Black Perspectives on the Future of Healthcare

Join us for an evening dedicated to Black Perspectives on the Future of Healthcare, hosted by Leading Routes as part of the Black in Academia series.

Bringing together leading voices from healthcare, medicine, academia, and the community, the event will explore the current state of healthcare, the impact of the pandemic, the importance of building trust in healthcare services, and the urgent inequalities faced by Black communities.

Through talks, a panel discussion, and Q&A sessions, this event will create space for open dialogue and collective action to drive community-led solutions for better health outcomes. The evening will conclude with a networking drinks reception.

Our speakers

Dr Naomi Anna Watson

Naomi is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) at the Open University (OU). She has served the Faculty as Deputy Associate Dean for teaching excellence, emphasising and enhancing the student experience as a member of the central academic staff.

Naomi’s research and scholarship interests span a wide overarching area relating to cultural competence in education and practice, diversity, ethnicity and health inequalities, focussing on student experiences at distance, African Caribbean participation and contribution to health care and Black women’s health and wellbeing. She is particularly interested in nursing, health and social care debates about cultural competence, and the extent to which this is understood and experienced by Black students and Global Majority families. She has led internally funded projects exploring cultural competence across health and care environments.

Naomi has researched, written and published in Cultural Competence, Diversity, Ethnicity and inequalities in health care outcomes, Primary Care Nursing, Public Health, Service User Involvement, Nursing Education and Black Women’s Health and Wellbeing. Naomi has extensive clinical experience as a senior practitioner in Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. She is approved by the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a clinical educator and Registered Nurse Tutor (RNT).

Professor Patrick Vernon OBE

Former Chair of Birmingham and Solihull NHS ICB, Independent, Chair of Walsall Together Health Partnership Board and Independent Chair of Hackney Thinking Space Community Advisory board. Patrick is also Honorary Professor for Community leadership and heritage at Wolverhampton University. He was recently appointed Pro Chancellor at Wolverhampton University.

Patrick is a sought-after broadcaster, public speaker, EDI adviser and writes blogs and articles for the national and international media on healthcare, cultural heritage and race.

Patrick led the campaign for a national Windrush Day since 2013 and helping to expose the Windrush Scandal in 2018 in one of the first growing online petitions calling for an amnesty for the Windrush Generation. In 2020 Patrick was selected by British Vogue as of Britain’s top twenty campaigners and since he has been included in the Powerlist list of 100 influential Black People in Britain. In 2020 Patrick co-authored 100 Great Black Britons based on his campaign. In 2024 he his latest coauthored book on Black Grief and Healing. Patrick is a member of Church Commissioners oversight group on reparations.

Dr Omolade Allen, PhD, FHEA

Omolade is a Lecturer in Global Health at the University of Manchester and the Academic Lead for Civic and Community Engagement and Involvement in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health. Her research expertise centres on access to healthcare, public health inequalities, and community-based participatory approaches.

She leads and collaborates on projects that explore women’s health, racial inequalities in healthcare, and the role of social structures, particularly faith and community networks, in improving access to health care services, thus shaping health outcomes.

Through her work, Dr Allen brings together academic research, policy engagement, and community voices to drive inclusive and equitable healthcare innovation. She has particular expertise in health workforce development, research governance, and the co-production of solutions that address systemic barriers to care. Passionate about embedding lived experience in research and policy, her work exemplifies how Black perspectives can reshape healthcare futures by promoting access, trust, and cultural relevance in health services.

Lauren Pereia-Greene
Lauren is a final year medical student at University College London (UCL), who is passionate about inclusion health, community collaboration, and patient advocacy. She has a first-class Honours degree in Medical Anthropology and has been part of several initiatives to increase accessibility within medicine, and to decolonise the medical curriculum.

Lauren is the co-Founder of Diversity In Medical Academia (DIMA), a student-led widening participation organisation aiming to encourage underrepresented groups to engage with medical research and academia.

Tickets are free but limited. Reserve your spot now to ensure you don’t miss out.

Event registration opens at 6:30pm. You must register before 7:00pm when the event starts in the Lecture Theatre.