Two female leaders at Wellstar Health System were recently honored for their significant impact, and their stories of leadership and service may be of interest to you and your audiences.

Dr. Shara Wesley, DrPH, MPH

Assistant vice president of Community Health and the Wellstar Center for Health Equity, Wellstar Health System

Dr. Wesley was named a top 2021 “Healthcare Hero” for Community Outreach presented by the Atlanta Business Chronicleon May 28. This award recognizes the positive impact on thousands of Georgians that Dr. Wesley and her team have led with the Wellstar Center for Health Equity (WCHE), which was created to drive lasting change for health inequities across Georgia.

Building on Wellstar’s commitment to providing “More than Healthcare. PeopleCare,” the center was formed under Dr. Wesley’s leadership to address health equity at a grassroots level for the state’s most vulnerable populations. Dr. Wesley has been instrumental in forging and activating strategic partnerships with government agencies, businesses, philanthropies, non-profit organizations, academia, and citizens. During the pandemic, she has been a central liaison between Wellstar, public health departments, and community partners, and she continues to play a vital role in increasing access to healthcare, information, resources, and COVID-19 testing and vaccinations in Black, Latinx, and rural communities.

Dr. Wesley was selected from a broad range of healthcare professionals across Atlanta for her ability to lead with passion, expertise, and a focus on people-centric care. She serves as assistant vice president of community health at Wellstar Health System and for the WCHE. The Atlanta Business Chronicle award follows Dr. Wesley’s inclusion in Georgia Trendmagazine’s 40 Under 40 in 2020, an honor that recognizes Georgia’s best and brightest.

Dr. Mary Chatman, PhD, RN

Executive vice president, Wellstar Health System

President, Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Windy Hill Hospitals

Dr. Chatman was recognized as an Atlanta Magazine 2021 “Women Making a Mark” honoree. In their selection, judges citied howChatman describes herself as not just a leader, but a woman of color who leads, as she wants young women of color who are starting their careers to be inspired to reach their full potential, all the way to the C-suite. Chatman is therefore intentional about taking steps to make the path smoother for others. A big part of that is providing counsel to colleagues on how Wellstar can nurture its diverse workforce to truly mirror and support the communities it serves.

Chatman oversees operations for Wellstar Kennestone, Windy Hill, Cobb, Paulding, and North Fulton Hospitals, five health parks, and 46 outpatient departments, and has responsibility for thousands of team members who provide vital healthcare services for Georgians. Her team led the opening of one of the largest and busiest emergency departments in the nation, right in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. A compassionate, effective leader, Chatman inspires and leads impactful change for one of the southeast’s largest and most integrated health systems.

We can put you in touch with Chatman as needed, provide the nomination details and/or photos.