective of race. An interesting figure central to cardiology, healthcare training and health equity is Dr. Daniel Hale Williams. He was the first African American cardiologist and performed the world’s first successful open-heart surgery in 1893. Dr. Williams founded the first interracial hospital, created a hospital-based training program for nursing and co-founded the National Medical Association.

Meet Gloriel Francis, MBA

Where do you work, and what is your role?
I serve as the Business Development Liaison for cardiovascular services provided by the Adventist Health Northwest Heart Center at Adventist Health Portland.

How would you describe what you and your coworkers do every day in one sentence?
We collaborate to engage patients and providers in our excellent cardiovascular services we provide at Adventist Health Northwest Heart Center.

What initially drew you to this field, and how has that passion evolved over time?
I was initially drawn to the freedom to be creative. I also enjoy the collaborative nature of Business Development. With each developing relationship there is an opportunity to engage with eclectic people.

The theme of Black History Month 2025 is African Americans and Labor. When you think about your own work, what do you find most fulfilling?
I think it is important for me to highlight that I am not African American. I am Black, specifically, Caribbean. This is an important distinction as I experience the world from a different cultural context. As I think about my work, the most fulfilling part is the collaborative approach to meeting the needs of our employees and department. We work diligently, always finding time to have fun in the process.

Adventist Health’s Be Values describe our commitment to how we treat ourselves and others. Which of value are you most motivated by, and why?
I’m most motivated to Be a Force for Good because I highly value relationships with people and I am curious about how they experience life. When we share our stories, we are become a force for good.

Meet Kerrie McHardy, BSBA, MBA, CPAR

Where do you work, and what is your role?
I am an Operations Director in Clinic Administration for the Central California Network, where I lead clinic operations, streamline processes and support teams in delivering exceptional care to our patients.

How would you describe what you and your coworkers do every day in one sentence?
We work together every day to provide compassionate, high-quality care, support patient well-being, and improve health outcomes through teamwork and dedication.

What initially drew you to this field, and how has that passion evolved over time?
What initially drew me to this field was a deep desire to improve healthcare access, promote equity and foster meaningful connections with both patients and staff. Over time, that passion has evolved into a commitment to creating efficient, patient-centered systems, driving engagement within teams, and empowering individuals to thrive, all while ensuring equitable, high-quality care for every patient we serve.

The theme of Black History Month 2025 is African Americans and Labor. When you think about your own work, what do you find most fulfilling?
When I think about my own work, I find the most fulfillment in creating an environment where fair treatment, equity, and engagement are at the forefront. Supporting teams to thrive, ensuring patients receive high-quality care, and fostering a culture that values compassion and collaboration inspire me to make a meaningful impact every day.

Adventist Health’s Be Values describe our commitment to how we treat ourselves and others. Which of value are you most motivated by, and why?
I am most motivated by Be Love because it embodies compassion, kindness and a genuine commitment to treating everyone with dignity and care. In healthcare, leading with love creates meaningful connections with patients and colleagues, fosters trust and inspires me to make a positive impact in every interaction.

Black History Month is meant to inspire celebration and help people discover more about Black history and culture across time. Is there a Black American you’d invite us to learn more about?
Michelle Obama, the first Black First Lady of the United States, is a global icon of public service, advocacy and empowerment. A Princeton and Harvard Law graduate, she excelled as a lawyer, nonprofit leader and healthcare executive before launching transformative initiatives like Let’s Move!, Joining Forces and Let Girls Learn during her time in the White House. A best-selling author and co-founder of Higher Ground Productions, she continues to inspire change and champion education, health and equality worldwide.

Meet Jamalah Munir, MD

Where do you work, and what is your role?
I am an Interventional Cardiologist at Adventist Health Castle - Kailua, HI

How would you describe what you and your coworkers do every day in one sentence?
I diagnose and treat heart disease daily with clinical evaluations, echocardiograms (ultrasounds of the heart), stress tests, coronary angiograms and stents to open blockages in the heart arteries.

The theme of Black History Month 2025 is African Americans and Labor. When you think about your own work, what do you find most fulfilling?
The most fulfilling part of my job is treating a person who is having a heart attack, complaining of symptoms like severe chest pain, shortness of breath and low blood pressure — in this extreme moment, we must rush them to the cardiac cath lab where I open the closed artery with a balloon and deploy a stent so that blood flow can be restored to the heart muscle. It is truly a lifesaving procedure!

Black History Month is meant to inspire celebration and help people discover more about Black history and culture across time. Is there a Black American you’d invite us to learn more about?
Vivien Thomas. He is an African American man working as a technician in the 1930s who assisted a white doctor, Dr. Alfred Blalock, with his medical research on congenital heart disease in babies. Thomas was indispensable to Blalock's development of a treatment for this fatal condition known at the time as "Blue Baby," but Blalock is the only one who is allowed to receive the acclaim. There are so many stories like this, of brilliant Black Americans quietly working to improve the human condition.