It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of the Chair of the NACDD Health Equity Council, Vivian Lasley-Bibbs. Vivian was a visionary leader and a strong force behind advancing equity and social justice in public health. She was dedicated to creating positive change in communities across the country. Her passion, expertise and commitment to equity is an inspiration to us all. Her lasting contributions will help to guide and serve as a compass for collective decision-making, strategies, and activities of the Council.
Vivian had over 30 years of strategic leadership, engagement, and collaborative partnerships with federal, state, and local entities. She presented as a subject matter expert at numerous state, local, and national conferences in the form of workshops, panels, and posters to address health disparities and inequities related to the social determinants of health and the root causes driving health disparities. Her expertise afforded her the opportunity to publish in peer-reviewed journals and sit on regional and national committees, state and local advisory boards, commissions, and workgroups.
Her cumulative work in teaching, community-based participatory research, and applied practice using a health equity lens allowed her to study the barriers and challenges in addressing the root causes and drivers of the inequities that manifest as disparity gaps in the most vulnerable, marginalized, and minority populations.
Vivian held a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kentucky State University and a master’s degree in Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She is also a graduate of the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Kentucky’s College of Health Sciences. She continued to expand her knowledge base by taking doctorate-level courses in Public Health with an Epidemiology concentration at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health. Her professional affiliations included national, regional, and state public health organizations, as well as civic, and community-based organizations.
She will be deeply missed by her husband and daughters, both of whom are pursuing graduate degrees in health fields, and by many other loved ones, friends, and colleagues. Her memory and impact will always be felt in the work of the NACDD Health Equity Council.
In honor of Vivian’s legacy, please consider donating to Colors of Promise, an organization she co-founded to provide hope and support to women surviving Breast Cancer. Your support will help Colors of Promise continue the important work she started, ensuring that Colors of Promise remains a beacon of hope and empowerment for all. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time, and we will carry Vivian’s spirit with us as we forge ahead, striving to fulfill the promise of a brighter future for the communities we serve.